Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • May 20, 2024
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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If you are in any doubt about the contents of this document or about what action to take, you should immediately seek your own professional advice from your stockbroker, bank, fund manager, solicitor, accountant or other appropriately qualified independent financial advisor authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended, if you are taking advice in the United Kingdom or, if you are resident in another jurisdiction, from another appropriately authorised independent financial or professional advisor. All Shareholders are advised to consult their professional advisors regarding their own tax position.
If you sell or otherwise transfer, or have sold or otherwise transferred, all of your Ordinary Shares before 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024 or ADSs before 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on Tuesday 18 June 2024, please send this Circular as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for onward transmission to the purchaser or transferee. If you sell or otherwise transfer, or have sold or otherwise transferred, only part of your holding of Ordinary Shares or ADSs, you should retain this Circular and the accompanying documentation, and you should consult with the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected. If you receive this document as a purchaser or transferee of Ordinary Shares, please contact the Receiving Agent for a Tender Form and for a Form of Proxy. If you receive this document as a purchaser or transferee of ADSs, please contact the Information Agent for details on how to participate in the Tender Offer and the Depositary for details on how to vote in the General Meeting.
Any person (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees) who may have a contractual or legal obligation or may otherwise intend to forward this Circular to any jurisdiction outside the UK or the United States should seek appropriate advice before taking any action. The distribution of this Circular and any accompanying documents into jurisdictions other than the UK or the United States may be restricted by law. Any person not in the UK or in the United States into whose possession this Circular and any accompanying documents come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
The Tender Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, email and telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction where the mailing of this Circular or the accompanying documents, or the extension of the Tender Offer, in the manner contemplated by this Circular into or inside such jurisdiction would constitute violation of the laws of such jurisdiction ("Restricted Jurisdiction"). Copies of this Circular and the Tender Form are not being and must not be mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into any Restricted Jurisdiction, including to Shareholders with registered addresses in these jurisdictions or to persons whom the Company or Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies") know to be trustees, nominees or custodians holding Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) for such persons. Neither Ordinary Shares nor ADSs may be tendered in the Tender Offer by guaranteed delivery.
Incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 09582467
PROPOSED CAPITAL RETURN OF \$100 MILLION TO SHAREHOLDERS BY WAY OF A TENDER OFFER FOR UP TO 33,500,000 ORDINARY SHARES (INCLUDING ORDINARY SHARES REPRESENTED BY AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES) AT 250 PENCE PER ORDINARY SHARE
The return of cash to Shareholders is being implemented by way of a tender offer for the Ordinary Shares to be made by Jefferies acting as principal and on the terms and subject to the Tender Conditions referred to in this Circular. ADS Holders may participate in the Tender Offer by tendering ADSs, which will be deemed an instruction to the Tender Agent to cause the Custodian for the Depositary to tender the Ordinary Shares underlying the tendered ADSs. In the United States, Jefferies LLC, the registered US broker-dealer affiliate of Jefferies, is also participating in the Tender Offer as required by US law. Jefferies and the Company have entered into the Option Agreement pursuant to which Jefferies has the right to require the Company to purchase from Jefferies the Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) purchased by it under the Tender Offer, at the Tender Price. If Jefferies does not exercise its right to require the Company to purchase such Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs), the Company has the right to require Jefferies to sell such Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) to it at the Tender Price.
Holders of Ordinary Shares and ADS Holders should read the whole of this Circular carefully. Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Chair of the Company which is set out in Part III of this Circular and which contains the recommendation from the Board that you vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting referred to below. The attention of ADS Holders is drawn to Part VIII of this Circular as it contains important information specifically in respect of tendering ADSs. Part IV and Part V of this Circular relate to Ordinary Shares. Except as set forth in Part VIII of this Circular or as otherwise expressly noted, Part IV and Part V of this Circular do not apply directly to ADSs or to the tender of ADSs. However, as a tender of ADSs will be deemed an instruction to the Depositary to cause the Custodian to tender the Ordinary Shares underlying tendered ADSs, Part IV and Part V of the Circular contain information relevant to ADS Holders as well as Ordinary Shareholders. A summary of the action to be taken by Shareholders is set out in paragraph 11 of Part III of this Circular and in the accompanying Notice of General Meeting.
None of the Company, its Directors, officers, employees or advisors or their respective affiliates makes any recommendation to any Shareholder whether to tender or refrain from tendering any or all of its, his or her Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) in the Tender Offer and none of them has authorised any person to make any such recommendation. Shareholders are urged to evaluate carefully all information in this Circular and the Tender Form, consult their own investment and tax advisors and make their own decisions as to whether to tender Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs), and, if so, the number of Ordinary Shares to tender.
The Tender Offer in respect of Ordinary Shares will open on Monday 20 May 2024 and, subject to the passing of the Resolution at the General Meeting, will close at 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024, unless extended by means of an announcement posted on the Company's website, delivered through a Regulatory Information Service and by a press release in the US and filed with the SEC. Shareholders who hold their Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form wishing to tender Ordinary Shares for purchase under the Tender Offer should ensure that their completed and signed Tender Forms, including with their share certificate(s) and/or other document(s) of title in respect of the Ordinary Shares tendered, are returned by post to the Receiving Agent at the Pavilions, Bridgewater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH so as to be received by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024. If you hold Ordinary Shares in Uncertificated Form (that is, in CREST) and wish to tender any such Ordinary Shares for purchase by Jefferies under the Tender Offer, you must make your tender electronically through CREST on or after Monday 20 May 2024 and so that the relevant TTE Instruction settles by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024.
The Tender Offer in respect of ADSs will open on Monday 20 May 2024 and, subject to the passing of the Resolution at the General Meeting, will close at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on Tuesday 18 June 2024 unless extended by means of an announcement posted on the Company's website, delivered through a Regulatory Information Service and by a press release in the US and filed with the SEC. ADS Holders who hold their ADSs on the books of the Depositary who wish to participate in the Tender Offer should ensure that their completed Letter of Transmittal is returned by post or by hand (during normal business hours only) to the Tender Agent, at the address on the Letter of Transmittal by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on Tuesday 18 June 2024. Any ADS Holder who holds their ADSs through a bank, broker or other nominee should contact such bank, broker or nominee in order to determine the procedures required to be followed in order to tender any ADSs in the Tender Offer.
Any financial institution that is a participant in any of DTC's systems may make book-entry delivery of ADSs by causing DTC to transfer such ADSs into the Tender Agent's account at DTC in accordance with DTC's procedure for such transfer.
Neither Ordinary Shares nor ADSs may be tendered in the Tender Offer by guaranteed delivery.
Shareholders will be entitled to validly submit tenders for some or all their Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) held by them at the Tender Price.
The Offer qualifies as a "Tier II" offer in accordance with Rule 14d-1(d) under the Exchange Act and, as a result, is exempt from certain provisions of Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act or otherwise applicable US statutes and rules relating to tender offers. US and English law and practice relating to tender offers are different in certain material respects. The Company intends to rely on the Tier II exemption from Rule 14e-1(c) on prompt payment where it will follow English law and practice.
The Tender Offer is conditional on approval from Shareholders of certain matters, which is being sought at the General Meeting. The Notice of General Meeting to be held at 6 Tide Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02210, United States at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Thursday 6 June 2024 is set out at the end of this Circular. While Shareholders will be able to attend the General Meeting in person, Shareholders are encouraged to vote via proxy in advance of the General Meeting, appointing the "Chair of the Meeting" as proxy to ensure that their vote is counted. Any changes to the General Meeting arrangements will be communicated to Shareholders before the meeting through the Company's website (www.puretechhealth.com) and, where appropriate, by a Regulatory Information Service announcement.
Save where Shareholders have opted to register proxy appointments electronically, a Form of Proxy to be used in connection with the General Meeting is enclosed with this Circular. Whether or not you intend to attend the General Meeting in person, you are requested to complete the Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed on it and return it as soon as possible by post but, in any event, so as to be received by the Company's Registrar at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH, by not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). If you hold Ordinary Shares in CREST, you may appoint a proxy by completing and transmitting a CREST Proxy Instruction to the Company's Registrar, Computershare Investor Services (CREST Participant ID 3RA50), so that it is received by not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). Proxy appointments may also be submitted electronically at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy or by using the QR Code printed on the Form of Proxy so that the appointment is received by not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). The completion and return of a Form of Proxy, electronic proxy application or the submission of a CREST Proxy Instruction, will not preclude you from attending and voting in person (in substitution for your proxy vote) at the General Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, if you wish to do so and are so entitled.
If you do not wish to tender any of your Ordinary Shares, do not complete, sign or return a Tender Form or send any TTE Instructions through CREST.
No person has been authorised to give any information or make any representations other than those contained in this Circular and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied on as having been so authorised. The delivery of this Circular shall not, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date of this Circular or that the information in it is correct as of any subsequent time.
Jefferies, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom ("FCA"), is acting exclusively for the Company as financial advisor and broker in connection with the Tender Offer and the production of this Circular and is not, and will not be, responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in connection with the Tender Offer or any other matters set out in this Circular.
Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Jefferies under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA") or the regulatory regime established thereunder: (i) neither Jefferies or any persons associated or affiliated with Jefferies accepts any responsibility whatsoever or makes any warranty or representation, express or implied, in relation to the contents of this Circular and any accompanying documents, including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by, or on behalf of it, the Company or the Directors, in connection with the Company and/or the Tender Offer; and (ii) Jefferies accordingly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all and any liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which it might otherwise be found to have in respect of this Circular or any such statement.
This Circular is a circular relating to the Tender Offer which has been prepared in accordance with the Listing Rules made under section 73A of FSMA and approved by the FCA.
The Tender Offer relates to securities in a non-US company registered in the UK and is subject to the disclosure requirements, rules and practices applicable to companies listed in the UK, which differ from those of the US in certain material respects.
Holders of Ordinary Shares (but not ADS Holders in respect of their holdings of ADSs) who are located in the United States who wish to participate in the Tender Offer must follow the instructions set out in Part V of this Circular.
For ADS Holders, the instructions set out in Part V as to participation in the Tender Offer do not apply. ADS Holders should refer to the instructions in Part VIII in order to participate in the Tender Offer.
ADS Holders will not be provided with the Form of Proxy. If you are an ADS Holder who holds ADSs through a bank, broker or other nominee who wishes for the Depositary to vote your ADSs at the General Meeting, you may provide your voting instructions in accordance with such bank, broker or other nominee's voting procedures and requirements. If you are an ADS Holder who holds ADSs on the books of the Depositary who wishes for the Depositary to vote your ADSs at the General Meeting, you may provide your voting instructions to the Depositary by sending in a completed voting instruction card, as described on such card. In each case, voting instructions must be received by the Depositary by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on Friday 31 May 2024.
In accordance with normal market practice in the UK and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b)(12) under the Exchange Act, the Company or its nominees or brokers or Jefferies or its affiliates may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase Ordinary Shares outside the United States, otherwise than pursuant to the Tender Offer, before or during the period in which the Tender Offer remains open for acceptance, such as in open market purchases at prevailing prices or privately negotiated purchases at negotiated prices. Such purchases, or arrangements to purchase will comply with all applicable rules in the UK, including the Listing Rules of the FCA and the Admission and Disclosure Standards of the London Stock Exchange. Any information about such purchases will be disclosed as required in the UK and the US and, if required, will be reported via a Regulatory Information Service and will be available to all investors (including US investors) on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.
While the Tender Offer is being made available to Shareholders in the US, the right to tender Ordinary Shares is not being made available in any jurisdiction in the US in which the making of the Tender Offer or the right to tender such Ordinary Shares would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.
If you are an ADS Holder or Ordinary Shareholder, bank, broker or institutional holder in the United States and have questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer, please call the Information Agent at (+1) 866-529-2770 (toll free from the US), from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time). Please note that the Information Agent cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
There may be tax consequences arising in connection with a Shareholder's or ADS Holder's sale of Ordinary Shares or ADSs in the Tender Offer or receipt of the Special Dividend (if any). Part VI of this Circular further sets out a general summary of certain material US federal income tax consequences and UK tax consequences of the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any) under current US and UK tax law. Each Shareholder and ADS Holder should consult and seek individual advice from an appropriate professional advisor with respect to the tax consequences to them.
This document has not been approved, disapproved or otherwise recommended by the SEC or any US state securities commission and such authorities have not approved or disapproved of this transaction or passed upon the merits of fairness of such transaction or confirmed the accuracy or determined the adequacy of this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the US. 20 May 2024
This Circular contains forward-looking statements that are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with, amongst other things, the economic and business circumstances occurring from time to time in the countries, sectors and business segments in which the Company operates.
Forward-looking statements can be identified typically by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes", "expects", "may", "will", "could", "should", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "assumes", "predicts" or "anticipates", as well as the negatives of such words and other words of similar meaning in connection with discussions of future operating or financial performance or of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties.
The forward-looking statements in this Circular are made based upon the Company's expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting the Group and therefore involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Group's present and future business strategies and the environment in which it will operate, which may prove not to be accurate. The forward-looking statements are not guarantees and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements; therefore, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements.
You are cautioned not to place any undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this Circular which speak only as at the date of this Circular. Neither the Company nor any member of the Group undertakes any obligation publicly to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by any applicable laws and regulations, the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Listing Rules, the rules of the London Stock Exchange, the Disclosure Guidelines and Transparency Rules, the Takeover Code, any applicable US securities laws and the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market.
Information on the SEC's website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this Circular and does not constitute a part of the Tender Offer unless specifically so designated and filed with the SEC.
| Secretary and Registered Office | C/O TMF Group 13th Floor One Angel Court London EC2R 7HJ United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Board of Directors | Raju Kucherlapati (Non-Executive Interim Chair) Bharatt Chowrira (Chief Executive Officer) Sharon Barber-Lui (Independent Non-Executive Director) John LaMattina (Independent Non-Executive Director) Robert Langer (Non-Executive Director) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Independent Non-Executive Director) |
| Financial Advisor and Corporate Broker | Jefferies International Limited 100 Bishopsgate London EC2N 4JL United Kingdom |
| Company's Auditor | PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 3 Forbury Place, 23 Forbury Road Reading RG1 3JH United Kingdom |
| Company's Registrar / Receiving Agent | Computershare Investor Services PLC The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road Bristol BS99 6AH United Kingdom +44 (0)370 707 4040 |
| Information Agent | Georgeson LLC 1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor New York, NY 10104 United States (+1) 866 529 2770 (toll free number) |
| Tender Agent | Citibank, N.A. 388 Greenwich Street New York, New York 10013 United States |
| page | |
|---|---|
| SUMMARY TERM SHEET | 3 |
| EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS | 5 |
| LETTER FROM THE CHAIR | 6 |
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE TENDER OFFER | 15 |
| TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TENDER OFFER IN RESPECT OF ORDINARY SHARES |
21 |
| CERTAIN TAXATION CONSIDERATIONS IN RELATION TO THE TENDER OFFER AND ANY SPECIAL DIVIDEND |
36 |
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 49 |
| FURTHER INFORMATION FOR ADS HOLDERS | 55 |
| DEFINITIONS | 66 |
| NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING | 72 |
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
You will find answers to some of the questions most frequently asked by shareholders about tender offers and the procedure for participating in the Tender Offer in Part IV of this Circular.
