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NXR Norcros Plc

193.50
1.50 (0.78%)
03 May 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Norcros Plc LSE:NXR London Ordinary Share GB00BYYJL418 ORD 10P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  1.50 0.78% 193.50 186.50 194.00 194.50 193.00 194.50 49,283 16:35:21
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Ceramic Wall And Floor Tile 441M 16.8M 0.1882 10.26 172.3M

Norcros PLC Proposed Acquisition of Merlyn Industries Limited (3627V)

02/11/2017 7:00am

UK Regulatory


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TIDMNXR

RNS Number : 3627V

Norcros PLC

02 November 2017

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

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

2 November 2017

Norcros plc ("Norcros" or the "Company")

Proposed Acquisition of Merlyn Industries Limited ("Merlyn") and associated Firm Placing and Placing and Open Offer

and

Notice of General Meeting

Norcros (LSE: NXR), the market leading supplier of innovative branded showers, taps, bathroom accessories, tiles and adhesives, has agreed to acquire Merlyn Industries Limited ("Merlyn"), a market leading, innovative designer and distributor of mid to high end branded shower enclosures (the "Acquisition"), for total consideration of GBP60.0 million on a debt free, cash free basis (subject to certain adjustments).

The Company also announces its intention to conduct a firm placing and placing and open offer to raise gross proceeds of GBP31.4 million (before expenses) (the "Capital Raising") to part-fund the Acquisition through the issue of 18,254,161 new ordinary shares in Norcros (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 172 pence per share (the "Placing Price").

Acquisition Highlights

   -       Strategically and financially compelling transaction for Norcros 

- Acquisition of Merlyn, a growing, profitable, market leading business for total consideration of GBP60.0 million on a debt free, cash free basis (subject to certain adjustments)

- In the year ended 31 March 2017, Merlyn reported revenues of GBP30.7 million and operating profit of GBP6.4 million

   -       Acquisition consistent with Norcros' strategy to enhance its bathroom product portfolio 

- Addition of a number of well-established and market leading brands to the Group's existing portfolio

- Merlyn enjoys established multiple sales channels which provide end market diversification and significant future growth opportunities

   -       Merlyn is at the forefront of shower enclosure design and innovation 
   -       Experienced management team to be retained - led by Charlie Soden 

- Acquisition expected to be earnings enhancing in the first full year of ownership, and return on investment expected to exceed Norcros' cost of capital(1)

The Firm Placing and Placing and Open Offer

- Firm Placing and Placing and Open Offer to raise up to GBP31.4 million (before expenses) at the Placing Price of 172 pence

- The Placing Price represents a discount of 5.9 per cent. to the Closing Price as at 1 November 2017

- Proposal to raise GBP10.6 million through the issue of 6,165,312 Placing Shares pursuant to the Firm Placing and GBP20.8 million through the issue of 12,088,849 Placing Shares pursuant to the Placing and Open Offer

- Numis Securities Limited ("Numis") is acting as sole sponsor, financial adviser and sole bookrunner in respect of the Placing

- The Capital Raising will be used to part-fund the Acquisition, with the balance of the Acquisition consideration (plus associated transaction costs) to be funded from the Group's new GBP120 million debt facility

- Directors of the Company have indicated their intention to subscribe for Placing Shares in the Open Offer

   -       Capital structure of the Enlarged Group maintains strong capital discipline 

- Quantum of equity fund raise and new debt facility allows capital flexibility for Norcros to execute on its further growth opportunities

Commenting on the acquisition, Nick Kelsall, Group Chief Executive, said:

'The acquisition of Merlyn with its premium brands and market leading positions is an exciting addition to the Group, substantially broadening our bathroom product offering. Merlyn's focus on design, new product development and its standard of customer service will significantly enhance the Group's portfolio. I look forward to working with Charlie and his team, whose experience and enthusiasm for the business has impressed greatly, as we look to grow and develop the Merlyn business further.'

Also commenting on the acquisition, Michael Hoyne the founder and majority shareholder in Merlyn said:

'I have admired what Nick and his team have achieved at Norcros, growing the business both organically and through its acquisition strategy. I am sure that Charlie and the team will embrace the opportunities that being part of the enlarged Norcros family with its range of channels, products and international breadth will bring, as they look to drive the Merlyn business on to the next level.'

Expected timetable

 
 Announcement of the Acquisition      2 November 2017 
  and Firm Placing and Placing 
  and Open Offer 
 Publication and posting of           2 November 2017 
  the Prospectus and the Forms 
  of Proxy 
 Interim results                     16 November 2017 
 Publication of Supplementary        16 November 2017 
  Prospectus 
 Latest time and date for receipt        10.00a.m. on 
  of Forms of Proxy / CREST Proxy    20 November 2017 
  Instructions 
 General Meeting                         10.00a.m. on 
                                     22 November 2017 
 Expected date of Completion         23 November 2017 
  of the Acquisition 
 Expected date of Admission          23 November 2017 
  and commencement of dealings 
  in the Placing Shares 
 

(1)These statements of expected earnings enhancement and targeted cost of capital / ROCE relate to future actions and circumstances which, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies. As a result, the expected earnings enhancement and cost of capital / ROCE referred to may not be achieved, or those achieved could be materially different from those targeted. These statements should not be construed as a profit forecast or interpreted to mean that the Enlarged Group's earnings in the period following the Acquisition would necessarily match or be greater than or be less than those of Norcros and/or Merlyn for the relevant preceding financial period or any other period

The times and dates set out in the expected timetable of principal events above and mentioned throughout this announcement are times and dates in London unless otherwise stated, and may be adjusted by the Company in consultation with or, if required, with the agreement of Numis.

A combined prospectus and circular is expected to be published by the Company later today (the "Prospectus"). The Prospectus will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM. The Prospectus will also be available on the Company's website at: http://www.norcros.com/. Capitalised terms used, but not defined, in this announcement shall have the same meaning as set out in the Prospectus.

Market soundings, as defined in MAR, were taken in respect of the Placing and the Acquisition with the result that certain persons became aware of inside information, as permitted by MAR. That inside information is set out in this announcement in accordance with paragraph 7 of article 17 of MAR. Therefore, those persons that received inside information in a market sounding are no longer in possession of inside information relating to the Company and its securities.

For further information please contact:

 
 Norcros plc             Tel: 01625 547 700 
 Nick Kelsall, Group 
  Chief Executive 
 Shaun Smith, Group 
  Finance Director 
 
 Numis                   Tel: 0207 260 1000 
 Christopher Wilkinson 
 Richard Thomas 
  Andrew Hackney 
  Tom Ballard 
 Hudson Sandler          Tel: 0207 796 4133 
 Nick Lyon 
 Fern Duncan 
 

Further information in relation to the Acquisition and Firm Placing and Placing and Open Offer

   1.             Introduction 

The Company announces that the Group has entered into the Acquisition Agreement with, among others, Broadlake, a generalist Irish Private Equity fund, and Michael Hoyne, a majority shareholder, to acquire Merlyn. Merlyn designs, engineers, assembles and distributes high quality, premium, branded shower enclosures in the UK and Ireland. Total consideration of GBP60.0 million on a debt free, cash free basis (subject to certain adjustments), is to be satisfied through the net proceeds of the Capital Raising amounting to approximately GBP29.9 million with the balance to be funded from new debt facilities.