If you have any further questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer in respect of Ordinary Shares, please use the following means of communication:
If you are an ADS Holder, an Ordinary Shareholder, bank, broker or institutional holder in the United States and have questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer, please call the Information Agent at (+1) 866 529 2770 (toll-free from the US) and (+1) 781 896 6940 (from other countries) from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time).
Please note that for legal reasons the Receiving Agent and the Information Agent will only be able to provide information contained in this Circular and the accompanying Tender Form or Letter of Transmittal and will be unable to give advice on the merits of the Tender Offer or to provide legal, financial, investment or taxation advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
Holders of Ordinary Shares (but not ADS Holders in respect of their holdings of ADSs) who are located in the United States who wish to participate in the Tender Offer must follow the instructions set out in Part V of this Circular.
For ADS Holders, the instructions set out in Part V as to participation in the Tender Offer do not apply. ADS Holders should refer to the instructions in Part VIII in order to participate in the Tender Offer.
If you are an ADS Holder, an Ordinary Shareholder, bank, broker or institutional holder in the United States and have questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer, please call the Information Agent at (+1) 866 529 2770 (toll-free from the US) and (+1) 781 896 6940 (from other countries) from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time).
Please note that for legal reasons the Information Agent will only be able to provide information contained in this Circular and the accompanying Tender Form and Letter of Transmittal and will be unable to give advice on the merits of the Tender Offer or to provide financial, investment or taxation advice. If you need additional copies of this Circular or the Letter of Transmittal (or the Tender Form for Ordinary Shares in the United States), please contact our Information Agent.
For illustrative purposes only, this Circular contains translations of certain pounds sterling amounts into US dollars or US\$ at a rate of £1.00 to US\$1.2671 (being the rate on the Latest Practicable Date). The translations should not be construed as representations that the converted amounts actually represent such pounds sterling amounts or that US dollar amounts could be converted into pounds sterling at the rate indicated above.
This general summary is solely for the convenience of Shareholders and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text and more specific details in this Circular. Shareholders are urged to read the entire Circular in its entirety as it contains a complete discussion of the Tender Offer.
strongly urged to review and evaluate carefully all information in this Circular, to consult their own financial, tax and legal advisors, and to make their own decisions as to whether to tender their Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) in the Tender Offer.
| Announcement of launch of the Tender Offer, publication of this Circular and the Notice of General Meeting |
20 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| File Schedule TO with the SEC | 20 May 2024 |
| Tender Offer opens | 20 May 2024 |
| Latest time and date for receipt by the Depositary of voting instructions in respect of ADSs for the General Meeting |
10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on 31 May 2024 |
| Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting |
11:00 a.m. (New York City time) 4:00 p.m. (London time)) on 4 June 2024 |
| General Meeting | 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on 6 June 2024 |
| Announcement of results of the General Meeting | 6 June 2024 |
| Latest time and date for receipt by Tender Agent of Letters of Transmittal for ADSs and book-entry transfer of ADSs |
5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on 18 June 2024 |
| Latest time and date for receipt of Tender Forms and share certificates in relation to the Tender Offer |
1:00 p.m. (London time) on 20 June 2024 |
| Latest time and date for receipt of TTE Instructions in relation to the Tender Offer |
1:00 p.m. (London time) on 20 June 2024 |
| Announcement of results of the Tender Offer | 24 June 2024 |
| Purchase of Ordinary Shares under the Tender Offer | 24 June 2024 |
| CREST accounts credited with Tender Offer proceeds in respect of uncertificated Ordinary Shares |
by 25 June 2024 |
| CREST accounts credited for revised, uncertificated holdings of Ordinary Shares (or, in the case of unsuccessful tenders, for entire holdings of Ordinary Shares) |
by 25 June 2024 |
| Cheques despatched in respect of Tender Offer proceeds for Certificated Ordinary Shares |
by 3 July 2024 |
| Credit of proceeds in respect of book-entry ADSs | by 3 July 2024 |
| Despatch of balance of ADSs | by 3 July 2024 |
| Cheques despatched in respect of Tender Offer proceeds for ADSs held on the books of the Depositary |
by 3 July 2024 |
| Return of share certificates in respect of unsuccessful tenders of Certificated Ordinary Shares |
by 3 July 2024 |
| Despatch of balancing share certificates (in respect of Certificated Ordinary Shares) for revised, Certificated holdings in the case of partially successful tenders |
by 3 July 2024 |
The dates and times set forth above are in accordance with English law and practice and are subject to the Company's right or, upon certain conditions set forth in the US securities laws, the Company's obligation to extend or amend the Tender Offer.
A more detailed timetable with respect to ADS Holders is set out in Part VIII of this Circular.
References to times in this timetable are to London time or New York City time (as stated).
(Incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 09582467)
Directors:
Raju Kucherlapati (Non-Executive Interim Chair) Bharatt Chowrira (Chief Executive Officer) Sharon Barber-Lui (Independent Non-Executive Director) Robert Langer (Non-Executive Director) John LaMattina (Independent Non-Executive Director) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Independent Non-Executive Director) Registered office: 13th Floor One Angel Court London EC2R 7HJ
20 May 2024
Dear Shareholder
On 18 March 2024, the Company announced that it will receive approximately US\$293 million gross proceeds from the sale of its remaining stake in Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. ("Karuna") pursuant to the completed acquisition of Karuna by Bristol Myers Squibb which has acquired all outstanding common stock of Karuna.
On 19 March 2024, the Company announced a proposed capital return of US\$100 million to Shareholders by way of a Tender Offer and subsequent repurchase of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) by the Company at a fixed tender price of 250 pence per Ordinary Share. The capital return of US\$100 million represents approximately 14 per cent. of the Company's market capitalisation based on the Company's closing share price as at 18 March 2024, being the date prior to the announcement of the proposed Tender Offer.
The Company's US\$50 million share buyback program completed on 7 February 2024, which, together with the proposed Tender Offer, would constitute US\$150 million of capital returned to Shareholders, representing approximately 20 per cent. of the Company's market capitalisation as at 16 May 2024, being the Latest Practicable Date before publication of this Circular.
The fixed Tender Price of 250 pence per Ordinary Share (equivalent to £25.00 per ADS) represents:
Shareholders are not required to tender any or all of their Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) if they do not wish to do so. There is no guarantee that the Tender Offer will return the full sum of US\$100 million to Shareholders. If the full US\$100 million is not returned through the Tender Offer, then, if there is sufficient surplus, the Board intends to return such surplus by way of a special dividend following completion of the Tender Offer, without interest, less any applicable withholding taxes and subject to market and industry conditions at the time and any relevant legal restrictions (the "Special Dividend").
The purpose of this Circular is to provide you with information about the background to, and reasons for, the Tender Offer and Special Dividend (if any) and why the Board considers that the Tender Offer is in the best interests of the Shareholders as a whole and is recommending your approval. The Company is seeking Shareholder approval for the maximum number of Ordinary Shares which may be acquired and the fixed price at which Ordinary Shares may be acquired at a General Meeting to be held at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on 6 June 2024. The Notice of General Meeting is set out in Part X of this Circular.
This Circular contains details of the procedure that should be followed by those Shareholders and ADS Holders wishing to participate in the Tender Offer.
Shareholders and ADS Holders should note that any amounts paid to Shareholders or ADS Holders in respect of the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any) may be subject to US withholding tax unless the appropriate certifying forms can be provided by such Shareholder or ADS Holder to establish an exemption from, or a reduction of, such US withholding tax.
Shareholders and ADS Holders should refer to paragraph 6 of this Part III and Part VI of this document for further information on the important tax considerations in respect of the Tender Offer and Special Dividend (if any), together with instructions on the arrangements to provide appropriate certifying forms.
On 18 March 2024, the Company announced the completion of the sale of its stocks in Karuna to Bristol Myers Squibb ("BMS") for a total equity value of approximately US\$14 billion (the "Transaction"). The Company received approximately US\$293 million gross proceeds from the sale of its Karuna equity position. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive further milestones and royalty payments based on certain regulatory and commercial successes.
On 25 April 2024, the Company published its annual report and accounts for the year ending 31 December 2023 ("2023 Annual Report"). The Annual Report included an update on subsequent events following the financial year end up to 25 April 2024. The Company's performance and outlook has continued in line with expectations since the publication of the 2023 Annual Report.
As stated in the 2023 Annual Report, the Company determines its capital allocation with a measured approach that balances support for its current internal and founded entity programs and the funding of future innovation, with the goal of maximising Shareholder returns. The Board will assess ongoing opportunities to improve Shareholder returns, including additional capital returns to Shareholders from future monetisation events, while maintaining a cash runway of at least three years to support its internal programs, founded entities, future innovation and operational needs. The Board has determined that the Tender Offer would be the most suitable way of returning a proportion of the proceeds of the Transaction to Shareholders in a quick and efficient manner, taking account of the relative costs, complexity and timeframes of the possible methods available.
Subject to the passing of the Resolution by Shareholders at the General Meeting, the Directors will give Shareholders the opportunity to tender Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) through the Tender Offer for cash only. The Resolution will give the Directors authority to acquire up to 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares at a fixed tender price of 250 pence per Ordinary Share (the "Tender Price").
Tenders will only be accepted at the Tender Price. Subject to satisfaction of the Tender Conditions to the Tender Offer, Ordinary Shares which are successfully tendered under the Tender Offer will be purchased at the Tender Price.
If the full amount of the US\$100 million is not returned through the Tender Offer, and if there is sufficient surplus, the Board intends to return such surplus by way of the Special Dividend.
The Issued Ordinary Share Capital on the Latest Practicable Date was 270,761,077 Ordinary Shares (excluding 18,707,082 Ordinary Shares held in treasury). If the Tender Offer is implemented in full, this will result in the purchase and cancellation of up to 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) (representing approximately 12 per cent. of the Issued Ordinary Share Capital of the Company on the Latest Practicable Date). Shareholders should note that the Issued Ordinary Share Capital numbers referred to in this paragraph take no account of any dilution which may be caused by the Share Plans, which is explained in further detail in paragraph 5 (Share Plans) of this Part III.
The Board considered various options for returning cash to Shareholders and determined that the Tender Offer, together with any subsequent Special Dividend (if any), would be the most appropriate means of returning cash to Shareholders. In particular:
Jefferies will implement the Tender Offer by acquiring, as principal, the successfully tendered Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) at the Tender Price. Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) purchased by Jefferies pursuant to the Tender Offer will be purchased as principal and such purchases will be market purchases in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Listing Rules, the rules of the London Stock Exchange, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the Takeover Code. Immediately following completion of the Tender Offer, Jefferies shall exercise its right to sell such Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) to the Company, at the Tender Price, pursuant to the Option Agreement. If Jefferies does not exercise its right to require the Company to purchase such Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs), the Company has the right to require Jefferies to sell such Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) to it at the Tender Price. Purchases of Ordinary Shares by the Company pursuant to the Option Agreement will also be market purchases in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Listing Rules, the rules of the London Stock Exchange, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the Takeover Code.
All of the Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) purchased by the Company pursuant to the Option Agreement in connection with the Tender Offer will be cancelled. Further details on the Option Agreement are set out in Part VIII of this Circular.
Shareholders can decide whether they want to tender all, some or none of their Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) in the Tender Offer.
As at the date of this Circular, it is proposed that a maximum of 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) be purchased under the Tender Offer at the Tender Price, representing approximately 12 per cent. of the Company's Issued Ordinary Share Capital as at 16 May 2024, being the Latest Practicable Date, for a maximum aggregate amount of US\$100 million. The maximum amount of \$100 million will be translated into a pounds sterling amount on the Ordinary Share Closing Date, which pounds sterling amount shall determine the maximum number of Ordinary Shares to be accepted for payment in the Tender Offer.
Tenders in respect of Ordinary Shares may only be made at the Tender Price and tenders of ADSs may only be made at the ADS Tender Price.
Each ADS represents 10 Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, the amount an ADS Holder will receive for each ADS in respect of which the underlying Ordinary Shares are successfully tendered under the Tender Offer will be an amount of £25.00 (twenty five pounds sterling), being ten times the Tender Price, with such amounts to be converted by the Tender Agent from pounds sterling into US dollars and paid to the ADS Holder in US dollars (the "ADS Tender Price"). For illustrative purposes, the ADS Tender Price is equivalent to US\$31.68 per ADS (each of which represents 10 Ordinary Shares), based on an exchange
rate of pounds sterling to US dollars of £1.00 to US\$1.2671 (being the exchange rate on the Latest Practicable Date). The actual amount of US dollars such ADS Holder receives will depend upon the exchange rate prevailing at the time the Tender Agent converts the pounds sterling amount into US dollars. ADS Holders should be aware that the US dollar/pound sterling exchange rate that is prevailing on the date on which ADSs are tendered may be different than the US dollar/pound sterling exchange rate prevailing at the time the pounds sterling are converted into US dollars.
Successfully tendered Ordinary Shares that are accepted for payment will be cancelled.
Shareholders do not have to tender any Ordinary Shares if they do not wish to do so, and ADS Holders do not have to tender any ADSs if they do not wish to do so.
ADS Holders should refer to Part VIII of this Circular.
The Tender Offer will close at 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024 (and for ADS Holders at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on Tuesday 18 June 2024) and tenders received after those times (as appropriate) will not be accepted (unless the Tender Offer is extended).
Shareholders should note that, once tendered, Ordinary Shares may not be sold, transferred, charged, or otherwise disposed of other than in accordance with the Tender Offer.
Shareholders who are in any doubt as to the contents of this document or as to the action to be taken should immediately consult their stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, or other independent financial advisor authorised under FSMA, if taking advice in the UK or, if resident in another jurisdiction, from another appropriately authorised independent financial or professional advisor.
If the aggregate value at the Tender Price of all validly tendered Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) exceeds US\$100 million (based on the applicable exchange rate of US dollars to pounds sterling on the Ordinary Share Closing Date), or the number of validly tendered Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) exceeds 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares, acceptances of validly tendered Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) will be scaled-down pro-rata to the total number of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) so tendered by that Shareholder, as described in paragraphs 2.14 and 2.15 of Part V of this Circular. Accordingly, where scaling-down applies, there is no guarantee that all of the Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) which are tendered will be accepted for purchase.
Successfully tendered Ordinary Shares will be purchased free of commission and dealing charges.
Any Ordinary Shares repurchased by the Company from Jefferies following the purchase by Jefferies will be cancelled. Any rights of Shareholders who choose not to tender their Ordinary Shares or ADSs will be unaffected.
Subject to any applicable law and regulatory requirements (including the rules and regulations of the London Stock Exchange and SEC), the Company reserves the right at any time prior to the expiration of the Tender Offer, and with the prior consent of Jefferies, to extend the period during which the Tender Offer is open, based on market conditions and/or other factors.
There is no guarantee that the Tender Offer will take place.
The Tender Offer is conditional on, among other things:
The Company has reserved the right at any time prior to the expiration of the Tender Offer, with the prior consent of Jefferies, to extend the period during which the Tender Offer is open and/or vary the aggregate value of the Tender Offer, based on market conditions and/or other factors, subject to compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Any such decision will be announced by the Company through a Regulatory Information Service and by a press release in the US.
The Company may terminate the Tender Offer if the Company concludes, in its reasonable discretion, one or more of the Tender Conditions set out in paragraph 2.1 of Part V of this Tender Offer have not been satisfied.
As set out in the expected timetable on page 11 of this Circular, it is expected that the results of the Tender Offer will be announced on 24 June 2024, subject to the satisfaction of the Tender Conditions described in paragraph 2.1 of Part V of this Circular. Settlement is then expected to take place as set out in the timetable on page 11 of this Circular and as provided for in Part V of this Circular.
Full details of the Tender Offer, including the terms and conditions on which it is made, are set out in Part V of this Circular. Some questions and answers related to the Tender Offer are set out in Part IV of this Circular.
Further details of the Tender Offer in respect of the ADSs, including some questions and answers relating to the tender of the Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs and certain terms and conditions on which the Tender Offer is made in respect of the ADSs, are set out in Part VIII of this Circular.
The Tender Offer requires the approval by Shareholders of the Resolution at the General Meeting. For this purpose, the Company is convening the General Meeting for 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on 6 June 2024 to be held at 6 Tide Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02210, United States to consider and, if thought fit, pass the Resolution to authorise and to approve the terms on which the Tender Offer will be effected. A notice convening the General Meeting is set out at the end of this Circular.
The General Meeting has been convened to consider and, if thought fit, approve a resolution authorising the Company to purchase up to a maximum of 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 12 per cent. of the Issued Ordinary Share Capital as at the Latest Practicable Date.
The Company will not purchase Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer unless the Resolution is duly passed.
A summary of action to be taken by Shareholders in connection with the General Meeting is set out in paragraph 9 of Part III of this Circular, together with the notes to the Notice of General Meeting as set out in Part X of this Circular.
On 8 February 2024 the Company announced the completion of its share repurchase program of its Ordinary Shares (the "Share Buyback Program") of up to US\$50.0 million, details of which were announced on 9 May 2022. Between 9 May 2022 and 7 February 2024, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 20,182,863 Ordinary Shares under the Share Buyback Programme, which represents approximately 7 per cent. of the Company's Issued Ordinary Share Capital at the time the programme commenced. As of the Latest Practicable Date, the Company holds 18,707,082 Ordinary Shares as treasury shares. Such treasury shares do not receive dividend rights and may not exercise voting rights.
The Company grants its employees awards of performance shares and restricted shares, such as restricted stock units ("RSUs") and performance-based RSUs, under the Company's performance share plans as well as marketvalue stock options.
In June 2015, the Group adopted the Performance Stock Plan (the "2015 PSP"). Under the 2015 PSP and subsequent amendments, awards of Ordinary Shares may be made to the Directors, senior managers and employees, and other individuals providing services to the Group up to a maximum authorised amount of 10.0 percent of the total Ordinary Shares outstanding. The awards have various vesting terms over a period of service between one and four years, provided the recipient remains continuously engaged as a service provider. The options awards expire 10 years from the grant date.
In June 2023 the Group adopted a new Performance Stock Plan (the "2023 PSP") that has the same terms as the 2015 PSP but instituted for all new awards a limit of 10.0 percent of the total Ordinary Shares outstanding over a five-year period. The share-based awards granted under the 2015 PSP and the 2023 PSP (together the "PSPs") are generally equity-settled.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the Company has issued share-based awards to purchase an aggregate of 27,384,777 Ordinary Shares under the PSPs, representing 10.1 per cent. of the Issued Ordinary Share Capital (excluding Ordinary Shares held in treasury). If the full authority to purchase 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares is used pursuant to the Tender Offer, the Company's issued share based awards to subscribe for Ordinary Shares under the PSP will remain over 27,384,777 Ordinary Shares, representing 11.5 per cent. of the reduced Issued Ordinary Share Capital (excluding Ordinary Shares held in treasury).
Shareholders and ADS Holders should note that, due to the circumstances of its formation and the application of Section 7874 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"), the Company is treated as a US domestic corporation for US federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Company is subject to US federal income tax as if it were a US corporation, and distributions made by the Company (including certain payments in respect of the Tender Offer that are treated as distributions for US federal income tax purposes) are generally treated as US-source dividends. As a result, both US Holders and Non-US Holders may be subject to US federal income tax withholding on receipt of cash proceeds from any tendered Ordinary Shares or ADSs accepted in the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any).
The attention of Shareholders and ADS Holders is drawn to Part VI of this document, which provides a summary of certain material UK tax and US federal income tax consequences for Shareholders and ADS Holders of accepting the Tender Offer or receipt of the Special Dividend (if any). Part VI also provides additional information to Shareholders and ADS Holders on Section 302 Certifications, IRS Form W-9 and IRS Form W-8.
This information is not tax advice. Shareholders and ADS Holders should consult their professional tax advisors, in particular regarding their individual tax position and the exemptions or reductions of US withholding tax that may be available to them.
The attention of Shareholders who are not resident in, or nationals or citizens of, the United Kingdom is drawn to paragraph 5 of Part V of this Circular.
The Company and Jefferies entered into a Put and Call Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement") on 20 May 2024 pursuant to which the Company has agreed to purchase from Jefferies, on market, such number of Ordinary Shares as Jefferies shall purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer, at the Tender Price. In the United States, Jefferies LLC, the registered US broker-dealer affiliate of Jefferies, will also participate in the Tender Offer to the extent required.
In acquiring Ordinary Shares pursuant to valid tenders made in the Tender Offer and in selling such Ordinary Shares to the Company, Jefferies will act as principal.
Whether or not you intend to attend the General Meeting, you are urged to complete, sign and return the Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and the notes to the Notice of General Meeting. To be valid, a proxy appointment must be received by post by the Company's Registrar at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH, UK, by not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). If you hold Ordinary Shares in CREST, you may appoint a proxy by completing and transmitting a CREST Proxy Instruction to the Company's Registrar (CREST Participant ID 3RA50), so that it is received by not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). Proxy appointments may also be submitted electronically at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy or by using the QR Code printed on the Form of Proxy so that the appointment is received by not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). The completion and return of a Form of Proxy, electronic proxy application or the submission of a CREST Proxy Instruction, will not preclude you from attending and voting in person (in substitution for your proxy vote) at the General Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, if you wish to do so and are so entitled.
Resolution 1, which is a special resolution requiring a majority of 75 per cent. or more of the votes cast (whether in person or by proxy) to be in favour, seeks authority to make market purchases of up to 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares in connection with the Tender Offer. The Resolution specifies the maximum number of Ordinary Shares which may be acquired, and the fixed price at which Ordinary Shares may be acquired.
Please read the notes to the Notice of General Meeting at the end of this Circular for further details of the General Meeting, including the appointment of proxies.
ADS Holders will not be entitled to attend, or vote directly at, the General Meeting in person or by proxy. If you are an ADS Holder who holds ADSs through a bank, broker or other nominee who wishes for the Depositary to vote your ADSs at the General Meeting, you may provide your voting instructions in accordance with such bank, broker or other nominee's voting procedures and requirements. If you are an ADS Holder who holds ADSs on the books of the Depositary who wishes for the Depositary to vote your ADSs at the General Meeting, you may provide your voting instructions to the Depositary by sending in a completed ADS voting instruction card, as described on such card. Voting instructions must be received by the Depositary by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) (3:00 p.m. (London time)) on Friday 31 May 2024.
If you are an ADS Holder and you wish to vote directly (whether in person or by proxy) at the General Meeting, you must elect to become a registered ordinary shareholder by surrendering some or all of your ADSs to the Depositary for cancellation to withdraw the Ordinary Shares represented by those ADSs, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, so as to become a registered holder of Ordinary Shares (i) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 if you intend to become a registered ordinary shareholder and vote by proxy in accordance with the arrangements set out in paragraph 9.1(A) above or (ii) prior to 6:00 p.m. (London time) (1:00 p.m. New York City time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 if you intend to become a registered ordinary shareholder and attend the General Meeting and vote in person. Pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary is entitled to receive a cancellation fee of \$0.05 per ADS cancelled from each ADS Holder who cancels some or all of their ADSs.
If you are a Shareholder and hold your Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form and you wish to tender all or any of your Ordinary Shares, you should complete the Tender Form in accordance with the instructions printed on it and in Part V of this Circular and return it by post in the accompanying reply-paid envelope (for use in the UK only) to the Receiving Agent, at the Pavilions, Bridgewater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH so as to be received by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024, together with your share certificate(s) in respect of the Ordinary Shares tendered. If you are a Shareholder and hold your Ordinary Shares in Uncertificated Form and you wish to tender all or any of your Ordinary Shares, you should send the TTE Instruction through CREST so as to settle by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024.
Any ADS Holder who holds ADSs on the books of the Depositary who wishes to tender pursuant to the Tender Offer should properly complete and duly execute a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), together with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, and deliver such documents to the Tender Agent at the appropriate address set forth in the Letter of Transmittal so as to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended). In addition, the ADRs evidencing the tendered ADSs must be received by the Tender Agent at the appropriate address or be delivered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth below (and a confirmation of receipt of such transfer must be received by the Tender Agent) so as to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date.
If the ADSs are held through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other securities intermediary and the ADS Holder wishes to participate in the Tender Offer, such ADS Holder should provide tender instructions in accordance with the instructions provided by such intermediary in sufficient time so as to ensure that such intermediary can provide such instructions to the Tender Agent so as to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended).
Shareholders holding Ordinary Shares through a broker, custodian or nominee, should consult with their broker, custodian or nominee in respect of any additional processes, timings and costs applied by them.
If you have any questions about the procedure for tendering Ordinary Shares or making a TTE Instruction, you require extra copies of this Circular, the Form of Proxy, or of the Tender Form, or you want help filling in the Form of Proxy, or the Tender Form, please:
Please note that for legal reasons the Company's Registrar's Helpline will only be able to provide information contained in this Circular and the accompanying Form of Proxy and Tender Form and will be unable to give advice on the merits of the Tender Offer or to provide financial, investment or taxation advice.
If you do not wish to sell any of your Ordinary Shares in the Tender Offer, do not complete and return the Tender Form or submit a TTE Instruction (as applicable).
The Information Agent with respect to the Tender Offer for ADSs and Ordinary Shares in the United States is Georgeson LLC If you are an ADS Holder, an Ordinary Shareholder, bank, broker or institutional holder in the United States and have questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer, please call the Information Agent at (+1) 866 529 2770 (toll-free) and (+1) 781 896 6940 (from other countries) from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time).
The Tender Agent with respect to the Tender Offer for ADS Holders in the United States is Citibank, N.A.. The Tender Agent is not acting as tender agent for the holders of Ordinary Shares, regardless of where such holders may reside. The Tender Agent is only acting as tender agent for ADS Holders, regardless of where such ADS Holder may reside.
Under the articles of association of the Company and applicable law, Shareholders are required to notify the Company of their interests in Ordinary Shares in certain circumstances. Following the Company's purchase of Ordinary Shares from Jefferies pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement, and regardless of whether a Shareholder tenders any or all of their Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) pursuant to the terms of the Tender Offer, the number of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) in which a Shareholder is interested when taken as a percentage of the Company's Issued Ordinary Share Capital as a whole may change, which may give rise to an obligation under the Listing Rules, DTRs, the rules of the London Stock Exchange, any applicable US securities laws and the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market on the part of such Shareholder to notify the Company of their interest in Ordinary Shares as soon as possible and in any case within two trading days of becoming aware or being deemed to have become aware of such change.
If you are in doubt as to whether you should notify the Company, or as to the form of that notification, please consult your professional advisor.
The Company's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bharatt Chowrira, has confirmed that he does not intend to tender any of his current individual beneficial holding of Ordinary Shares through the Tender Offer. The remainder of the Board, comprising the Company's interim chair and the Company's non-executive directors, are each considering their individual position and may tender Ordinary Shares of which they are the registered or beneficial holder, or otherwise hold on trust as trustees (as applicable), under the Tender Offer.
The Directors consider that the Tender Offer is in the best interests of the Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board recommends that you vote in favour of the Resolution, as the Directors intend to do for their respective individual beneficial holdings of, in aggregate, 7,938,094 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 3 per cent. of the Issued Ordinary Share Capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date.
The Board makes no recommendation to Shareholders in relation to participation in the Tender Offer itself. Whether or not Shareholders decide to tender all, or any, of their Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) will depend on, among other things, their view of the Company's prospects and their own individual circumstances, including their own financial and tax position. Shareholders are required to take their own decision and are recommended to consult with their duly authorised independent financial or professional advisor.
If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent advice. You are advised to read all of the information contained in this Circular before deciding on the course of action you will take in respect of the General Meeting and the Tender Offer.
The results of the General Meeting will be announced through a Regulatory Information Service, the Company's website and by a press release in the US as soon as possible once known. It is expected that this will be announced on 6 June 2024.
Yours faithfully
Dr Raju Kucherlapati Non-Executive Interim Chair
This Part IV explains the Tender Offer primarily with respect to Ordinary Shares (and not ADSs). To help you understand what is involved in the Tender Offer with respect to Ordinary Shares, this Part IV includes a summary and some questions and answers. You should read the whole of this Circular and not rely solely on the summary information in this Part IV. Part V of this Circular sets out the detailed terms and the conditions of the Tender Offer with respect to Ordinary Shares. A list of defined terms is set out towards the end of this Circular in Part IX. ADS Holders are directed to Part VIII of this Circular for further information applicable to the Tender Offer with respect to ADSs.
In the event of any inconsistency between the contents of this Part IV and the terms and the conditions set out in Part V of this Circular, the terms and conditions set out in Part IV of this Circular shall prevail.
The Company announced on 19 March 2024 that it was proposing to return US\$100 million in aggregate to Shareholders by way of a Tender Offer. Shareholders are being provided with an opportunity to tender their Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) under the Tender Offer. The Tender Offer requires the approval by Shareholders of the Resolution at the General Meeting. For this purpose, the Company is convening the General Meeting for 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on 6 June 2024 held at 6 Tide Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, United States to consider and, if thought fit, pass the Resolution to authorise and to approve the terms on which the Tender Offer will be effected. A notice convening the General Meeting is set out at the end of this Circular.
This Circular sets out information on the details of the Tender Offer and the procedure for participating, should you wish to do so.
Shareholders who hold their Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form should receive this Circular, a Tender Form, a Form of Proxy and a prepaid envelope for use in the UK to return the Tender Form and Form of Proxy.
Shareholders who hold their Ordinary Shares in Uncertificated Form (i.e. in CREST) should receive this Circular and a Form of Proxy.
All Shareholders (whether holding their Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form or Uncertificated Form) should receive a Section 302 Certification and a prepaid envelope for use in the UK to return the Section 302 Certification.
If you have not received any of the documents listed please call the Company's Registrar, on +44 (0)370 707 4040. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes.
If you are a holder of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented in ADSs), bank, broker or institutional holder in the United States and have questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer, please call the Information Agent at (+1) 866-529-2770 (toll free from the US) and (+1) 781 896 6940 (from other countries) from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time).
Please refer to paragraph 2.1 of Part III of this Circular for the reasons why the Company is returning cash to its Shareholders.
The Board has explored various options for returning cash to Shareholders and the Board has determined that the Tender Offer would be a quick and efficient means of returning cash to Shareholders. Furthermore, it allows Shareholders individually to choose whether or not to participate.