Merlyn is a market leading, innovative designer and distributor of mid to high end branded shower enclosures, bath screens and trays. The business has a multi-channel sales approach based on distinct brands for each channel. The company supplies independent retailers, national and regional merchants, targeted specification contracts (housebuilders, hotels and leisure operators) and distributors. In the year ended 31 March 2017, Merlyn reported revenue of GBP30.7 million and operating profit of GBP6.4 million.

The Board believes that the Acquisition represents an attractive opportunity for the Group to acquire a growing, profitable, market leading and well positioned business that enhances the Group's bathroom product portfolio and is in line with the Group's strategy of acquiring quality businesses in targeted sectors and geographies. The Acquisition is of sufficient size relative to the Group to constitute a Class 1 transaction under the Listing Rules and is therefore conditional on, among other things, the passing of the Resolutions by Shareholders at the General Meeting to be held at 10.00 a.m. on 22 November 2017. A notice of General Meeting is set out at the end of the Prospectus.

Applications will be made for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to the premium segment of the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market. It is expected that Admission will become effective and that dealings in the New Ordinary Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 23 November 2017.

   2.             Information on the Group's strategy 

As part of the Group's growth strategy, it continues to seek to acquire attractive and complementary businesses that fit within its targeted sectors and geographies. In 2013, the Board set out three clear strategic targets:

   -               to double Group revenue to GBP420 million by 2018; 

- to achieve sustainable underlying return on capital employed of 12 to 15 per cent. and

- to maintain approximately 50 per cent. of Group revenue derived from outside the UK.

The Board declared that this strategy would be delivered through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions; with the successful integration and development of acquisitions made since 2013 being an important step in supporting and accelerating the Group's strategy. The Group has made good progress towards its strategic objectives and in particular, by achieving an underlying ROCE of 18.4 per cent. in the year ended 31 March 2017, ahead of target. Group revenue for the year ended 31 March 2017 increased by 15.0 per cent. to GBP271.2 million. The Group's progress in relation to achieving the Group revenue target of GBP420 million by 2018 has been held back by the significant depreciation of the Rand / Sterling exchange rate since the objective was established in 2013. In constant currency terms, Group revenue would have been GBP304 million. The Board recognises that achieving the target of GBP420 million remains challenging and accordingly will reassess this timeline later in the current financial year in light of the Group's progress. The Group nevertheless remains committed to this target.

Pursuant to its growth strategy, the Group has acquired three complementary businesses since the start of 2013. Vado, which was acquired in March 2013, has performed strongly with compounded revenue growth of 10.4 per cent. per annum since acquisition up to the period ended March 2017. Croydex, acquired in June 2015, has also delivered strong like for like revenue and underlying profit growth since its acquisition up to the period ended March 2017. Abode, acquired in March 2016, has grown revenue by 5.0 per cent. and recorded profits in line with the Board's expectations up to the period ended March 2017 and, like Croydex and Vado, has been seamlessly integrated into the Group. In respect of these acquisitions, the Board has been encouraged by the progress made in identifying and pursuing opportunities in collaboration with the Group's existing portfolio, particularly in the areas of new business development, procurement and supply chain.

The Vado, Croydex and Abode acquisitions have all been funded from the Group's existing banking facilities. The Board now believes that the proposed Acquisition is the appropriate opportunity to raise equity finance to partially fund the proposed Acquisition and to ensure that the Group maintains an appropriate leverage position which will enable the Group to pursue other acquisition opportunities and/or organic growth opportunities.

   3.             Background to and reasons for the Acquisition and the Capital Raising 
   3.1    The Acquisition 

The Board believes that Merlyn is a compelling strategic fit and would complement the Group's existing portfolio of products and brands and represents an appropriate opportunity to add a growing, market leading, UK focused and well positioned brand to its existing portfolio. The acquisition of Merlyn is consistent with the Group's objective of expanding further into the bathroom product sector which will enable the Group to offer a 'one stop shop' to the trade and specification segments in the UK.

Furthermore, the Acquisition is expected to deliver a return on capital employed in excess of 13 per cent. in the financial year ending 31 March 2019, above Norcros' cost of capital. The Group expects the Acquisition to be earnings enhancing in the financial year ending 31 March 2019(1) .

The Board believes that Merlyn's impressive track record of growth and cash generation, as highlighted by the table below, makes it both an attractive strategic and financial proposition to the Group's shareholders.

 
                           For the year ended 31 March 
------------------  ---------------------------------------- 
                            2017          2016          2015 
------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
                     GBP million   GBP million   GBP million 
------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Revenue                    30.7          26.4          21.4 
------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Operating 
  profit                     6.4           4.4           2.7 
------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 Cash generated 
  from operations            6.2           4.7           2.7 
------------------  ------------  ------------  ------------ 
 

Market share and market position

The acquisition of Merlyn will immediately provide the Group with a highly profitable business with a significant market share in both the UK and Ireland within Merlyn's product categories. Merlyn's key market is the UK, which represents 85 per cent of sales, with the Irish market representing 13 per cent. and a small level of export sales that accounts for 2 per cent. The Board believes that there is a significant opportunity to increase sales in the future utilising Norcros' UK and international distribution channels.

Merlyn's respective shares of the UK and Irish markets are 15 per cent. and 35 per cent*. The shower enclosure, bath screen and shower tray market in the UK and Ireland in 2016 was estimated at approximately GBP213 million and is expected to grow to approximately GBP266 million by 2020. These markets have displayed strong levels of historical growth with the UK higher value enclosures market having grown at 9 per cent. CAGR over 2013-2016, versus 7 per cent. overall market growth, and is forecast to continue to grow at 6 per cent. CAGR, driven by volume and price increases. Merlyn has a track record of consistently outperforming the market, having achieved sales growth of 19.8 per cent. CAGR over 2015-2017. The Board believes that forecast market growth is underpinned by the following trends:

   -       a growing consumer preference for showers over baths; 

- an ongoing premiumisation trend with consumers and fitters increasingly favouring higher value products;

- a growing emphasis on the bathroom within the home, leading to more frequent bathroom renovations; and

- an increase in number of bathrooms per property, driven by increase in demand for en-suites.

*UK market excludes Northern Ireland, Ireland market includes Northern Ireland

Complementary, extensive product range and brands

The Board believes that the acquisition of Merlyn will add a number of well-established and market leading brands to the Group's portfolio, which together provide a significant barrier to entry. Furthermore, the Board believes that the enhancement of its bathroom product portfolio allows the offering of additional products both domestically and internationally to Norcros' customer base.

Merlyn offers an extensive range of design-led mid to high end products manufactured to the highest specification and offers superior customer service through a dedicated, award winning sales and support team. A cornerstone of Merlyn's success has been its channel strategy, developing differentiated brands for each of its targeted sales channels. In the financial year ended 31 March 2017, approximately 80 per cent. of gross revenue (before rebates) was generated through the sales of doors and enclosures with a further 20 per cent. through the sale of trays and bath screens. Set out below is a summary of Merlyn's principal shower enclosure brands and their respective primary distribution channels.