Both private and institutional Shareholders are eligible to participate in the Tender Offer with respect to Ordinary Shares.
Shareholders resident outside the UK, or who are nationals or citizens of jurisdictions other than the UK, should read the additional information entitled Overseas Shareholders set out in Part V of this Circular.
There is no limit on how many Ordinary Shares you can tender. If you are a Shareholder, you can tender all of the Ordinary Shares held by you at 1:00 p.m. (London time) on the Ordinary Share Closing Date. However, the amount to be purchased from you may be subject to the scaling-down arrangements described in paragraphs 2.14 and 2.15 of Part V of this Circular.
Yes, whether you hold your Ordinary Shares in CREST or in Certificated Form. If you hold your Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form, there is a space on the Tender Form for you to state how many Ordinary Shares you wish to tender, including whether you wish to tender some or all of your Ordinary Shares. If you hold your Ordinary Shares in CREST, you can state how many Ordinary Shares you wish to tender.
No. The Tender Offer is being made at the Tender Price, which is fixed at 250 pence per Ordinary Share (equivalent to £25.00 per ADS).
No. You are not obliged to tender any of your Ordinary Shares. If you choose not to tender any Ordinary Shares, you will not receive any money under the Tender Offer. Your holding of Ordinary Shares will then be unaffected, save for the fact that, assuming successful completion of the Tender Offer and subsequent repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company, you will end up owning a greater percentage of the Issued Ordinary Share Capital after the Tender Offer and the subsequent repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company than you did before, as there will be fewer Ordinary Shares in issue after completion of the Tender Offer and subsequent repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company.
You may vote at the General Meeting to pass the Resolution, even if you do not wish to tender any Ordinary Shares.
No. Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) may not be tendered in the Tender Offer by guaranteed delivery.
What you receive will depend on the action that you take. If you decide to participate and some or all of your Ordinary Shares are successfully tendered in the Tender Offer, you will sell the successfully tendered Ordinary Shares and will receive cash proceeds for them. If you decide to keep your Ordinary Shares, you will not receive any money under the Tender Offer, but assuming successful completion of the Tender Offer and the associated repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company, you will end up owning a greater percentage of the Issued Ordinary Share Capital after the Tender Offer than you did before, as explained above.
You should consider whether you wish to vote in favour of the Resolution and whether you wish to tender all or any of your Ordinary Shares.
Whether or not you intend to attend the General Meeting, or to tender any Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) in the Tender Offer, you are urged to complete, sign and return the Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and in the notes to the Notice of General Meeting. To be valid, a Form of Proxy must be received by post by the Company's Registrar at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH as soon as possible and, in any event, not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment of the General Meeting, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting).
If you hold Ordinary Shares in CREST, you may appoint a proxy by completing and transmitting a CREST Proxy Instruction (in accordance with the procedures set out in the CREST Manual) to the Company's Registrar, under CREST Participant ID 3RA50. Proxies appointed electronically must be completed online as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to be received by no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting).
Alternatively, you may appoint a proxy electronically by logging on to www.shareregistrars.uk.com, clicking on the "Proxy Vote" button and then following the on-screen instructions. Proxy votes must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting).
The completion and return of a Form of Proxy by post, the giving of a CREST Proxy Instruction or submitting your online proxy vote via the Company's Registrar website, will not preclude Shareholders from attending and voting in person at the General Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, (in each case, in substitution for their proxy vote) if they wish to do so and are so entitled.
If you hold your Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form and you wish to tender some or all of your Ordinary Shares, you should complete the Tender Form in accordance with the instructions printed on it and in Part V of this Circular and return it by post in the accompanying reply-paid envelope (for use in the UK only) to the Receiving Agent at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH, together with your share certificate(s) in respect of the Ordinary Shares tendered.
If you hold your Ordinary Shares in Uncertificated Form and you wish to tender some or all of your Ordinary Shares, you should send a TTE Instruction and follow the procedures set out in Part V of this Circular in respect of tendering uncertificated Ordinary Shares.
Completed Tender Forms and/or TTE Instructions (as appropriate) must be received by the Receiving Agent at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024 after which time Tender Forms and/or TTE Instructions (as appropriate) will be rejected (unless the Ordinary Share Closing Date is extended).
The Tender Offer with respect to Ordinary Shares will close at 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024 and no tenders received after that time will be accepted unless the Tender Offer is extended.
You should complete the Tender Form and send it, together with a letter of explanation to Company's Registrar at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH in accordance with the instructions in the Tender Form. You should then phone the Company's Registrar's Helpline or write to the Company's Registrar asking for a letter of indemnity to be sent to you, which you should then complete in accordance with the instructions given and send back to the Company's Registrar immediately.
Only if you provide instructions to your broker or other nominee to do so. You should follow the directions provided by your broker or other nominee regarding how to instruct your broker or other nominee to tender your Ordinary Shares. Without your specific instructions, your Ordinary Shares will not be tendered for purchase under the Tender Offer.
You can only withdraw or amend your tender of Ordinary Shares up until 1:00 p.m. on Thursday 20 June 2024, which is the Ordinary Share Closing Date of the Tender Offer (unless the Tender Offer is extended).
Under the expected timetable of events as set out in Part II of this Circular, it is anticipated that, for holders of Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form, a cheque would be despatched to you for the proceeds of any sale by 3 July 2024. CREST account holders would have their CREST accounts credited by 25 June 2024.
For holders of Ordinary Shares, you will receive the cash in pounds sterling (£).
No. Neither the Company nor Jefferies is imposing any fees on you in connection with the Tender Offer. If you own your Ordinary Shares through a bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee and such nominee tenders your Ordinary Shares on your behalf, such nominee may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult with your bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.
Shareholders and ADS Holders should note in that, due to the circumstances of its formation and the application of Section 7874 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"), the Company is treated as a US domestic corporation for US federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Company is subject to US federal income tax as if it were a US corporation, and distributions made by the Company (including certain payments in respect of the Tender Offer that are treated as distributions for US federal income tax purposes) are generally treated as US-source dividends. As a result, both US Holders and Non-US Holders may be subject to US federal income tax withholding on receipt of cash proceeds from any tendered Ordinary Shares or ADSs accepted in the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any).
The attention of Shareholders and ADS Holders is drawn to Part VI of this document, which provides a summary of certain material UK tax and US federal income tax consequences for Shareholders and ADS Holders of accepting the Tender Offer or receipt of the Special Dividend (if any). Part VI also provides additional information to Shareholders and ADS Holders on Section 302 Certifications, IRS Form W-9, and IRS Form W-8.
This information is not tax advice. Shareholders and ADS Holders should consult their professional tax advisors, in particular regarding their individual tax position and the exemptions or reductions of US withholding tax that may be available to them.
If you are a Shareholder and hold your Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form and you wish to tender all or any of your Ordinary Shares, you should:
and send the documents by post in the accompanying reply-paid envelope (for use in the UK only) to the Receiving Agent, at the Pavilions, Bridgewater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH so as to be received by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024, together with your share certificate(s) in respect of the Ordinary Shares tendered.
If you are a Shareholder and hold your Ordinary Shares in Uncertificated Form and you wish to tender all or any of your Ordinary Shares, you should;
• send the TTE Instruction through CREST so as to settle by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024;
and send the documents by post in the accompanying reply-paid envelope (for use in the UK only) to the Receiving Agent, at the Pavilions, Bridgewater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH so as to be received by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024.
If you are an ADS Holder that holds ADS on the books of the Depositary and you wish to tender all or any of your Ordinary Shares, you should:
and deliver such documents to the Tender Agent at the appropriate address set forth in the Letter of Transmittal.
Shareholders that own their Ordinary Shares or ADS Holders that own their ADSs through a custodian, nominee or trustee should consult their custodian, nominee or trustee for guidance on providing the forms and certifications described in this section.
If you are a Shareholder holding the Ordinary Shares registered in your own name or as a custodian, nominee or trustee, you should, even if you or your underlying beneficial shareholders do not intend to participate in the Tender Offer:
• complete IRS Form W-9 (in the case of a US Holder) or an appropriate properly completed IRS Form W-8 (in the case of a Non-US Holder) in accordance with the instructions set out in Part VI of this Circular,
and send the documents by post in the accompanying reply-paid envelope (for use in the UK only) to the Receiving Agent, at the Pavilions, Bridgewater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH so as to be received by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024.
You may trade your Ordinary Shares in the normal way during the Tender Offer period.
If you sell or transfer, or have sold or otherwise transferred, all of your Ordinary Shares, please forward this Circular (but not the accompanying Tender Form and Form of Proxy) at once to the purchaser or transferee or the agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for onward delivery to the purchaser or transferee (but not if such purchaser, transferee or agent is resident in a Restricted Jurisdiction). If you have sold part of your holding of Ordinary Shares, please retain these documents and contact the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected as to the actions you should take. Do not forward your Tender Form or Form of Proxy.
Shareholders resident outside the UK, or who are nationals or citizens of jurisdictions other than the UK, should read the additional information set out in Part V of this Circular.
The General Meeting of the Company will be held at 6 Tide Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02210, United States at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on 6 June 2024 to consider the Resolution, as explained further in the Notice of General Meeting in Part X of this Circular. If you have completed and returned the Form of Proxy enclosed with this Circular to the Company's Registrar at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH, so as to be received by no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or in the case of an adjournment of the meeting not later than not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting), you do not need to attend the General Meeting to have your vote counted. If you hold Ordinary Shares in CREST, you may appoint a proxy by completing and transmitting a CREST Proxy Instruction to the Company's Registrar (CREST Participant ID 3RA50), so that it is received by not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). Proxy appointments may also be submitted electronically at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy or by using the QR Code printed on the Form of Proxy so that the appointment is received by not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a Business Day) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting).
The Tender Offer is conditional upon, among other matters, the passing of the Resolution at the General Meeting (as detailed in Part V of this Circular). If Shareholders do not vote to pass this Resolution, then the Tender Offer will not proceed.
The Tender Offer is conditional upon the satisfaction of the Tender Conditions set out in paragraph 2.1 of Part V of this Circular. Should the Tender Conditions not be satisfied or waived, as the case may be, then the Tender Offer will not proceed.
The Tender Offer will be implemented by means of on-market purchases by Jefferies, which will, as principal, purchase the Ordinary Shares successfully tendered (subject to the overall limit of the Tender Offer) at the Tender Price and, following completion of those purchases and in accordance with the Option Agreement, sell them on to the Company at the Tender Price by way of an on-market transaction (all of these transactions will be carried out on the London Stock Exchange).
It is the Company's intention to cancel the Ordinary Shares that are successfully tendered to Jefferies and subsequently purchased by the Company pursuant to the Option Agreement.
If you have read this Circular and accompanying documents and have any further questions about the Tender Offer and, or the General Meeting, please telephone the Company's Registrar's Helpline. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes.
If you are a holder of Ordinary Shares, bank, broker or institutional holder in the United States and have questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer, including banks, brokers and institutional holders, please call the Information Agent at (+1) 866-529-2770 (toll free), from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time).
Please note that for legal reasons neither the Receiving Agent nor the Information Agent will provide advice on the merits of the Tender Offer or Resolution or give any legal, financial, investment or taxation advice. For financial, investment or taxation advice, you should consult your own financial, investment or tax advisor. ADS Holders should refer to Part VIII where additional information is set out.
Pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)(2) under the Exchange Act, the Company has filed with the SEC an Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, which contains additional information with respect to the Tender Offer. The SEC maintains a website on the internet at www.sec.gov that contains reports and other information that the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC, including the Schedule TO and the exhibits and any amendments and supplements thereto. In addition, if and when filed, the Company will provide copies of such documents free of charge to its security holders.
This Part V relates to Ordinary Shares and the Tender Offer in respect of the Ordinary Shares (and not ADSs). Except as otherwise expressly noted and except as set forth in this Part V, this Part V does not apply to ADSs or the tender of ADSs. However, as a tender of ADSs will be deemed to be an instruction to the Depositary to cause the Custodian to tender the Ordinary Shares underlying the tendered ADSs, the following Part V contains information relevant to ADS Holders as well as holders of Ordinary Shares. ADS Holders are directed to Part VIII of this Circular for further details of the Tender Offer with respect to ADSs.
solvency, properties, assets, liabilities, capitalisation, stockholders' equity, operations, licences, results of operations, credit rating or prospects of the Company or any other member of the Group, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business;
which in the opinion of Jefferies, acting reasonably, makes or would be likely to make it impracticable, impossible or unduly onerous to proceed with the Tender Offer as contemplated by this Circular;
For these purposes, the "Unconditional Time" shall be, subject to the satisfaction or (in accordance with these terms and conditions) waiver, where applicable, of the Tender Conditions referred to above, 1:00 p.m. on the Ordinary Share Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended).
Jefferies will not purchase the Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer unless the Tender Conditions have been satisfied or, as provided below, waived. In the event that the Tender Conditions are not satisfied, the Company shall (with the prior consent of Jefferies) be entitled to waive, excluding paragraphs A and D above, such Tender Condition(s) and to elect to proceed with the implementation of the Tender Offer, subject to applicable law. The purchase by Jefferies of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer will occur upon the Tender Conditions being satisfied or waived. If any of the Tender Conditions are not satisfied or waived by the Unconditional Time, the Tender Offer will lapse.
Each of the foregoing conditions must be complied with or waived at or prior to the Unconditional Time. If any of the conditions referred to above are waived, the Company will promptly notify Shareholders. Any waiver of a Tender Condition, or the withdrawal of the Tender Offer by the Company, shall be deemed to be effective on the date on which notice of such waiver or withdrawal is delivered or otherwise communicated to the Receiving Agent. The Company, after giving notice to the Receiving Agent of any waiver of a condition or the withdrawal of the Tender Offer, shall forthwith thereafter make a public announcement by way of a Regulatory Information Service of such waiver or withdrawal and will file such notice as an amendment to its tender offer statement on Schedule TO ("Schedule TO") filed with the SEC with respect to the Tender Offer. If the Tender Offer is withdrawn, the Company shall not be obligated to effect the purchase of any tendered Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Share represented by ADSs) under the Tender Offer and all Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADS) and all ADSs previously tendered and not withdrawn will be promptly returned to tendering holders.
If the Company materially changes the terms of the Tender Offer, including any waiver of a material condition, or the information concerning the Tender Offer, the Company will extend the Tender Offer to the extent required by Rules 13e-4(d)(2), 13e-4(e)(3) and 13e-4(f)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act. These rules and certain related releases and interpretations of the SEC provide that the minimum period during which a tender offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the tender offer or information concerning the tender offer (other than a change in price or a change in percentage of securities sought) will depend on the facts and circumstances, including the relative materiality of such terms or information; however, in no event will the Tender Offer remain open for fewer than five US Business Days following such a material change in the terms of, or information concerning, the Tender Offer. The Company intends for the Tender Price to remain fixed throughout the Tender Offer. If the Company increases or decreases the Tender Price and the Tender Offer is scheduled to expire at any time earlier than the expiration of a period ending at the end of the day, 12:00 midnight (New York City time), on the tenth US Business Day from, and including, the date that notice of any such increase or decrease is first published, sent or given in the manner specified in this Section 2, then the Tender Offer will be extended until the expiration of such period of 10 US Business Days.
The foregoing conditions are for the exclusive benefit of the Company and Jefferies and may be asserted by the Company at any time prior to the Unconditional Time in its discretion regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such assertion (excluding any action or inaction by the Company), or may, subject to applicable law, be waived by the Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies) in whole or in part at any time prior to the Unconditional Time in its discretion, without prejudice to any other rights which the Company may have. The failure by the Company at any time to exercise its rights under any of the foregoing conditions shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right, and the waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and other circumstances shall not constitute a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances, and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time or from time to time. Any determination by the Company or Jefferies, as applicable, concerning the events described in this paragraph 2 of Part V of this Circular shall be made in the reasonable opinion of such person, and shall be final and binding on all parties, subject to such parties disputing such determination in a court of competent jurisdiction.
For this purpose, in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement:
2.18 Further copies of the Tender Form may be obtained on request from the Receiving Agent or by calling the Company's Registrar's Helpline. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes.
If you are a holder of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs), bank, broker or institutional holder in the United States and have questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer, please call the Information Agent at (+1) 866-529-2770 (toll free), from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time). Please note that the Information Agent cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
If you hold Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form, you may tender such Ordinary Shares only by completing and returning the Tender Form in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and set out in paragraph 3.2 of this Part V.
If you hold Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form, but under different designations, you should complete a separate Tender Form, as appropriate, in respect of each designation. Additional copies of the Tender Form can be obtained from the Receiving Agent or by calling the Company's Registrar's Helpline. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes.
If you are a Shareholder and hold Ordinary Shares in Uncertificated Form (that is, in CREST) you may only tender Ordinary Shares by TTE Instruction in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraph 3.4 of this Part V and, if those Ordinary Shares are held under different member account IDs, you should send a separate TTE Instruction for each member account ID.
No Ordinary Shares may be tendered in the Tender Offer by guaranteed delivery.
To participate in the Tender Offer, Shareholders holding Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form must complete, sign, have witnessed and return the Tender Form in accordance with these instructions and the instructions on the Tender Form.
Completed, signed and witnessed Tender Forms, together with the relevant valid share certificate(s) and/or other document(s) of title, should be sent by post in the accompanying reply-paid envelope (for use in the UK only) to the Receiving Agent at the Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to be received by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024. Tenders received after that time will be accepted only at the discretion of the Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies). For further information on Overseas Shareholders, see paragraph 5 of this Part V below.
Duly completed Tender Forms sent by any of the means set out above and received signed and complete in all respects by the prescribed time will be treated as tenders of Ordinary Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer. No acknowledgement of receipt of documents will be given.
The completed and signed Tender Form should be accompanied, where possible, by the relevant share certificate(s) and/or other document(s) of title.
If your share certificate(s) and/or other document(s) of title are not readily available (for example, if they are with your stockbroker, bank or other agent) or are lost, the Tender Form should nevertheless be completed, signed and returned as described above so as to be received by the Receiving Agent at the Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024 together with any share certificate(s) and/or document(s) of title that you may have available and a note of explanation stating that the remaining documents will follow as soon as possible or that you have lost one or more of your share certificate(s) and/or other document(s) of title. The relevant share certificate(s) and document(s) of title should be forwarded as soon as possible thereafter.
In respect of those Ordinary Shares for which your share certificate(s) is/are unavailable and you have been sent a Tender Form, a letter of indemnity can be obtained by writing to Computershare Investor, at the Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH or contacting them on the Company's Registrar's Helpline. If a separate letter of indemnity is completed, this should be returned with the Tender Form as described above so as to be received by the Receiving Agent, at the Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024. A fee may be payable by the Shareholder in respect of each letter of indemnity.
Where you have returned a letter of indemnity in respect of unavailable share certificate(s) and you subsequently find or obtain the relevant share certificate(s), you should immediately send the certificates by post to the Receiving Agent at the Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6AH.
If you are in any doubt as to the procedure for acceptance, please telephone the Company's Registrar's Helpline. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. For legal reasons, the Receiving Agent will not be able to give advice on the merits of the Tender Offer or provide legal, financial or personal taxation advice and accordingly for such advice you should consult your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant, bank manager or other independent professional advisor.
By signing and returning a Tender Form, you will be deemed to have appointed Jefferies as your agent in respect of the tender process. Jefferies will therefore issue contract note(s) on behalf of all tendering Shareholders whose Ordinary Shares are so purchased under the Tender Offer and will remit the cash consideration to Computershare Investor Services with instructions that such consideration be remitted to tendering Shareholders in accordance with the instructions set out on the Tender Form.
Tenders in respect of Certificated Ordinary Shares may be withdrawn by written notice received by the Receiving Agent at any time until 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024. After 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024, all tenders will be irrevocable. All questions as to the validity of notices of withdrawal (including time of receipt) will be determined by the Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies), which determination shall be final and binding (except as otherwise required under applicable law). None of the Company, Jefferies, the Receiving Agent or any other person is or will be obliged to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal, and none of them will incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
If your Ordinary Shares are in Uncertificated Form, to tender such Ordinary Shares under the Tender Offer you should take (or procure the taking of) the action set out below to transfer (by means of a TTE Instruction) the number of Ordinary Shares you wish to tender under the Tender Offer to the relevant escrow account specifying Computershare Investor Services PLC (in its capacity as a CREST Participant under the relevant participant ID(s) and member account ID(s) referred to below) as the escrow agent, as soon as possible and in any event so that the TTE Instruction settles by no later than 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024. Please note that settlement cannot take place on weekends or bank holidays (or other times at which the CREST system is non-operational) and you should therefore ensure you time the input of any TTE Instructions accordingly.
The input and settlement of a TTE Instruction in accordance with this paragraph 3.4 shall constitute an offer to Jefferies to sell to it the number of Ordinary Shares at the Tender Price on the terms of the Tender Offer by transferring such Ordinary Shares to the relevant escrow account as detailed below. This offer will become irrevocable and cannot be withdrawn at or after 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024.
If you are a CREST Sponsored Member, you should refer to your CREST Sponsor before taking any action. Your CREST Sponsor will be able to confirm details of your participant ID and the member account ID under which your Ordinary Shares are held. In addition, only your CREST Sponsor will be able to send the TTE Instruction to Euroclear in relation to the Ordinary Shares which you wish to tender. The corporate action number is allocated by Euroclear and can be found by viewing the relevant corporate action details in CREST.
After settlement of the TTE Instruction, you will not be able to access in CREST the Ordinary Shares concerned for any transaction or charging purposes, notwithstanding that they will be held by the Receiving Agent as the escrow agent until completion, termination or lapse of the Tender Offer. If the Tender Offer becomes unconditional by 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024, or such later time and date as the Company and Jefferies may agree, the Receiving Agent will transfer the successfully tendered Ordinary Shares to itself as the agent of Jefferies, returning any Ordinary Shares not successfully tendered to you.
You are recommended to refer to the CREST Manual published by Euroclear for further information on the CREST procedures outlined below. This can be downloaded off the Internet on the Euroclear website at www.euroclear.co.uk.
You should note that Euroclear does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular corporate action. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in connection with a TTE Instruction and its settlement. You should therefore ensure that all necessary action is taken by you (or by your CREST Sponsor) to enable a TTE Instruction relating to your Ordinary Shares to settle prior to 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024. You are referred in particular to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.
To tender Ordinary Shares in Uncertificated Form you should send (or, if you are a CREST Sponsored Member, procure that your CREST Sponsor sends) a TTE Instruction to Euroclear in relation to such Ordinary Shares.
The TTE Instruction must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear's specifications for transfers to escrow and must contain, in addition to the other information that is required for the TTE Instruction to settle in CREST, the following details:
The Company and/or Jefferies will make an appropriate announcement if any of the details contained in this paragraph 3.5 relating to settlement in CREST are materially altered.
In the case of Ordinary Shares held in Uncertificated Form, withdrawals of Electronic Tenders are permitted up until 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024, and a Shareholder may withdraw its, his or her Electronic Tender through CREST by sending (or, if a CREST Sponsored Member, procuring that his CREST Sponsor sends) an ESA instruction to settle in CREST in relation to each Electronic Tender to be withdrawn. Each ESA instruction must, in order for it to be valid and settle, include the following details:
Any such withdrawal will be conditional upon Computershare Investor Services verifying that the withdrawal request is validly made. Accordingly, Computershare Investor Services will on behalf of Jefferies reject or accept the withdrawal by transmitting in CREST a receiving agent reject (AEAD) message or receiving agent accept (AEAN) message.
The Company and/or Jefferies will make an appropriate announcement if any of the details contained in this paragraph 3.6 relating to withdrawal of electronic tenders are materially altered.
Normal CREST procedures (including timings) apply in relation to any Ordinary Shares that are, or are to be, converted from uncertificated to Certificated Form or vice versa during the course of the Tender Offer (whether such conversion arises as a result of a transfer of Ordinary Shares or otherwise). Shareholders who are proposing to convert any Ordinary Shares are recommended to ensure that the conversion procedures are implemented in sufficient time to enable the person holding or acquiring the Ordinary Shares as a result of the conversion to take all necessary steps in connection with such person's participation in the Tender Offer (in particular, as regards delivery of share certificates and/or other documents of title or transfers to an escrow balance as described above) prior to 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024.
The Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies) reserves the right to treat as valid only Tender Forms which are received entirely in order by 1:00 p.m. (London time) on Thursday 20 June 2024 and which are accompanied by the relevant share certificate(s) and/or other document(s) of title or a satisfactory indemnity in lieu thereof in respect of the entire number of Ordinary Shares tendered. An appropriate announcement will be made if any of the details contained in this paragraph are altered.
A Tender Form which is received in respect of Ordinary Shares held in Uncertificated Form will not constitute a valid tender and will be disregarded. Shareholders holding Ordinary Shares in Uncertificated Form who wish to tender such Ordinary Shares should note that a TTE Instruction will be a valid tender as at Thursday 20 June 2024 only if it has settled on or before 1 p.m. (London time) on that date. An appropriate announcement will be made if any of the details contained in this paragraph are altered.
Notwithstanding the completion of a valid Tender Form or settlement of a TTE Instruction, as applicable, the Tender Offer may lapse in accordance with the conditions set out in this Part V or be withdrawn.
The decision of the Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies) as to which Ordinary Shares have been validly tendered shall be conclusive and binding on all Shareholders. The decision of the Company as to the results of the Tender Offer shall be final and binding on all Shareholders.
If you are in any doubt as to how to complete the Tender Form or as to the procedure for making an Electronic Tender please contact the Receiving Agent or the Company's Registrar's Helpline. You are reminded that, if you are a CREST Sponsored Member, you should contact your CREST Sponsor before taking any action. Shareholders should note that, once tendered, Ordinary Shares may not be sold, transferred, charged or otherwise disposed of.
Each Shareholder by whom or, as applicable, on whose behalf, a Tender Form is executed and lodged, including a Tender Form which is treated by Jefferies as valid, irrevocably undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees to and with Jefferies (so as to bind it, him or her, and its, his or her personal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns) that:
A. the execution of the Tender Form shall constitute an offer to sell to Jefferies such number of Ordinary Shares as are inserted in Box 2 of the Tender Form, or deemed to be tendered, as applicable, on and subject to the terms and conditions set out or referred to in this Circular and the Tender Form, as applicable and that, once lodged, such tender shall be irrevocable after 1:00 p.m. on the Ordinary Share Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended);
attorney and/or agent provision under paragraph C of this Part V shall be unenforceable or invalid or shall not operate so as to afford any director or officer of Jefferies the benefit or authority expressed to be given therein, the Shareholder shall with all practicable speed do all such acts and things and execute all such documents that may be required to enable Jefferies to secure the full benefits of paragraph C of this Part V. Each Shareholder to which this paragraph 3.9 applies hereby consents to the assignment by Jefferies of all such benefit as Jefferies may have in any covenants, representations and warranties in respect of the Ordinary Shares which are successfully tendered under the Tender Offer.
A reference in this paragraph 3.9 to a Shareholder includes a reference to the person or persons executing a Tender Form and in the event of more than one person executing a Tender Form, the provisions of this paragraph 3.9 will apply to them jointly and severally.
Each Shareholder by whom, or on whose behalf, a TTE Instruction which is treated by Jefferies as valid is made irrevocably undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees to and with Jefferies (so as to bind it, him or her, and its, his or her personal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns) that:
the Tender Offer may be made to it, him or her under the laws of the relevant jurisdictions, and has not taken or omitted to take any action which would otherwise result in Jefferies or the Company acting in breach of any applicable legal or regulatory requirement in respect of the purchase by Jefferies of the Ordinary Shares tendered by it, him or her under the Tender Offer;
Each Shareholder to which this paragraph 3.10 applies hereby consents to the assignment by Jefferies of all such benefit as Jefferies may have in any covenants, representations and warranties in respect of the Ordinary Shares which are successfully tendered under the Tender Offer.
Settlement of the consideration to which any Shareholder is entitled pursuant to valid tenders accepted by Jefferies will be made by the despatch of cheques or CREST messages as follows:
Where an accepted tender relates to Ordinary Shares held in Certificated Form, cheques for the consideration due will be despatched by the Receiving Agent (on behalf of Jefferies) by or on Thursday 20 June 2024 by first class post to the person or agent whose name and address is set out in Box 1 of the Tender Form or, if none is set out, to the registered address of the tendering Shareholder or, in the case of joint holders, the address of the first named Shareholder. All payments will be made in pounds sterling (£) by cheque, drawn on a branch of a UK clearing bank. Share certificates related to any remaining Certificated holding of Ordinary Shares will be despatched to the registered address of the tendering Shareholder by first class post.
The Company intends to rely on the Tier II exemption from Rule 14e-1(c) on prompt payment where the Company will follow English law and practice. Under no circumstances will interest accrue or be paid by the Company, Jefferies or the Receiving Agent to persons tendering Ordinary Shares in the Tender Offer by reason of any delay in effecting payment for the tendered Ordinary Shares or otherwise.
Where an accepted tender relates to Ordinary Shares held by Shareholders in Uncertificated Form, the consideration due will be paid by or on Tuesday 25 June 2024 through CREST by Computershare Investor Services (on behalf of Jefferies) procuring the creation of a payment obligation in favour of the payment banks of tendering Shareholders in accordance with the CREST payment arrangements.
The Company intends to rely on the Tier II exemption from Rule 14e-1(c) on prompt payment where the Company will follow English law and practice. Under no circumstances will interest accrue or be paid by the Company, Jefferies or the Receiving Agent to persons tendering Ordinary Shares in the Tender Offer by reason of any delay in effecting payment for the tendered Ordinary Shares or otherwise.
Payments made in connection with the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any) may be subject to US withholding tax. All Shareholders are referred to "B.1 MATERIAL US FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES" and "B.2 CERTIFICATION OF EXEMPTION FROM, OR REDUCTION OF, US WITHHOLDING TAX" of Part VI of this document.