 
 Brand                                   Range description                       Primary channel 
--------------------------------------  --------------------------------------  -------------------------------------- 
 Merlyn Showering : - The Series         Merlyn's most well-known range of       Bathroom specialists with mid-high 
 Collection                              mid-high end products                   end showrooms 
--------------------------------------  --------------------------------------  -------------------------------------- 
 Ionic                                   Fast and easy installation products     National and regional merchants and 
                                         designed for use by contractors and     specification contracts 
                                         tradesmen 
--------------------------------------  --------------------------------------  -------------------------------------- 
 Arysto                                  Luxury range launched in May 2016,      Premium bathroom specialists with 
                                         utilising high quality materials        high end showrooms 
--------------------------------------  --------------------------------------  -------------------------------------- 
 Vivid                                   Mid-high end shower enclosures          Bathroom product distributors 
--------------------------------------  --------------------------------------  -------------------------------------- 
 

Merlyn's portfolio of aspirational brands is synonymous with superior design, quality and service. As a result, Merlyn enjoys high levels of brand advocacy and loyalty among key customers and influencers and, since Merlyn was established in 2000, the business has delivered a consistent track record of growth and has generated consistently high margins as a result of its premium products.

Complementary sales channel management

Merlyn has successfully established multiple sales channels across:

   -       independent retailers; 
   -       regional merchants; 
   -       national merchants; 
   -       targeted specification contracts; and 
   -       distributors. 

As a strong B2B brand, independent retailers, merchants, specifiers and installers are key influencers on Merlyn's customers in their purchasing decision. Merlyn has earned the trust of influencers over many years, based upon its superior delivery on both service and quality.

The Board believes that multiple sales channels provide end market diversification and also significant growth opportunities in the future. Merlyn's sales are delivered through a network of 19 experienced Regional Sales Managers across the UK and Ireland and Merlyn showcases its products via the recently refreshed and innovative Merlyn website and continues to grow its social media presence. The Board believes that a key differentiator of Merlyn is the strength of its sales and support team and its superior customer service. Merlyn has over 900 customers and serves approximately 2,250 delivery locations. In the financial year ended 31 March 2017, approximately 75 per cent. of gross revenue (before rebates) was generated through the repair and maintenance sector with 25 per cent. through sales to the new build sector.

Industry leading product development

Merlyn is at the forefront of shower enclosure design and innovation and its focus on continual product evolution has allowed Merlyn to strengthen its position within the industry. Merlyn is committed to bringing new products to market with a culture of innovation that runs deep within the company and employees are encouraged to assist in new product idea generation via the Merlyn intranet. The Board believes that Merlyn's innovative culture and focus on product development is consistent with the Group's objective to expand its product range both in the UK and internationally. New product development remains a key strategic target for the Group as the Group seeks to execute on a strong pipeline of new product programmes in place for the future. Sales generated from new product development have been between 10 and 20 per cent. in the three years ended 31 March 2017. Since 2011, the company has launched on average 5.5 new or evolved product ranges per annum.

Supply chain

Since 2008, Merlyn has operated a flexible and outsourced manufacturing model, with all shower enclosures and bath screen products sourced from supply partners based in China. The manufacturing is mainly spread across five engineering partners where Merlyn is the significant customer and there is ability to dual-source amongst these suppliers. The Group currently sources a significant element of its components and products from China and subsequently the Board believes that there should be an opportunity to generate economies of scale given the size of the Group's Chinese supply chain.

Growth initiatives

The Group believes that Merlyn has significant opportunities to continue to grow by focusing on current core activities, including:

   -       existing ranges and new product innovations; 
   -       expansion of established routes to markets; and 
   -       increased "share of wallet" within the current customer base. 

In addition, there are also a number of exciting medium and long-term strategic opportunities including:

   -       new geographies: driving further internationalisation of the business; 
   -       new product categories: widening Merlyn's product range into complementary areas; and 
   -       new channels: expanding in the commercial, hospitality and care markets. 
   3.2               The Capital Raising 

The Company is proposing to raise gross proceeds of approximately GBP31.4 million by way of the Capital Raising. The Board considers the Firm Placing and Placing and Open Offer to be a suitable fundraising structure as it will allow access to new investors to broaden the Company's shareholder base, whilst providing existing Shareholders with the opportunity to participate in the fundraising through the Open Offer.

The Board believes that undertaking the Capital Raising at the Offer Price represents an attractive opportunity for the Company to secure additional equity funding and maintain sufficient capacity to pursue further growth opportunities that may arise.

   3.3               Debt refinancing 

The Group agreed a five year GBP70 million investment grade senior multicurrency revolving facility agreement (with a GBP30 million accordion option) with Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Bank plc and Lloyds Bank plc on 21 July 2014. This agreement was amended and restated on 2 November 2017 with the effect that increased facilities of GBP120 million (with a GBP30 million accordion option) were made available to the Group subject to the automatic release of the Acquisition Agreement and other acquisition documents from Escrow, being the date on which the Acquisition Agreement would be completed and dated ("Effective Date"). The amended and restated agreement has a term of four years, though the Group has the option to request a one year extension during the first year of operation of the amended and restated agreement.

The amended and restated agreement has an interest rate comprised of the aggregate of the applicable LIBOR (the London Interbank Offered Rate) (or if made in euros, EURIBOR (the Euro Interbank Offered Rate)) for the relevant drawing and a margin of between 1.7 and 3.0 per cent. per annum (depending on the Group's leverage ratio). A number of the standard representations contained in the original agreement were repeated on the date of the amendment and restatement agreement and will be repeated on the Effective Date. The representations continue to include applicable carve-outs and grace periods. The amended and restated agreement includes undertakings which the borrowers and guarantors are required to comply with including financial covenants. The events of default in the amended and restated agreement are usual and customary for the facilities being provided.

   4                     Financial impact of the Acquisition and use of proceeds 

The total consideration payable under the terms of the Acquisition Agreement is approximately GBP60.0 million (subject to certain adjustments) and, in addition, the Company will incur expenses of approximately GBP3.9 million (excluding VAT) in connection with the Acquisition and the Capital Raising.

The Company proposes to use the net proceeds of the Capital Raising of approximately GBP29.9 million to fund a proportion of the consideration payable under the Acquisition Agreement and the associated transaction fees. The remaining GBP30.1 million of consideration will be funded through the Group's new banking facilities.

The Group expects the Acquisition to be earnings enhancing in the financial year ending 31 March 2019 and to deliver a return on capital employed in excess of 13 per cent. in the financial year ending 31 March 2019, significantly above Norcros' cost of capital.

The Board intends to maintain the existing Group dividend policy post completion of the Acquisition.

   5                   Summary information on the Group and its current trading 
   5.1               Overview 

Norcros is a leading supplier of high quality and innovative showers, taps, bathroom accessories, ceramic wall and floor tiles and adhesive products with operations primarily in the UK and South Africa.