Shareholders are urged to consult their professional tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any).
grant Jefferies an option for Jefferies to require the Company to acquire from Jefferies up to 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs); and (iii) Jefferies agreed to grant the Company an option for the Company to require Jefferies to sell up to 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) to the Company, subject to the maximum consideration payable by Jefferies not exceeding US\$100 million. The Tender Offer is being carried out by Jefferies outside the United States and by Jefferies LLC in the United States on the terms and conditions set out in this Circular, respectively. Jefferies and its affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking and other services to the Company, for which Jefferies has received and expects to receive, as the case may be, customary compensation from the Company. In the ordinary course of business, including in their trading and brokerage operations and in a fiduciary capacity, Jefferies and its affiliates may hold positions, both long and short, for their own accounts and for those of their customers, in the Company's securities.
Shareholders will not be obliged to pay brokerage fees, commissions or transfer taxes or stamp duty in the UK on the purchase by Jefferies of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer.
The publication and delivery of this Circular shall not under any circumstances create any implication that the information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof, or that there has been no change in the information set forth herein or in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof.
Except as contained in this document, no person has been authorised to give any information or make any representations with respect to the Company or the Tender Offer and, if given or made, such other information or representations should not be relied on as having been authorised by the Company or Jefferies.
The Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies) reserves the right to reject any tender that does not, in the Company's reasonable opinion, meet the requirements of the Tender Offer. The Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies) also reserves the right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Ordinary Shares, including any TTE Instruction. None of Jefferies, the Company, the Receiving Agent, the Company's Registrar, or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.
Neither the Company nor Jefferies shall have any liability to any person as a result of exercising, or not exercising, any discretion conferred on them or either of them in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer.
The provisions of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 do not apply to this Circular or the Tender Form.
The following statements provide a general summary of certain aspects of the UK tax treatment of the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any), but do not purport to provide a full analysis of all possible tax consequences relating to the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any). They are based on UK tax law and generally published HMRC practice (which may not be binding on HMRC) as of the date hereof, both of which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect. They apply only to Shareholders who:
except where the statement in question expressly applies to a Shareholder who is not a UK Holder.
Where a statement expressly applies to a Shareholder who is not a UK Holder, it applies only to a Shareholder that is not resident in the UK and is the absolute beneficial owner of both his/its Ordinary Shares and any dividends paid on them, and that holds his/its Ordinary Shares as an investment.
Furthermore, the statements below assume that (I) a holder of an ADS is the beneficial owner of the underlying Ordinary Shares for UK direct tax purposes; and (II) when the Tender Agent causes the Custodian for the Depositary to tender the Ordinary Shares underlying an ADS that is tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer, for UK direct tax purposes it is the holder of the relevant ADS who should be treated as tendering and disposing of the Ordinary Shares in question. However, Shareholders that hold ADSs should note that:
The following statements do not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to specific Shareholders in light of their particular circumstances or to Shareholders subject to special treatment under UK tax law. In particular, the following statements:
Shareholders such as a dealer, broker or trader in shares or securities, a trustee and any other person who holds an Ordinary Share or ADS otherwise than as an investment, (c) do not address the tax consequences for a holder that is a financial institution, insurance company, collective investment scheme, pension scheme, charity or tax-exempt organization, (d) assume that a holder is not an officer or employee of the Company (nor of any related company) and has not (and is not deemed to have) acquired the Ordinary Share or ADS by virtue of an office or employment, and (e) assume that a holder does not control or hold (and is not deemed to control or hold), either alone or together with one or more associated or connected persons, directly or indirectly (including through the holding of Ordinary Shares or ADSs), an interest of 10 per cent. or more in the Issued Ordinary Share Capital (or in any class thereof), voting power, rights to profits or capital of the Company, and is not otherwise connected with the Company.
SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD SATISFY THEMSELVES AS TO THE OVERALL TAX CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING, SPECIFICALLY, THE CONSEQUENCES UNDER UK TAX LAW AND HMRC PRACTICE OF THE TENDER OFFER, IN THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES BY CONSULTING THEIR TAX ADVISORS. SHAREHOLDERS WHO ARE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO THEIR TAX POSITION OR WHO MAY BE SUBJECT TO TAX IN A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE UK ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS.
The Company should be able to pay the Special Dividend (if any) without making any withholding or deduction for or on account of UK tax.
Any United States federal income tax withheld from any Special Dividend paid to a UK Holder, should, to the extent that such United States federal income tax withholding does not exceed the withholdable amount, be able to credit the United States federal income tax withholding against their UK income tax or corporation tax liability on the Special Dividend (as to which, see further below). Accordingly, for an individual UK Holder paying income tax on the Special Dividend at the higher or additional dividend income tax rates, their overall effective tax rate on receipt of a Special Dividend should equal their UK income tax liability in respect of that Special Dividend. For other individual UK Holders, the amount withheld on account of United States federal income tax withholding may exceed their UK income tax liability, in which case their overall effective charge will be equal to the US tax withheld.
An individual UK Holder who receives a Special Dividend (if any) may, depending on his or her particular circumstances, be chargeable to UK income tax on the gross amount of the Special Dividend (if any) received by them.
An individual holder of an Ordinary Share or ADS who is not a UK Holder should not be chargeable to UK income tax on any Special Dividend paid by the Company, unless such holder carries on (whether solely or in partnership) a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in the United Kingdom to which the Ordinary Share or ADS is attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on his or her individual circumstances, be chargeable to UK income tax on any Special Dividend received from the Company.
All dividends received by a UK Holder from the Company or from other sources will form part of the UK Holder's total income for UK income tax purposes and will constitute the top slice of that income. The rate of UK income tax that is chargeable on dividends received in the tax year 2024/2025 by (i) an additional rate taxpayer is 39.35 per cent., (ii) a higher rate taxpayer is 33.75 per cent., and (iii) a basic rate taxpayer is 8.75 per cent. A nil rate of income tax will apply to the first £500 of taxable dividend income received by an individual UK Holder in a tax year.
A UK Holder within the charge to UK corporation tax may be entitled to exemption from UK corporation tax in respect of its receipt of any Special Dividend, provided the Special Dividend qualifies for exemption (which is likely) and certain conditions are met (including anti-avoidance conditions). If the conditions for the exemption are not satisfied, or such UK Holder elects for an otherwise exempt dividend to be taxable, UK corporation tax will be chargeable (currently at a main rate of 25 per cent. subject to a tapering relief for companies with small profits, which may reduce the applicable rate to a rate no lower than 19 per cent.) on the gross amount of a dividend. If Shareholders are in any doubt as to their position, they should consult their own professional advisors.
A corporate shareholder that is not a UK Holder should not be subject to UK corporation tax on a dividend received from the Company, unless it carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment to which the Ordinary Share or ADS is attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on its individual circumstances and if the exemption from UK corporation tax discussed above does not apply, be chargeable to UK corporation tax on any Special Dividends received from the Company.
The sale of Ordinary Shares by a Shareholder to Jefferies pursuant to the Tender Offer should be treated as a disposal of those shares for United Kingdom tax purposes. This may, subject to the Shareholder's individual circumstances and any available exemption or relief, give rise to a chargeable gain (or allowable loss) for the purposes of United Kingdom capital gains tax ("UK CGT") or corporation tax. The principal factors that will determine the UK CGT position on the payment of the Tender Price are the holder's "base cost" (e.g. allowable deductions for acquisition costs) in its Ordinary Shares, the extent to which the holder realises any other capital gains in the tax year in which the payment of the Tender Price is made, the extent to which the holder has incurred capital losses in that or any earlier tax year and the level of the annual exemption for chargeable gains in that tax year (the "annual exemption"). The annual exemption for the 2024/2025 tax year is £3,000. If, after all allowable deductions, an individual UK Holder's total taxable income for the tax year (in which it disposes of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer) exceeds the upper limit of the basic rate income tax band (that is, the threshold at which taxable income becomes chargeable to higher rate income tax rather than basic rate income tax), a taxable capital gain accruing to that UK Holder on the payment of the Tender Price should be charged to UK CGT at the rate of 20 per cent. In other cases, a taxable capital gain accruing to a UK Holder on the payment of the Tender Price in respect of that holder's disposal of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer should be charged to UK CGT at the rate of 10 per cent. save to the extent that any taxable capital gains accruing to that UK Holder in that tax year exceed (when aggregated with that UK Holder's total taxable income for the tax year in question) the upper limit of the basic rate income tax band. In that case, the rate of UK CGT currently applicable to the excess would be 20 per cent.
An individual UK Holder who ceases to be resident in the United Kingdom (whether for the purposes of a relevant double taxation treaty or otherwise) for a period of fewer than five years and receives payment of the Tender Price during that period of temporary non-residence may be liable to UK CGT on a chargeable gain accruing on such payment on becoming resident in the United Kingdom again (subject to available exemptions or reliefs).
Payment of the Tender Price to a corporate UK Holder may give rise to a chargeable gain or an allowable loss for the purpose of UK corporation tax. When calculating any chargeable gain or allowable loss accruing to a corporate UK Holder on a disposal of its Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer, if the corporate UK Holder held its Ordinary Shares before 31 December 2017 then, it should be entitled to an "indexation allowance" calculated by reference to changes in the value of the retail price index up to and including 31 December 2017. Any foreign exchange gain or loss arising to a corporate UK Holder in respect of currency fluctuations over the period of holding an Ordinary Share or an ADS may also be brought into account for the purposes of UK corporation tax on payment of the Tender Price.
A corporate UK Holder will be subject to UK corporation tax on chargeable gains at the rate of corporation tax applicable to that Shareholder (the main rate of UK corporation tax is currently 25 per cent. for companies with annual profits in excess of £250,000, with a small companies rate of 19 per cent. applying for companies with profits up to £50,000 and intermediate rates applying where profits range between £50,000 and £250,000. These thresholds are reduced where a company is associated with other companies).
UK Holders are encouraged to read Section B (Paragraph 1.5 - "Non-US Holders") and consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of US withholding tax to payments under the Tender Offer as it may apply to them.
Any US federal income tax withheld from payments under the Tender Offer, should, to the extent that such US federal income tax withholding does not exceed the applicable withholding rate, be capable of being credited in part against the UK CGT on the capital gain received by the UK Holder, subject to the following considerations and the UK Holder's personal tax position. For information on the rate of US federal income tax withholding, see "– United States – Material US Federal Income Tax Consequences – Non-US Holders – Distribution Treatment of the Tender Offer of Ordinary Shares or ADSs" below.
In relation to the Tender Offer, credit for any US withholding tax that may apply is subject to HMRC accepting that (a) the withholding made represents US federal income tax, even though the withholding is made by the Company in respect of a share purchase made by Jefferies as principal, and (b) Article 24(4) and (5) of the UK/US Double Taxation Treaty have the effect that the US federal withholding tax is (i) in respect of income but (ii) should be creditable against any covered UK tax under that treaty (which, under Article 2(3)(b), includes both UK income tax and capital gains tax) to the extent of the tax on the UK gain.
Relief by way of credit is also subject to the UK tax being computed by reference to the same profits, income or chargeable gains by reference to which the United States federal income tax is computed. Whilst this should be the case for the purposes of the Special Dividend (if any), for the Tender Offer the UK CGT calculation will take into account a base cost of the Ordinary Shares, whereas the US federal income tax withholding on amounts treated as a dividend for US federal income tax purposes (as described further under "– United States – Material US Federal Income Tax Consequences – Non-US Holders – Distribution Treatment of the Tender Offer of Ordinary Shares or ADSs" below) would not, so that the US federal income tax withholding on the deductible UK base cost should not give rise to a credit in the UK. Therefore, for UK Holders eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the US and the UK, and who have properly certified qualification for the lower treaty rate, for a basic rate CGT payer the effective charge should be equal to the US federal income withholding tax and for a higher rate payer, the credit against the 20 per cent. charge should be no more than the 15 per cent. withholding tax on that gain (with the 15 per cent. withholding tax on the amount equivalent to the UK CGT base cost representing a further charge). Similarly a UK Holder that is a corporate could only claim credit in respect of the 15 per cent. withholding tax applied to the amount of the UK gain, with the 15 per cent. withholding tax on the amount equivalent to the UK CGT base cost representing a further charge.
An individual holder who is not a UK Holder should not normally be liable to UK capital gains tax on capital gains realised on the payment of the Tender Price unless such holder carries on (whether solely or in partnership) a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in the United Kingdom to which the Ordinary Share or ADS (in respect of which the Tender Price is paid) is attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on his or her individual circumstances, be chargeable to UK CGT on chargeable gains arising from the payment of the Tender Price.
A corporate holder of an Ordinary Share or ADS that is not a UK Holder should not be liable for UK corporation tax on chargeable gains realised on the payment of the Tender Price unless it carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment to which the Ordinary Share or ADS is attributable. In these circumstances, a disposal (or deemed disposal) of an Ordinary Share or ADS by such a holder may give rise to a chargeable gain or an allowable loss for the purposes of UK corporation tax.
As Jefferies will be making the Tender Offer as principal, a UK Holder which sells Ordinary Shares to Jefferies pursuant to the Tender Offer should be treated, for the purposes of UK taxation, as though it had sold them on market to a third party in the normal way. A chargeable gain or allowable loss for the purposes of UK taxation on chargeable gains could therefore arise depending on that Shareholder's particular circumstances (including the availability of any exemptions, reliefs and allowable losses).
Under the provisions of Chapter 1 of Part 13 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (for UK Holders who are individuals or trusts) and Part 15 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (for UK Holders that are companies subject to corporation tax), HMRC can in certain circumstances counteract tax advantages arising in relation to a transaction or transactions in securities (which in principle would include the Tender Offer). If these provisions were to be applied by HMRC to the Tender Offer, in broad terms, Shareholders successfully tendering their Ordinary Shares under the Tender Offer might be liable to income tax or corporation tax (as applicable) as if they had received an income amount rather than a capital amount.
On the understanding and assumption that the Company should not be a "close company" for the purposes of UK income tax and corporation tax legislation (or a company that would be a "close company" for those purposes if it was resident for tax purposes in the UK), the provisions in Chapter 1 of Part 13 of the Income Tax Act 2007 are not expected to apply to UK Holders that are individuals or trusts.
No application has been made to HMRC for clearance in respect of the application of Chapter 1 of Part 13 of the Income Tax Act 2007 or Part 15 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 to the Tender Offer. UK Resident Shareholders are advised to take independent advice as to the potential application of the above provisions in light of their own particular motives and circumstances.
The sale of Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to the Tender Offer should not give rise to any liability to UK stamp duty or SDRT for the selling Shareholder.
Stamp duty at a rate of 0.5 per cent. on the Tender Price paid for the Ordinary Shares repurchased, rounded up to the nearest £5 if necessary, will be payable by the Company on its purchase of Ordinary Shares from Jefferies.
The following discussion is a summary of the material US federal income tax consequences of the Tender Offer (including the tender of ADSs and repurchase of Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) and the Special Dividend (if any) to US Holders and Non-US Holders (each, as defined below) of Ordinary Shares or ADSs, but does not purport to be a comprehensive discussion of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a US Holder or Non-US Holder. The effects of other US federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-US tax laws, are not discussed. This discussion is based on current provisions of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), US Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the US Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), and judicial decisions, in each case as in effect as of the date hereof. The foregoing are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below. We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the IRS with respect to the US federal income tax treatment of the Tender Offer or the Special Dividend (if any), and there can be no assurance the IRS or a court will agree with the discussion below regarding the tax consequences of the Tender Offer or the Special Dividend (if any).