In the UK, the Group offers a wide range of quality bathroom and kitchen products, both for domestic and commercial applications. The Group's UK portfolio of businesses is well established, services a broad customer base and benefits from leading market positions and strong brands. The Group's six UK complementary businesses are:

- Triton - the leading manufacturer and distributor of electric and mixer showers and accessories;

- Vado - manufacturer and distributor of taps, mixer showers, bathroom accessories and valves;

- Croydex - market-leading, innovative designer, manufacturer and distributor of high quality bathroom furnishings and accessories;

- Abode - a leading niche designer and distributor of high quality kitchen taps, bathroom taps, and kitchen sinks;

   -       Johnson Tiles - a leading manufacturer and distributor of ceramic wall and floor tiles; and 
   -       Norcros Adhesives - manufacturer of tile and stone adhesives and ancillary products. 

The Group also has complementary businesses in South Africa, operating principally from a shared manufacturing and administrative site near Johannesburg, allowing operational, revenue and cost synergies. The Group's three South African businesses are:

- Tile Africa - a leading retailer of local and international tiles and associated bathroom and kitchen products;

- Johnson Tiles South Africa - a leading manufacturer and distributor of ceramic wall and floor tiles; and

- TAL - the leading manufacturer of tile adhesives, pourable floor coverings and tiling tools.

   5.2               Current trading and prospects of Norcros 

On 12 October 2017, and in advance of the Group's interim results for the half year ended 30 September 2017, the Group published the following trading update:

"Group revenue and underlying operating profit in the first half is expected to be in line with the Board's expectations.

Group revenue for the first half is expected to be approximately GBP144.9 million (2016: GBP128.8 million), 12.5% higher than the prior year and 7.1% higher on a constant currency basis. The growth reflects a robust performance in the Group's UK business and continued growth in the Group's South African business. UK revenue for the first half was 8.4% higher than the prior year, reflecting growth in all channels, and benefitting in particular from the Group's strong positions in the new housebuild sector and in selective export markets. The Group's South African business again delivered revenue growth in the first half of the year, 4.8% higher than the prior year on a constant currency basis continuing the sustained progress of recent years. Revenue was 21.0% higher on a reported basis reflecting a stronger South African Rand.

The Group continues to focus on working capital and cash management and as a result closing net debt is expected to have reduced to around GBP21 million (2016: GBP27.5 million).

Against the backdrop of challenging market conditions, the Group's performance demonstrates the strength of its market positions and the resilience of the Group's diversified business portfolio delivering revenue growth in all UK sectors, strong growth in exports and sustained progress in South Africa. The Board remains confident that the Group will continue to make progress in line with its expectations for the year to 31 March 2018."

The Company will publish its interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2017 on 16 November 2017. The Company expects to publish a supplementary prospectus in respect of these interim results on 16 November 2017.

   6                  Summary information on Merlyn 
   6.1               Overview 

Background

Merlyn was founded by Michael Hoyne in 2000, launching several ranges of mid to high end shower enclosures, bath screens and trays for the independent retail market in the UK and Ireland. Broadlake Private Equity undertook an investment into Merlyn to become a minority shareholder in 2015.

Business overview

Merlyn designs, engineers, assembles and distributes high quality, premium, branded shower enclosures. The business has a multi-channel sales approach based on distinct brands for each channel. The company supplies independent retailers, national and regional merchants, targeted specification contracts (housebuilders, hotels and leisure operators) and distributors. Merlyn employs 58 staff at their headquarters in Kilkenny, Ireland, a 17 person sales team located in the UK and has a nine-person engineering and quality control team located in China. Third party logistics are based in Wexford, Ireland and West Bromwich, UK, with facilities of 30,000 sq.ft and 70,000 sq.ft respectively.

There are a number of routes to market of which independent retail and regional merchants are the largest. The business currently services over 900 accounts and this multi-channel distribution reduces the risk of dependence on any particular channel or customer.

Merlyn shower enclosures are brought to market through the following distinct channels:

   -       independent retail and regional merchants (62 per cent.); 
   -       specification (22 per cent.); 
   -       national merchants (12 per cent.); and 
   -       national distributors (4 per cent.) 

The percentages set out above refer to gross revenue (before rebates) and are unaudited.

The Directors consider that the key strengths of Merlyn include:

   -       the market leading and brand leading position in the UK and Irish shower enclosure market; 
   -       wide distribution base with strong customer relationships; 
   -       focus on product design and customer service; 
   -       an opportunity for growth both within the UK market and through exports; 
   -       a well-established outsourced manufacturing model; and 
   -       an experienced management team. 
   6.2               Current trading and prospects of Merlyn 

Merlyn is trading in line with the expectations of the management of the business for the six months ended 30 September 2017, with the revenue growth continuing to be driven by successful price increases, new product launches and growing market share.

   7                    Summary of the key terms of the Acquisition 
   7.1               Acquisition Agreement 

The Acquisition Agreement was entered into on 2 November 2017 by the Sellers, the Purchaser and the Company.

In accordance with the provisions of the Acquisition Agreement and subject to the satisfaction or the waiver of the conditions set forth therein, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase all of the issued shares in Merlyn and, by virtue of acquiring Merlyn, the Purchaser shall also indirectly acquire its subsidiary Merlyn UK.

The total consideration to be paid by the Purchaser for all of the shares in Merlyn is GBP60.0 million on a debt free, cash free basis (subject to certain adjustments), to be satisfied in cash on the day following the day of Completion.

   7.2               Class 1 transaction approvals 

Owing to its size, the Acquisition constitutes a Class 1 transaction for the purposes of the Listing Rules and therefore requires approval from Shareholders. Accordingly, a General Meeting has been convened for 22 November 2017 for the purpose of passing resolutions to approve the Acquisition and facilitate the Capital Raising.

   8                    Integration, management and employees following the Acquisition 

The Board anticipates integrating Merlyn to operate as a new standalone business unit. As a result, it is anticipated that all employees of Merlyn will continue to be employed by the Enlarged Group following Completion. The Board attaches great importance to the skills and experience of the management and employees of Merlyn and believes they will be an important factor in the success of the Enlarged Group.

   9                     Dividend Policy 

The Board intends to continue with its progressive dividend policy. It still expects to retain sufficient capital to fund ongoing operating requirements, an appropriate level of dividend cover and funds to invest in the Group's long-term growth.

For the year ended 31 March 2017, the Company paid a full year dividend of 7.2p per share (2016: 6.6p per share).

The Board expects to publish the interim results for the 6 months ended 30 September 2017 on 16 November 2017. New Ordinary Shares will qualify for any interim dividend declared provided they are issued before the record date.

   10                 Principal terms of the Capital Raising 

The Company proposes to issue New Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Capital Raising to raise approximately GBP31.4 million, before expenses. Numis has made arrangements to conditionally place the Firm Placing Shares with Firm Placees, and to conditionally place the Open Offer Shares with Placees subject to claw-back to satisfy valid applications by Qualifying Shareholders under the Open Offer, in each case pursuant to the Sponsor and Placing Agreement.

The Offer Price was set having regard to the prevailing market conditions and the size of the Capital Raising. The Offer Price represents a discount of approximately 5.9 per cent. to the Closing Price of 182.75 pence per Existing Ordinary Share on 1 November 2017 (being the last Business Day before the announcement of the Capital Raising). The Directors believe that it is necessary to offer the New Ordinary Shares at a discount to complete the Capital Raising to allow the Company to raise the required funding and accordingly believe that such discount is in the best interests of the Shareholders, and that the Offer Price is appropriate for the Capital Raising.

The Capital Raising is conditional, amongst other things, on:

   --           the Resolutions being passed by the Shareholders at the General Meeting; 
   --           the Sponsor and Placing Agreement becoming unconditional; and 
   --           Admission becoming effective. 
   10.1           The Firm Placing 

Numis, as agent of the Company, has made arrangements to conditionally place the Firm Placing Shares with institutional investors at the Offer Price subject to the terms and conditions of the Sponsor and Placing Agreement. The Firm Placing is conditional as mentioned above.

The Firm Placing Shares represent approximately 33.8 per cent. of the New Ordinary Shares and approximately 7.7 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital immediately following Admission. The Firm Placing is expected to raise approximately GBP10.6 million. The Firm Placing Shares are not subject to clawback and therefore do not form part of the Open Offer.

   10.2           The Placing and Open Offer 

The Open Offer is an opportunity for Qualifying Shareholders to acquire Open Offer Shares (being in aggregate 12.1 million New Ordinary Shares or 66.2 per cent. of the Capital Raising) by subscribing for their respective Open Offer Entitlements and, through the Excess Application Facility, applying for Excess Shares, in each case at the Offer Price in accordance with the terms of the Open Offer. The Open Offer is expected to raise approximately GBP20.8 million. Pursuant to the Sponsor and Placing Agreement, Numis, as agents for the Company, have made arrangements to conditionally place the Open Offer Shares with institutional investors at the Offer Price, subject to clawback in respect of valid applications being made by Qualifying Shareholders under the Open Offer on the basis of:

10 Open Offer Shares for every 51 Existing Ordinary Shares

in each case rounded down to the nearest whole number of Open Offer Shares plus Excess Shares for which Qualifying Shareholders are entitled to apply through the Excess Application Facility, details of which are set out below. To the extent that the Open Offer Shares are not taken up by Qualifying Shareholders under the Open Offer, an equivalent number of shares will be subscribed for by institutional investors pursuant to the Placing.

The Open Offer is not a rights issue. Qualifying CREST Shareholders should note that, although the Open Offer Entitlements and Excess Entitlements will be admitted to CREST and be enabled for settlement in CREST, neither the Open Offer Entitlements nor the Excess Entitlements will be tradeable or listed and applications in respect of the Open Offer may only be made by the Qualifying Shareholder originally entitled or by a person entitled by virtue of a bona fide market claim raised by Euroclear's Claims Processing Unit. Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders should note that their Application Form is not a negotiable document and cannot be traded. Qualifying Shareholders should be aware that in the Open Offer, unlike in a rights issue, any Open Offer Shares not applied for under the Open Offer will not be sold in the market or placed for the benefit of Qualifying Shareholders who do not apply under the Open Offer, and Qualifying Shareholders who do not apply to take up their Open Offer Entitlements will have no rights under the Open Offer or receive any proceeds from it.

The Open Offer will proceed, subject to Shareholder passing of the Resolutions and to the other conditions of the Capital Raising being satisfied. The Open Offer is conditional as mentioned above. The Open Offer Shares represent approximately 66.2 per cent. of the New Ordinary Shares and approximately 15.1 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital immediately following Admission.

The rights attaching to the Open Offer Shares will be uniform in all respects and will form a single class for all purposes. The Open Offer Shares are not being made available in whole or in part to the public except under the terms of the Open Offer. In the event that the Open Offer does not become unconditional by 10.00 a.m. on 1 December 2017 or such later time and date as the Company and Numis shall agree, the Open Offer will lapse and application monies will be returned, if the applicant holds their Existing Ordinary Shares in certificated form, by post at the applicant's risk and without payment of interest to the address set out on the Application Form, within 14 days thereafter. If the applicant holds their shares in uncertificated form, a refund will be made directly to their CREST account.

   10.3           The Excess Application Facility 

The Excess Application Facility will enable Qualifying Shareholders, provided that they take up their Open Offer Entitlement in full, to apply for Excess Shares through the Excess Application Facility, up to a maximum number of Excess Shares equal to the number of Open Offer Shares less their Open Offer Entitlement, subject to availability. Qualifying non-CREST Shareholders who wish to apply to acquire more than their Open Offer Entitlement should complete the relevant sections of the Application Form. Qualifying CREST Shareholders will have Excess Entitlements credited to their stock account in CREST and should refer to the section "If a Qualifying Shareholder has Open Offer Entitlements credited to his stock account in CREST in respect of his entitlement under the Open Offer" of Part III of the Prospectus for information on how to apply for Excess Shares pursuant to the Excess Application Facility. Applications under the Excess Application Facility shall be allocated in such manner as the Directors may determine, in their absolute discretion (and with the prior consent of Numis), and no assurance can be given that the applications for Excess Shares by Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders will be met in full or in part or at all. Excess monies in respect of applications which are not met in full will be returned to the applicant (at the applicant's risk) without interest as soon as practicable thereafter by way of cheque or CREST payment, as appropriate.

The aggregate number of Open Offer Shares available for acquisition pursuant to the Open Offer will not exceed 12,088,849 New Ordinary Shares.

   10.4           Effect of the Capital Raising 

Immediately following Admission, the Enlarged Share Capital is expected to be 79,907,295 Ordinary Shares. On this basis, the New Ordinary Shares will represent approximately 22.8 per cent. of the Enlarged Share Capital immediately following Admission.

Following the issue of the Firm Placing Shares to be allotted pursuant to the Firm Placing, Shareholders, regardless of whether they take up their full entitlements under the Open Offer or not, will suffer a dilution of up to approximately 7.7 per cent. of their interests in the Company. Qualifying Shareholders who take up their full Open Offer Entitlements under the Open Offer, but do not acquire any Excess Shares, will suffer a dilution of up to approximately 7.7 per cent. of their interests in the Company. Qualifying Shareholders who do not take up any of their Open Offer Entitlements under the Open Offer, and Shareholders who are not eligible to participate in the Open Offer, will suffer a dilution to approximately 22.8 per cent. of their interests in the Company.

   12                 Effect of the Capital Raising on the Plans 

In accordance with the rules of each Plan and if applicable, the number or exercise prices of options and awards under the Plans may be adjusted to take account of the Capital Raising. If this is the case, participants will be contacted separately.

   13                 Director participation in the Open Offer 

The Directors intend to take up the following number of Open Offer Shares in respect of Open Offer Entitlements. Certain Directors will also apply for Excess Shares,

 
                                  Number of 
                                   Open Offer 
                                   Shares in 
                                   respect of 
                   Open Offer      the Open Offer 
  Director          Entitlement    Entitlement 
----------------  -------------  ---------------- 
  Martin Towers    26,363         26,363 
----------------  -------------  ---------------- 
  Nicholas 
   Kelsall         155,965        155,965 
----------------  -------------  ---------------- 
  Shaun Smith      3,921          3,921 
----------------  -------------  ---------------- 
  David McKeith    2,941          2,941 
----------------  -------------  ---------------- 
  Joanna Hallas    3,921          3,921 
----------------  -------------  ---------------- 
 
   14                 Expected timetable of principal events 

All times are London times. Each of the times and dates in the table below is indicative only and is subject to change without further notice.