This discussion is limited to US Holders and Non-US Holders that hold Ordinary Shares or ADSs as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all US federal income tax matters that may be relevant to a particular holder, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income and the alternative minimum tax. Each holder should consult a professional tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any). In addition, this discussion does not address tax considerations applicable to a holder of Ordinary Shares or ADSs that may be subject to special tax rules including, without limitation, the following:
If a partnership (or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership) or other pass-through entity for US federal income tax purposes holds Ordinary Shares or ADSs, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. A partner in a partnership or other pass-through entity holding Ordinary Shares or ADSs should consult his, her or its tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to them of the Tender Offer and the Special Dividend (if any).
For US federal income tax purposes, a holder of ADSs generally will be treated as the owner of the Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs. Gain or loss generally will not be recognized on account of exchanges of Ordinary Shares for ADSs, or of ADSs for Ordinary Shares, for US federal income tax purposes. References to Ordinary Shares in the discussion below are deemed to include ADSs, unless context otherwise requires.
Even though the Company is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, due to the circumstances of its formation and the application of Section 7874 of the Code, the Company is treated as a US domestic corporation for US federal income tax purposes. This has implications for all US Holders and Non-US Holders. The Company is subject to US federal income tax as if it were a US corporation, and distributions made by the Company are generally treated as US-source dividends as described below and generally subject to US dividend withholding tax.
The tender of a US Holder or Non-US Holder's Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to the Tender Offer generally will be treated under Section 302 of the Code as a distribution that is taxable as a dividend (as described below), unless it satisfies the requirements of Section 302(b) of the Code. Pursuant to Section 302(b) of the Code, the tender generally should be treated as a sale of a holder's Ordinary Shares or ADSs, with the tax consequences described below under "—US Holders—Sale or Exchange Treatment of the Tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs" and "—Non-US Holders—Sale or Exchange Treatment of the Tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs" if it (i) is "substantially disproportionate" with respect to the holder's interest in the Company's stock, (ii) results in a "complete termination" of the holder's interest in all of the Company's classes of stock, or (iii) is "not essentially equivalent to a dividend" with respect to the holder, all within the meaning of Section 302(b) of the Code (the "Section 302 Tests").
The tender by holders of Ordinary Shares or ADSs will be "substantially disproportionate" with respect to such holder if (i) the percentage of (a) the Company's outstanding voting shares and (b) the Company's Ordinary Shares and ADSs actually and constructively owned by the holder immediately following the tender is, respectively, less than 80 per cent. of the percentage of (x) the Company's outstanding voting shares and (y) the Company's Ordinary Shares and ADSs actually and constructively owned by the holder immediately before the tender and (ii) immediately after the tender, the holder owns less than 50 per cent. of the total combined voting power of all of the Company's voting stock.
The tender of Ordinary Shares and ADSs held by a holder will be a "complete termination" of the holder's equity interest in the Company if either (i) the holder owns none of the Company's capital stock either actually or constructively immediately after the tender of the holder's Ordinary Shares and ADSs or (ii) the holder actually owns none of the Company's capital stock immediately after the tender of the Ordinary Shares and ADSs and, with respect to shares of capital stock constructively owned by the holder immediately after the tender, the holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives, constructive ownership of all such shares under procedures described in Section 302(c) of the Code. Holders wishing to satisfy the "complete termination" test through waiver of attribution are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the requirements, mechanics and desirability of such a waiver.
Even if the tender of Ordinary Shares and ADSs fails to satisfy the "complete termination" test and the "substantially disproportionate" test, a holder may nevertheless satisfy the "not essentially equivalent to a dividend" test if the tender results in a "meaningful reduction" in the holder's equity interest in the Company. Whether the receipt of cash by a holder will be "not essentially equivalent to a dividend" will depend upon the holder's particular facts and circumstances; however, a tender that results in any reduction of the proportionate equity interest in the Company held by a holder with a relative equity interest that is minimal and who does not exercise any control over or participate in the Company's management may be treated as "not essentially equivalent to a dividend".
Special "constructive ownership" rules will apply in determining whether any of the Section 302 Tests has been satisfied. A holder must take into account not only the shares of Company capital stock that are actually owned by the holder, but also shares that are constructively owned by the holder within the meaning of Section 318 of the Code. Generally, a holder may constructively own shares actually owned, and in some cases constructively owned, by certain members of the holder's family and certain entities (such as corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) in which the holder actually or constructively has an equity interest or which have an equity interest in the holder, as well as shares the holder has an option to purchase. Holders are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the Section 302 Tests to their particular circumstances.
It is not possible to predict whether, or the extent to which, the Tender Offer will be oversubscribed. If the Tender Offer is oversubscribed, the Company may accept from each tendering holder fewer Ordinary Shares or ADSs than are tendered. Therefore, a tendering holder can be given no assurance that a sufficient number of such tendering holder's Ordinary Shares or ADSs will be purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer to ensure that such purchase will be treated as a sale or exchange, rather than as a distribution, for US federal income tax purposes pursuant to the Section 302 Tests.
If a tender of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs held by a holder does not meet any of the Section 302 Tests, the tender proceeds will be treated as a distribution, with the tax consequences described under "—US Holders—Distribution Treatment of the Tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs" and "—Non-US Holders— Distribution Treatment of the Tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs" below. In such a case, a holder's remaining adjusted tax basis in the redeemed Ordinary Shares or ADSs will be transferred to such holder's remaining shares of Company capital stock. If the holder does not retain any shares of Company stock, proposed Treasury Regulations, if enacted in their current form, would create a deferred loss.
For the purposes of this discussion, a "US Holder" is a beneficial owner of Ordinary Shares or ADSs that is (or is treated as), for US federal income tax purposes:
Payments that a US Holder receives with respect to the Tender Offer that are treated as distributions pursuant to the rules discussed above will be treated as US-source dividends includible in the gross income of a US Holder as ordinary income to the extent of the Company's current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under US federal income tax principles. To the extent the amount of a distribution exceeds the Company's current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of a US Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Ordinary Shares or ADSs and thereafter as capital gain from the sale of such Ordinary Shares or ADSs and will be treated as described below under "—Sale or Exchange Treatment of the Tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs". Subject to applicable limitations and requirements, dividends received on the Ordinary Shares or ADSs generally should be eligible for the "dividends received deduction" available to corporate shareholders. A dividend paid by the Company to a non-corporate US Holder generally will be eligible for preferential rates if certain holding period requirements are met.
The amount of any distribution received (or deemed to be received) by a US Holder in non-US currency will be the US dollar amount of such distribution, calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date the distribution is received, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into US dollars. If the distribution is converted (or treated as converted) into US dollars on such date, the US Holder generally will not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the distribution. The US Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss if the distribution is converted (or treated as converted) into US dollars after such date. In general, foreign currency gain or loss will be treated as US-source ordinary income or loss.
Because it is unclear whether the cash received by a US Holder in connection with the Tender Offer will be treated (i) as proceeds of a sale or exchange or (ii) as a distribution, in accordance with the rules described above, the Company (or the applicable withholding agent) will determine in its discretion the appropriate treatment based on a holder's representations in the Section 302 Certification, including by treating such payment as a distribution subject to withholding. US Holders must complete and return the Section 302 Certification attached to the Receiving Agent or Tender Agent, as applicable, and are urged to consult with their professional tax advisors regarding the completion of the Section 302 Certification and the tax consequences to them in their particular circumstances.
If the tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to the Tender Offer is treated as a sale or exchange by the US Holder pursuant to the rules discussed above, the US Holder generally should recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received pursuant to the Tender Offer and the adjusted tax basis in the Ordinary Shares or ADSs sold or disposed of. Any such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holder's holding period for the Ordinary Shares or ADSs is more than one year at the time of disposition. Long-term capital gain recognized by non-corporate US Holders (including individuals) generally is subject to a reduced rate of US federal income tax. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. In addition, any gain or loss generally will be US source gain or loss. Because a US Holder's gain from the taxable disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADSs generally will be US-source gain and a US Holder may use foreign tax credits to offset only the portion of US federal income tax liability that is attributable to foreign source income, a US Holder may be unable to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to any UK tax imposed on gains. There are additional significant and complex limits on a US Holder's ability to claim foreign tax credits, and recently issued US Treasury regulations that apply to foreign income taxes paid or accrued in taxable years beginning on or after 28 December 2021 further restrict the availability of any such credit based on the nature of the tax imposed by the foreign jurisdiction.
The amount of any consideration received (or deemed to be received) by a US Holder in non-US currency upon the sale or exchange of Ordinary Shares or ADSs will be the US dollar amount of such consideration, calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of sale, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into US dollars. If the Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as applicable, are treated as traded on an established securities market for US federal income tax purposes, and the relevant US Holder is either a cash basis taxpayer or an accrual basis taxpayer who has made a special election (which must be applied consistently from year to year and cannot be changed without the consent of the IRS), such holder will determine the US dollar value of the amount realized in foreign currency (if any) by translating the amount received at the spot rate of exchange in effect on the settlement date. If foreign currency received by such a US Holder is converted (or treated as converted) into US dollars on the settlement date, such US Holder generally will not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect thereof. The US Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss if the foreign currency received is instead converted (or treated as converted) into US dollars after such date. An accrual basis taxpayer that does not make the special election will recognize exchange gain or loss to the extent attributable to the difference between the US dollar amount on the date of sale and the US dollar amount of the currency such US Holder receives on the settlement date. The US Holder may have additional foreign currency gain or loss if the foreign currency received is converted (or treated as converted) into US dollars after the settlement date. In general, foreign currency gain or loss will be treated as US-source ordinary income or loss.
US Holders who do not sell Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to the Tender Offer will not incur any US federal income tax liability as a result of the consummation of the Tender Offer.
To the extent applicable, payments that a US Holder receives with respect to the Special Dividend (if any) will be treated in the same manner as a distribution described above under "—Distribution Treatment of the Tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs".
Payment of the Tender Price to a US Holder, and the payment Special Dividend (if any), generally will be subject to information reporting, and they may be subject to backup withholding if a US Holder (i) fails to furnish such US Holder's correct US taxpayer identification number (generally on IRS Form W-9), (ii) furnishes an incorrect US taxpayer identification number, (iii) is notified by the IRS that such US Holder has previously failed to properly report items subject to backup withholding, or (iv) fails to certify under penalty of perjury that such US Holder has furnished its correct US taxpayer identification number and that the IRS has not notified such US Holder that it is subject to backup withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a US Holder's US federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
For purposes of this discussion, a "Non-US Holder" is a beneficial owner of Ordinary Shares or ADSs (other than a partnership, an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership, or other pass-through entity) that is not a US Holder.
Payments that a Non-US Holder receives with respect to the Tender Offer that are treated as distributions pursuant to the rules discussed above will be treated as a dividend to the extent of the Company's current or accumulated earnings or profits. Amounts not treated as dividends for US federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-US Holder's adjusted tax basis in its Ordinary Shares or ADSs, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under "—Sale or Exchange Treatment of the Tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs".
Because it is unclear whether the cash received by a Non-US Holder in connection with the Tender Offer will be treated (i) as proceeds of a sale or exchange or (ii) as a distribution, in accordance with the rules described above, the Company (or the applicable withholding agent) will determine in its discretion the appropriate treatment based on a holder's representations in the Section 302 Certification, including by treating such payment as a distribution subject to withholding. The tender of a Non-US Holder's Ordinary Shares or ADS pursuant to the Tender Offer generally will be treated under Section 302 of the Code as a distribution that is a dividend and subject to US federal income tax withholding unless the tender satisfies one of the Section 302 Tests as described above under "—Tax Treatment of the Tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs Pursuant to the Tender Offer." Non-US Holders should complete and return the Section 302 Certification attached to the Receiving Agent or Tender Agent, as applicable, and are urged to consult with their professional tax advisors regarding the completion of the Section 302 Certification and the tax consequences to them in their particular circumstances. Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, dividends paid to a Non-US Holder will be subject to US federal withholding tax at a rate of 30 per cent. of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-US Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). The income tax treaty between the UK and the US generally provides for a 15 per cent. rate of withholding on dividends, if the Non-US Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding pursuant to the treaty. A Non-US Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-US Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.
If dividends paid to a Non-US Holder are effectively connected with the Non-US Holder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-US Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-US Holder will be exempt from the US federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-US Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-US Holder's conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to US federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates. A Non-US Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30 per cent. (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items.
A Non-US Holder may be eligible to obtain a refund of all or a portion of any tax withheld (i) if such holder meets one of the Section 302 Tests, (ii) if such holder is entitled to a reduced or zero rate of withholding pursuant to any applicable income tax treaty and a higher rate was withheld or (iii) if the Company determines, following the close of the current taxable year ending 31 December 2024, that all or a portion of such distribution was not made out of the Company's current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Non-US Holder are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of US federal withholding tax, including eligibility for a withholding tax reduction or exemption and the refund procedure.
To the extent the tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to the Tender Offer is treated as a sale or exchange of such Ordinary Shares or ADSs by the Non-US Holder pursuant to the rules discussed above a Non-US Holder will not be subject to US federal income tax on any portion of the payment of the Tender Price, unless:
Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to US federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates. A Non-US Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30 per cent. (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.
A Non-US Holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to US federal income tax at a rate of 30 per cent. (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of the Company's Ordinary Shares or ADSs, which may be offset by US source capital losses of the Non-US Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-US Holder has timely filed US federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.
With respect to the third bullet point above, the Company believes it is not, and does not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether the Company is a USRPHC depends, however, on the fair market value of the Company's USRPIs relative to the fair market value of the Company's non-US real property interests and the Company's other business assets, there can be no assurance the Company is currently not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future. Even if the Company is or was to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs by a Non-US Holder will not be subject to US federal income tax if the Ordinary Shares or ADSs are "regularly traded", as defined by applicable US Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market and such Non-US Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5 per cent. or less of the Company's Ordinary Shares or ADSs throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-US Holder's holding period.
Non-US Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Non-US Holders who do not sell Ordinary Shares or ADSs pursuant to the Tender Offer will not incur any US federal income tax liability as a result of the consummation of the Tender Offer.
To the extent applicable, payments that a Non-US Holder receives with respect to the Special Dividend (if any) will be treated in the same manner as a distribution described above under "—Distribution Treatment of the Tender of Ordinary Shares or ADSs".
Payments of dividends (including the Special Dividend (if any), and any amounts treated as dividends pursuant to the rules discussed above) on the Ordinary Shares or ADSs will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the holder is a United States person and the holder either certifies its non-US status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, or W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any distributions on the Ordinary Shares or ADSs paid to the Non-US Holder, regardless of whether such distributions constitute dividends or whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds from the sale or other taxable disposition of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs within the United States or conducted through certain US-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds from the sale or other taxable disposition of our Ordinary Shares or ADSs conducted through a non-US office of a non-US broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.
Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-US Holder resides or is established.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-US Holder's US federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA) on certain types of payments made to non-US financial institutions and certain other non-US entities. Specifically, a 30 per cent. withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on, or (subject to the proposed US Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our Ordinary Shares or ADSs paid to a "foreign financial institution" or a "non-financial foreign entity" (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any "substantial United States owners" (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the US Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain "specified United States persons" or "United States owned foreign entities" (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30 per cent. on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.