 
                                             Time and date 
Record Date for Open Offer Entitlements      5.00p.m. on 
 and Excess Entitlements under the            Tuesday 31 October 
 Open Offer                                   2017 
Announcement of the Acquisition              Thursday 2 November 
 and the Capital Raising                      2017 
Publication and posting of the               Thursday 2 November 
 Prospectus, the Application Form             2017 
 and Form of Proxy 
Ex-entitlement date for the Open             Thursday 2 November 
 Offer                                        2017 
Open Offer Entitlements and Excess           8.00 a.m. on 
 Entitlements enabled in CREST and            Friday 3 November 
 credited to stock accounts of Qualifying     2017 
 CREST Shareholders in CREST 
Recommended latest time for requesting       4.30 p.m. on 
 withdrawal of Open Offer Entitlements        Wednesday 15 
 and Excess Entitlements from CREST           November 2017 
Latest time and date for depositing          3.00 p.m. on 
 Open Offer Entitlements and Excess           Thursday 16 
 Entitlements into CREST                      November 2017 
Latest time and date for splitting           3.00 p.m. on 
 of Application Forms (to satisfy             Friday 17 November 
 bona fide market claims only)                2017 
Latest time and date for receipt             11.00 a.m. on 
 of completed Application Forms               Tuesday 21 November 
 and payment in full under the Open           2017 
 Offer or settlement of relevant 
 CREST instructions (as appropriate) 
Latest time and date for receipt             10.00 a.m. on 
 of Forms of Proxy/CREST Proxy Instructions   Monday 20 November 
                                              2017 
Announcement of results of Capital            Wednesday 22 
 Raising through Regulatory Information        November 2017 
 Service 
General Meeting                              10.00 a.m. on 
                                              Wednesday 22 
                                              November 2017 
Admission and commencement of dealings       8.00 a.m. on 
 in New Ordinary Shares                       Thursday 23 
                                              November 2017 
New Ordinary Shares credited to              as soon as practicable 
 CREST accounts (uncertificated               after Admission 
 holders only) 
Despatch of definitive share certificates    no later than 
 in respect of the New Ordinary               Thursday 30 
 Shares (where applicable)                    November 2017 
 
   15                Share capital and capital raising statistics 
 
Firm Placing and Placing and Open 
 Offer 
Offer Price per New Ordinary Share         172 pence 
Discount to the Closing Price of           5.9 per cent. 
 an Existing Ordinary Share on 1 
 November 2017 
Open Offer Entitlement                     10 Open Offer 
                                            Shares for every 
                                            51 Existing 
                                            Ordinary Shares 
Number of Existing Ordinary Shares 
 in issue at the Latest Practicable 
 Date                                      61,653,134 
Number of New Ordinary Shares to 
 be issued pursuant to the Capital 
 Raising                                   18,254,161 
Number of Ordinary Shares in issue 
 immediately following Admission           79,907,295 
New Ordinary Shares as a percentage        22.8 per cent. 
 of the Company's Enlarged Share 
 Capital immediately following Admission 
Estimated gross proceeds of the            GBP31.4 million 
 Acquisition and Capital Raising 
Estimated expenses of the Capital          GBP1.5 million 
 Raising 
Estimated net proceeds of the Capital      GBP29.9 million 
 Raising receivable by the Company 
 after deduction of estimated expenses 
Acquisition 
Estimated expenses of the Acquisition      GBP2.4 million 
 
   16                 General Meeting 

Set out at the end of the Prospectus entitled "Notice of General Meeting" is a notice convening a General Meeting of the Company to be held at the offices of Addleshaw Goddard LLP, One St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 3DE at 10.00 a.m. on 22 November 2017, at which the Resolutions to approve the Acquisition and Capital Raising will be proposed. The Resolutions are set out in full in the Notice of General Meeting.

Your attention is drawn to the fact that the Acquisition is conditional (among other things) upon Shareholder approval. As a result of the size of the Merlyn Group when compared to the Group, the Acquisition is classified under the Listing Rules as a Class 1 transaction and its implementation requires the approval of Shareholders.

Voting on the Resolutions at the General Meeting will be by way of poll. Please refer to the notes contained in the Notice of the General Meeting set out at the end of the Prospectus.

Whether or not you intend to be present at the General Meeting, you are asked to complete the Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed on it and to return it to the Registrar, Capita Asset Services, PXS 1, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4ZF, by not later than 10.00 a.m. on 20 November 2017, as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to arrive not later than 10.00 a.m. on 22 November 2017.

The completion and return of the Form of Proxy will not preclude you from attending the General Meeting and voting in person if you wish to do so.

If you hold shares in CREST, you may appoint a proxy by completing and transmitting a CREST Proxy Instruction to the issuer's agent, ID RA10, so that it is received no later than 10.00 a.m. on 20 November 2017.

   17                 Action to be taken 

If you are a Shareholder, you will find enclosed with this document a Form of Proxy for use at the General Meeting.

   18                 Recommendation and voting intentions 

The Board considers the Acquisition, the Capital Raising and the Resolutions to be in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders taken as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of all of the Resolutions, as all of the Directors intend to do in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings, amounting to 984,878 Ordinary Shares in aggregate as at the Latest Practicable Date (representing approximately 1.6 per cent. of the Existing Ordinary Shares).

APPIX

Definitions

 
 Acquisition               the proposed acquisition of the 
                            entire issued share capital of 
                            Merlyn pursuant to the Acquisition 
                            Agreement 
 Acquisition               the agreement dated 2 November 
  Agreement                 2017 between the Purchaser and 
                            the Sellers pursuant to which the 
                            Purchaser conditionally agreed 
                            to acquire the entire issued share 
                            capital of Merlyn, a summary of 
                            which contained in the Prospectus 
 Admission                 the admission of the Firm Placing 
                            Shares and the Open Offer Shares 
                            by the UKLA to listing on the premium 
                            segment of the Official List and 
                            by the London Stock Exchange to 
                            trading on the Main Market 
 AIFMD                     European Alternative Investment 
                            Fund Managers Directive 
 Amendment and             the amendment and restatement agreement 
  Restatement               dated 2 November referred to in 
  Agreement                 the Prospectus 
 Application               the application form accompanying 
  Form                      this document on which Qualifying 
                            Non-CREST Shareholders may apply 
                            for Open Offer Shares under the 
                            Open Offer 
 APSP                      the Norcros plc 2011 Approved Performance 
                            Share Plan 2011 
 Merlyn                    Merlyn Industries Limited, incorporated 
                            in Ireland with registration number 
                            318543 
 Merlyn Group              prior to the Reorganisation on 
                            25 May 2015, Merlyn and Merlyn 
                            UK on a combined basis, and, thereafter, 
                            the Merlyn and its subsidiaries 
                            and subsidiary undertakings, and, 
                            where the context requires, its 
                            associated undertakings 
 Merlyn UK                 Merlyn Industries U.K. Limited, 
                            incorporated in England and Wales 
                            with registration number 3906029 
 Articles or               the articles of association of 
  Articles of               the Company from time to time 
  Association 
 Audit and Risk            the audit and risk committee of 
  Committee                 the Board 
 Auditors                  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
 Board                     the board of directors of the Company 
                            for the time being 
 Business Day              a day other than a Saturday or 
                            Sunday on which banks are generally 
                            open for non-automated business 
                            in the City of London 
 Capita Asset              a trading name of Capita Registrars 
  Services                  Limited 
 Capital Raising           the Firm Placing and the Placing 
                            and Open Offer 
 certificated              a share or other security (as appropriate) 
  or in certificated        not in uncertificated form (that 
  form                      is, not in CREST) 
 City Code                 the UK City Code on Takeovers and 
                            Mergers, as amended, supplemented 
                            or replaced from time to time 
 Closing Price             the closing middle market quotation 
                            of an Existing Ordinary Share as 
                            derived from SEDOL 
 Companies Act             the Companies Act 2006, as amended 
  or Act 
 Company or                Norcros plc 
  the Issuer 
  or Norcros 
 Completion                completion of the Acquisition in 
                            accordance with the terms of the 
                            Acquisition Agreement 
 CREST                     the relevant system (as defined 
                            in the CREST Regulations) for paperless 
                            settlement of sales and purchases 
                            of securities and the holding of 
                            shares in uncertificated form in 
                            respect of which Euroclear is the 
                            operator (as defined in the CREST 
                            Regulations) 
 CREST Manual              the rules governing the operation 
                            of CREST as published by Euroclear 
 CREST member              a person who has been admitted 
                            by Euroclear as a system member 
                            (as defined in the CREST Regulations) 
 CREST personal            a CREST member admitted to CREST 
  member                    as a personal member 
 CREST Proxy               has the meaning ascribed to it 
  Instruction               in the notes to the Notice of General 
                            Meeting 
 CREST Regulations         the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 
                            2001 (SI 2001/3755) (as applicable), 
                            as amended from time to time 
 DBP                       the Norcros plc 2011 Deferred Bonus 
                            Plan 
 Directors                 the directors of the Company, whose 
                            names appear in paragraph 2 of 
                            Part XIV (Persons Responsible, 
                            Directors, Senior Management and 
                            Corporate Governance) of this document, 
                            or the directors for the time being 
                            of the Company, as the context 
                            requires, and "Director" shall 
                            be construed accordingly 
 Disclosure                Articles 17, 18 and 19 of the Market 
  Requirements              Abuse Regulation 
 document or               this combined circular and prospectus 
  Prospectus 
 EEA or European           the European Union, Iceland, Norway 
  Economic Area             and Liechtenstein 
 EEA State or              a member state of the EEA or the 
  Member State              European Union 
 Enlarged Group            the Group as enlarged by the Acquisition 
                            and the proceeds of the Capital 
                            Raising (following Completion and 
                            Admission, as applicable) 
 Enlarged Share            the Ordinary Shares in issue in 
  Capital                   the capital of the Company immediately 
                            after Admission 
 Escrow                    the meaning given to it in the 
                            Prospectus 
 European Union            the economic and political union 
  or EU                     of Member States which are located 
                            primarily in Europe 
 Excess Application        Applications under the Excess Application 
  Facility                  Facility shall be allocated in 
                            such manner as the Directors may 
                            determine, in their absolute discretion 
                            (and with the prior consent of 
                            Numis), and no assurance can be 
                            given that the applications for 
                            Excess Shares by Qualifying Non-CREST 
                            Shareholders will be met in full 
                            or in part or at all. Excess monies 
                            in respect of applications which 
                            are not met in full will be returned 
                            to the applicant (at the applicant's 
                            risk) without interest as soon 
                            as practicable thereafter by way 
                            of cheque or CREST payment, as 
                            appropriate. 
 Excess Entitlement        in respect of each Qualifying Shareholder, 
                            the entitlement (in addition to 
                            his Open Offer Entitlement) to 
                            apply for Open Offer Shares up 
                            to the number of Open Offer Shares 
                            less his Open Offer Entitlement 
                            pursuant to the Excess Application 
                            Facility, which is conditional 
                            on such Qualifying Shareholder 
                            agreeing to take up his Open Offer 
                            Entitlement in full and which may 
                            be subject to scaling back in accordance 
                            with the provisions of the Prospectus 
 Excess Shares             New Ordinary Shares in addition 
                            to his Open Offer Entitlement for 
                            which a Qualifying Shareholder 
                            may apply under the Excess Application 
                            Facility 
 Excluded Territories      each of Australia, Canada, Japan, 
                            South Africa and the United States, 
                            and any other jurisdiction where 
                            the availability of the Capital 
                            Raising would breach any applicable 
                            laws or regulations and "Excluded 
                            Territory" shall mean any of them 
 Existing Ordinary         the 61,653,134 Ordinary Shares 
  Shares                    in issue at the date of this document 
 Facilities                the agreement relating to the facilities 
  Agreement                 referred to in paragraph 11.4 of 
                            Part XV of the Prospectus (as amended 
                            and restated by the Amendment and 
                            Restatement Agreement) 
 FCA                       the UK Financial Conduct Authority 
 FCA Handbook              the FCA's Handbook of Rules and 
                            Guidance 
 Firm Placee               means any person that has conditionally 
                            agreed to subscribe for Firm Placing 
                            Shares 
 Firm Placing              means the conditional placing by 
                            Numis of the Firm Placing Shares 
                            on the terms and subject to the 
                            conditions contained in the Sponsor 
                            and Placing Agreement 
 Firm Placing              the 6,165,312 new Ordinary Shares 
  Shares                    which are to be issued pursuant 
                            to the Firm Placing 
 Form of Proxy             the form of proxy enclosed with 
                            this document for use in connection 
                            with the General Meeting 
 FSMA                      the Financial Services and Markets 
                            Act 2000, as amended 
 General Meeting           the general meeting of the Company 
                            proposed to be held at the offices 
                            of Addleshaw Goddard LLP, One St 
                            Peter's Square, Manchester M2 3DE 
                            at 10.00 a.m. on 22 November 2017 
                            to approve the Resolutions, the 
                            notice of which is contained in 
                            the Prospectus 
 Grant Thornton            Grant Thornton UK LLP of Grant 
                            Thornton House, Melton Street Euston 
                            Square, Euston, London NW1 2EP 
 Group                     the Company and its subsidiaries 
                            and its subsidiary undertakings, 
                            and when the context requires, 
                            its associated undertakings 
 IFRS                      International Financial Reporting 
                            Standards, as issued by the International 
                            Accounting Standards Board 
 ISIN                      International Securities Identification 
                            Number 
 Latest Practicable        1 November 2017 
  Date 
 Listing Rules             the rules of the FCA relating to 
                            the admission to the Official List 
                            made by the FCA under section 73A(2) 
                            of FSMA 
 London Stock              London Stock Exchange plc or its 
  Exchange                  successor(s) 
 Main Market               the London Stock Exchange's main 
                            market for listed securities 
 Market Abuse              Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of 
  Regulation                the European Parliament and of 
                            the Council of 16 April 2014 on 
                            market abuse and its implementing 
                            legislation 
 Money Laundering          the Money Laundering Regulations 
  Regulations               (SI 2007 No.2157), as amended 
 New Ordinary              the Firm Placing Shares and the 
  Shares                    Open Offer Shares 
 Nomination                the nomination committee of the 
  Committee                 Board 
 Non-PE Sellers            Michael Hoyne, Barry Hoyne, Nicola 
                            Hoyne, Andrew Hoyne, Charlie Soden, 
                            Michael Kilcommons and Barandnic 
                            Holdings Limited 
 Notice of General         the notice convening the General 
  Meeting                   Meeting which is contained in the 
                            Prospectus 
 Numis or Sponsor          Numis Securities Limited of 10 
                            Paternoster Square, London, EC4M 
                            7LT 
 Official List             the Official List of the UK Listing 
                            Authority 
 Open Offer                the offer to Qualifying Shareholders 
                            constituting an offer to apply 
                            for the Open Offer Shares at the 
                            Offer Price on the terms and subject 
                            to the conditions set out in the 
                            Prospectus, and in the case of 
                            the Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders, 
                            the Application Form 
 Open Offer                the pro rata entitlement of Qualifying 
  Entitlement               Shareholders to subscribe for 10 
                            Open Offer Share(s) for every 51 
                            Existing Ordinary Shares registered 
                            in their name as at the Record 
                            Date, on and subject to the terms 
                            of the Open Offer 
 Open Offer                the 12,088,849 new Ordinary Shares 
  Shares                    to be offered to Qualifying Shareholders 
                            pursuant to the Open Offer and 
                            to Placees pursuant to the Placing 
 Ordinary Shares           the ordinary shares of GBP0.10 
                            in the capital of the Company from 
                            time to time 
 Overseas Shareholders     Shareholders with registered addresses 
                            outside the United Kingdom or who 
                            are citizens or residents of countries 
                            outside the United Kingdom 
 Panel on Takeovers        the UK Panel on Takeovers and Mergers 
  and Mergers 
 Placee                    any person who has agreed or shall 
                            agree to subscribe for Open Offer 
                            Shares pursuant to the Placing, 
                            subject to clawback to satisfy 
                            valid applications by Qualifying 
                            Shareholders under the Open Offer 
 Placing                   the placing of the Open Offer Shares 
                            at the Offer Price to Placees by 
                            Numis in accordance with the terms 
                            of the Sponsor and Placing Agreement, 
                            subject to clawback to satisfy 
                            valid applications by Qualifying 
                            Shareholders under the Open Offer 
 Placing Price             172 pence per New Ordinary Share 
 Plans                     the APSP, the DBP and the SAYE 
                            (as those expressions are defined 
                            in paragraph 4 of the Prospectus 
 pounds sterling           the lawful currency of the United 
  or GBP                    Kingdom 
 Prospectus                the rules of the FCA made for the 
  Rules                     purposes of Part VI of FSMA in 
                            relation to offers of securities 
                            to the public and the admission 
                            of securities to trading on a regulated 
                            market 
 Purchaser                 Norcros Group (Holdings) Limited, 
                            a wholly-owned subsidiary of the 
                            Company 
 Qualifying                Qualifying Shareholders holding 
  CREST Shareholders        Ordinary Shares in uncertificated 
                            form on the Record Date 
 Qualifying                Qualifying Shareholders holding 
  Non-CREST Shareholders    Ordinary Shares in certificated 
                            form on the Record Date 
 Qualifying                holders of Ordinary Shares on the 
  Shareholders              register of members of the Company 
                            at the Record Date with the exclusion 
                            of Overseas Shareholders with a 
                            registered address or resident 
                            in any Excluded Territory 
 Receiving Agent           Capita Asset Services, The Registry, 
  or Capita                 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, 
                            BR3 4TU 
 Record Date               5.00 p.m. on 31 October 2017 
 Refinancing               the refinancing which will take 
                            effect when the Amendment and Restatement 
                            Agreement becomes effective 
 Registrar                 Capita Asset Services, The Registry, 
                            34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, 
                            BR3 4TU 
 regulatory                any central bank, ministry, governmental, 
  authority                 quasi governmental (including the 
                            European Union), supranational, 
                            statutory, regulatory or investigative 
                            body or authority (including any 
                            national or supranational anti-trust 
                            or merger control authority), national, 
                            state, municipal or local government 
                            (including any subdivision, court, 
                            administrative agency or commission 
                            or other authority thereof), private 
                            body exercising any regulatory, 
                            taxing, importing or other authority, 
                            trade agency, association, institution 
                            or professional or environmental 
                            body or any other person or body 
                            whatsoever in any relevant jurisdiction, 
                            including for the avoidance of 
                            doubt, the Panel on Takeovers and 
                            Mergers, the FCA, the UKLA and 
                            the London Stock Exchange 
 Regulatory                one of the regulatory information 
  Information               services authorised by the UKLA 
  Service                   to receive, process and disseminate 
                            regulatory information from listed 
                            companies 
 Regulation                Regulation S under the US Securities 
  S                         Act 
 Remuneration              the remuneration committee of the 
  Committee                 Board 
 Resolutions               the resolutions set out in the 
                            Notice of General Meeting 
 SAYE                      the Norcros plc Savings-Related 
                            Share Option Scheme 2017 and the 
                            Norcros plc Savings-Related Share 
                            Option Scheme 2007 
 SEDOL                     the London Stock Exchange Daily 
                            Official List 
 Sellers                   the Non-PE Sellers and Winnipeg 
                            Lake Holdings Limited 
 Senior Independent        the "senior independent director", 
  Director                  as referred to in the UK Corporate 
                            Governance Code 
 senior management         certain members of the Group's 
                            management team named as senior 
                            management in the Prospectus 
 Shareholder               a holder of Ordinary Shares for 
                            the time being 
 Sponsor and               the sponsor and placing agreement 
  Placing Agreement         dated 2 November 2017 between the 
                            Company and Numis, details of which 
                            are set out in the Prospectus 
 subsidiary                the meaning given to it in the 
                            Companies Act 
 subsidiary                the meaning given to it in the 
  undertaking               Companies Act 
 Transparency              the rules made under section 73A(6) 
  Rules                     of FSMA, which relate to major 
                            shareholdings and the notification 
                            and dissemination of information 
                            by issuers of transferable securities, 
                            and which are set out in chapters 
                            4, 5 and 6 of the FCA's Disclosure 
                            Guidance and Transparency Rules 
                            sourcebook 
 UK Corporate              the UK Corporate Governance Code 
  Governance                published by the Financial Reporting 
  Code                      Council, as amended from time to 
                            time 
 UK Listing                the FCA in its capacity as the 
  Authority or              competent authority for the purpose 
  UKLA                      of Part VI of FSMA 
 uncertificated            in relation to a share or other 
  or in uncertificated      security, a share or other security 
  form                      title in uncertificated form to 
                            which is recorded on the relevant 
                            register of the share or security 
                            concerned as being held in uncertificated 
                            form in CREST and title to which, 
                            by virtue of the CREST Regulations, 
                            may be transferred through CREST 
 United Kingdom            the United Kingdom of Great Britain 
  or UK                     and Northern Ireland 
 United States             the United States of America, its 
  or US                     territories and possessions, any 
                            state of the United States of America 
                            and the District of Columbia 
 US Securities             US Securities Act of 1933, as amended 
  Act 
 USD, US dollars           the lawful currency of the United 
  or $                      States 
 VAT                       UK value added tax 
 wholly-owned              the meaning given to it in the 
  subsidiary                Companies Act 
 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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