Under the applicable US Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our Ordinary Shares or ADSs. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of stock on or after January 1, 2019, proposed US Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed US Treasury Regulations until final US Treasury Regulations are issued.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to the payment of the Tender Price or the Special Dividend (if any).
ALL SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF A SALE OF ALL OR A PORTION OF THEIR ORDINARY SHARES OR ADSs PURSUANT TO THE TENDER OFFER AND THE SPECIAL DIVIDEND (IF ANY), INCLUDING OBTAINING ASSISTANCE ON THE PREPARATION AND PROVISION OF ANY CERTIFICATIONS.
INFORMATION SET OUT BELOW RELATES EXCLUSIVELY TO THE PROCESS FOR RETURNING CERTAIN TAX FORMS AND CERTIFICATIONS, AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE.
All Shareholders should receive, together with this Circular, a Section 302 Certification and a prepaid envelope to return the Section 302 Certification.
Copies of the Section 302 Certification are also available on the Microsite set up by the Company for the purposes of the Tender Offer. The Microsite is available at https://investors.puretechhealth.com/tenderoffer.
Shareholders should carefully read section B.1. In consultation with their professional tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances, Shareholders should complete the Section 302 Certification and return the Section 302 Certification to the Receiving Agent or Tender Agent, as applicable, in accordance with the instructions set in the Tender Form and Letter of Transmittal.
The Section 302 Certification must be provided, under penalties of perjury, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person providing the certification that the information provided is true, correct, and complete. Neither the Company, the Receiving Agent, the Tender Agent, nor Jefferies accepts any liability whatsoever in connection with the Section 302 Certification or its contents. Any Section 302 Certification provided incomplete or incorrectly signed, executed and delivered may not be relied upon and the Company, the Receiving Agent, the Tender Agent and Jefferies will have no liability or responsibility in connection therewith.
Neither the Company, the Receiving Agent, the Tender Agent, nor Jefferies are able to assist with the completion of the Section 302 Certification, and cannot offer tax advice. Shareholders are therefore urged to seek assistance from a relevant professional tax advisor prior to completion of the Section 302 Certification.
The Section 302 Certification must be completed in accordance with the instructions printed thereon. To be valid, the Section 302 Certification must be received by post by the Company's Receiving Agent at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH, UK, by not later than 1:00 p.m. (London time)) on Thursday 20 June 2024 and, solely in the case of ADS Holder who holds ADSs on the books of the Depositary, by the Tender Agent at (a) if by mail, Citibank, N.A., c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions P.O. Box 43011 Providence, RI 02940-3011, or (b) if by courier, Citibank, N.A., c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions, 150 Royall Street, Suite V, Canton, MA 02021, in either case by not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on Tuesday 18 June 2024. It may be possible to claim a tax refund and Shareholders and ADS Holders are urged to consult their professional tax advisors in connection with any tax refund that they may be entitled to. If you own your ADSs through a bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee, the Section 302 Certification must be received by such bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee. Do not return the Section 302 Certification to the Tender Agent.
Copies of IRS Form W-9 and the available IRS Form W-8 are available on the IRS's website at www.irs.gov/forms-instructions.
Copies of IRS Form W-9 and the available IRS Forms W-8 are also available on the Microsite set up by the Company for the purposes of the Tender Offer. The Microsite is available at https://investors.puretechhealth.com/tender-offer.
Shareholders should print out, complete and send to the Receiving Agent the appropriate IRS Form W-9 (for US Holders) or applicable IRS Form W-8 (for Non-US Holders). This applies whether or not Shareholders plan to participate in the Tender Offer. IRS Form W-9 and IRS Forms W-8 will also be relevant in connection with the Special Dividend (if any).
Shareholders should carefully read the guidance and considerations set out in section B.1 above regarding the potential tax treatment of a Shareholder's receipt of proceeds from the Tender Offer as well as receipt of the Special Dividend (if any). Provision of a duly completed IRS Form W-9 will notify the Receiving Agent or Tender Agent of the Shareholder's status as a US Holder. Provision of an applicable IRS Form W-8 will notify the Receiving Agent or Tender Agent of the Shareholder's status as a Non-US Holder's. All Shareholders are urged to consult their professional tax advisors regarding the completion of all IRS Forms and the tax consequences to them of the receipt of proceeds from the Tender Offer as well as receipt of the Special Dividend (if any) in their particular circumstances.
IRS Form W-9 and IRS Form W-8 must be provided, under penalties of perjury, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person providing the certification that the information provided is true, correct, and complete. Neither the Company, the Receiving Agent, the Tender Agent, nor Jefferies accepts any liability whatsoever in connection with a Shareholder's IRS Form W-9 or IRS Form W-8 or its contents. Any IRS Form W-9 or IRS Form W-8 provided incomplete or incorrectly signed, executed and delivered may not be relied upon and the Company, the Receiving Agent, the Tender Agent and Jefferies will have no liability or responsibility in connection therewith.
Neither the Company, the Receiving Agent, the Tender Agent, nor Jefferies are able to assist with the completion of IRS Form W-9 or IRS Form W-8, and cannot offer tax advice. Shareholders are therefore urged to seek assistance from a relevant professional tax advisor prior to completion of IRS Form W-9 or IRS Form W-8.
IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8 must be completed in accordance with the instructions printed thereon. To be valid, the IRS Form W-9 or one of the available IRS Form W-8 must be received by post by the Company's Receiving Agent at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH, UK, by not later than 1:00 p.m. (London time)) on Thursday 20 June 2024 solely in the case of ADS Holder who holds ADSs on the books of the Depositary, by the Tender Agent at (a) if by mail, Citibank, N.A., c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions P.O. Box 43011 Providence, RI 02940-3011, or (b) if by courier, Citibank, N.A., c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions, 150 Royall Street, Suite V, Canton, MA 02021, in either case by not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on Tuesday 18 June 2024.
As at 16 May 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date), the Issued Ordinary Share Capital of the Company was 289,468,159 Ordinary Shares of one pence each, including Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of outstanding ADSs, with 18,707,082 of those Ordinary Shares held in treasury by the Company. The total number of voting rights in the Company is therefore 270,761,077. The Company's Issued Ordinary Share Capital comprises a single class of Ordinary Shares.
The Ordinary Shares are admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange. The high and low quarterly trading prices for the Ordinary Shares on the London Stock Exchange in the period from 1 January 2022 to 16 May 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date) were as follows (in pounds sterling):
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | To Latest Practicable Date |
|
| High | £2.92 £2.14 £2.57 £2.95 £2.77 £2.42 £2.32 £1.94 | £2.29 | |||||||
| Low | £1.80 £1.48 £1.74 £2.12 £2.03 £2.06 £1.81 £1.40 | £1.81 |
The ADSs are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market. The high and low quarterly trading prices for the ADSs on the NASDAQ Global Market in the period from 1 January 2022 to 16 May 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date) were as follows (in US dollars):
| 2022 | 2023 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | To Latest Practicable Date |
|
| High | \$42.00 \$28.60 \$31.50 \$38.51 \$35.25 \$31.36 \$31.01 \$28.18 | \$30.00 | |||||||
| Low | \$23.70 \$18.87 \$20.71 \$23.50 \$24.93 \$25.12 \$22.50 \$17.08 | \$22.05 |
In June 2015, the Company adopted the Performance Stock Plan (the "2015 PSP"). Under the 2015 PSP and subsequent amendments, awards of Ordinary Shares may be made to the Directors, senior managers and employees, and other individuals providing services to the Company up to a maximum authorized amount of 10.0 percent of the total Ordinary Shares outstanding. The awards have various vesting terms over a period of service between one and four years, provided the recipient remains continuously engaged as a service provider. The options awards expire 10 years from the grant date.
In June 2023 the Company adopted a new Performance Stock Plan (the "2023 PSP") that has the same terms as the 2015 PSP but instituted for all new awards a limit of 10.0 percent of the total Ordinary Shares outstanding over a five-year period.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the Company has issued share-based awards to purchase an aggregate of 27,384,777 Ordinary Shares under the PSPs, representing 10.1 per cent. of the Issued Ordinary Share Capital (excluding Ordinary Shares held in treasury). If the full authority to purchase 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares is used pursuant to the Tender Offer, the Company's issued share based awards to subscribe for Ordinary Shares under the PSPs will remain over 27,384,777 Ordinary Shares, representing 11.5 per cent. of the reduced Issued Ordinary Share Capital (excluding Ordinary Shares held in treasury).
As at the Latest Practicable Date, there are no outstanding warrants to subscribe for Ordinary Shares.
The names and principal functions of the Directors are as follows:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Dr .Raju Kucherlapati | Non-Executive Interim Chair |
| Dr. Bharatt Chowrira | Chief Executive Officer |
| Ms. Sharon Barber-Lui | Independent Non-Executive Director |
| Dr. John LaMattina | Independent Non-Executive Director |
| Dr. Robert Langer | Non-Executive Director |
| Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | Independent Non-Executive Director |
The table below sets out current Directors' shareholdings which are beneficially owned or subject to a performance condition and interests of connected persons as at the Latest Practicable Date:
| Number of Ordinary Shares Owned Outright |
Percentage of Issued Share Capital (excluding Ordinary Shares held in treasury) owned outright |
Directors' Share Interests Vested but Unexercised Options |
Options subject to Service |
RSUs subject to Performance Conditions |
RSUs subject to Service Conditions |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | |||||||
| Bharatt Chowrira | 1,000,001 | 0.37 | 1,762,500 187,500 | 1,282,4991 | — | 4,232,500 | |
| Sharon Barber-Lui | 21,507 | 0.01 | — | — | — | 17,1222 | 38,629 |
| Raju Kucherlapati | 2,492,528 | 0.92 | — | — | — | 17,1222 | 2,509,650 |
| John LaMattina | 1,414,530 | 0.52 | — | — | — | 17,1222 | 1,431,652 |
| Robert Langer | 2,976,831 | 1.10 | — | — | — | 17,1222 | 2,993,953 |
| Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | 32,697 | 0.01 | — | — | — | 17,1222 | 49,819 |
Includes the following PSP awards, which are subject to performance conditions: 611,909 (2022) and 670,590 (2023).
Denotes RSUs, which are subject to continued service, that were granted in June 2023 and vest immediately prior to the 2024 Annual General Meeting.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the Company had been notified (in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules) of the following underlying Shareholders with a notifiable interest in the Issued Ordinary Share Capital.
| Shareholder | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Invesco Asset Management Limited | 23.76 |
| Lansdowne Partners International Limited | 8.10 |
| Baillie Gifford & Co | 7.65 |
| Daphne Zohar | 4.72 |
| Vanguard Group | 4.24 |
| Patient Capital Management | 3.90 |
| Recordati SPA Pharmaceutical Company | 3.54 |
| M&G Investment Management, LTD | 3.39 |
Executive Directors' service contracts do not provide for liquidated damages, longer periods of notice on a change of control of the Company or additional compensation on an Executive Director's cessation of employment with the Company, except as discussed below. The Company's policy is to offer service contracts for Executive Directors with notice periods of no more than 12 months, and typically between 60 to 180 days.
Service contracts provide for severance pay following termination in the case that employment is terminated by the Company without 'cause', or by the employee for 'good reason'. In this case severance pay as set out in the contract is no greater than 12-months' base salary and is aligned to the duration of any restrictive covenants placed on the employee. Service contracts may also provide for the continuation of benefits but for no longer than a 12-month period post termination.
Service contracts also provide for the payment of international tax in non-US jurisdictions if applicable to the Executive Director. They also can provide for garden leave and, if required by applicable law, the recovery and withholding of incentive payments.
| Executive Directors | Notice period | Contract date | Maximum potential termination payment |
Potential payment on change of control/liquidation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bharatt Chowrira | 90 days | 8 April 2024 | 12 months' salary (pro-rated | Nil |
| target bonus) |
Non-Executive Directors are appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Company by a letter of appointment. These letters usually provide for a notice period of one month from the Company and the Non-Executive Director prior to termination.
| Non-Executive Directors | Notice period | Contract date | Contract expiration date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon Barber-Lui | 30 days | 24 March 2022 | 24 March 2025 |
| Raju Kucherlapati | 30 days | 5 June 2021 | 5 June 2024 |
| John LaMattina | 30 days | 5 June 2021 | 5 June 2024 |
| Robert Langer | 30 days | 5 June 2021 | 5 June 2024 |
| Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | 30 days | 28 September 2023 | 28 September 2026 |
Our Directors and our major Shareholders are entitled to participate in the Tender Offer on the same basis as all other Shareholders, and one or more of such persons may, but are under no obligation to, do so.
The Company's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bharatt Chowrira, has confirmed that he does not intend to tender any of his current individual beneficial holding of Ordinary Shares through the Tender Offer. The remainder of the Board, comprising the Company's interim chair and the Company's non-executive directors, are each considering their individual position and may tender Ordinary Shares of which they are the registered or beneficial holder, or otherwise hold on trust as trustees (as applicable), under the Tender Offer.
During the 60 days between 21 March 2024, and 20 May 2024, being the date of the opening of the Tender Offer, no transactions in the Ordinary Shares or ADSs were completed by the Company or by the Directors, executive officers, affiliates and subsidiaries of the Company.
By an option agreement between the Company and Jefferies dated 20 May 2024 ("Option Agreement"), the Company has agreed to purchase, and Jefferies has agreed to sell to the Company, as an on-market purchase and at a price per Ordinary Share equal to the Tender Price, all of the Ordinary Shares purchased by Jefferies pursuant to the Tender Offer, such purchase and sale to be completed immediately following the purchase of those Ordinary Shares by Jefferies. For this purpose, in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement: (a) the Company has granted a put option to Jefferies, which, on exercise, obliges the Company to purchase from Jefferies, at the Tender Price, the Ordinary Shares purchased by Jefferies pursuant to the Tender Offer; and (b) Jefferies has granted the Company a call option which, on exercise, obliges Jefferies to sell to the Company, at the Tender Price, the Ordinary Shares purchased by Jefferies pursuant to the Tender Offer.
Under the Option Agreement, which is conditional on the Tender Offer becoming unconditional in all respects and not lapsing or terminating in accordance with its terms, the Company shall pay an amount equal to the aggregate amount to be paid by Jefferies for the successfully tendered Ordinary Shares purchased by Jefferies pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Tender Offer to a segregated client account of Jefferies held to the order of the Company by or on 24 June 2024, being the date on which the results on the Tender Offer are expected to be announced by the Company.
The Option Agreement also contains certain representations, warranties and undertakings from the Company in favour of Jefferies concerning, among other things, its authority to enter into the Option Agreement and to make the purchase of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer.
The Ordinary Shares that the Company purchases from Jefferies pursuant to the Option Agreement will be cancelled and the number of Ordinary Shares in issue carrying voting rights reduced accordingly.
The Company has retained Georgeson LLC to act as Information Agent in connection with the Tender Offer in relation to the ADSs and in relation to receiving inquiries from holders of Ordinary Shares located in the US. The Information Agent may contact Shareholders by mail, telephone, email, facsimile and personal interviews and may request brokers, dealers and other nominee stockholders to forward materials relating to the Tender Offer to beneficial owners. The Information Agent will receive customary compensation for its services, will be reimbursed by the Company for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will be indemnified against certain liabilities in connection with the Tender Offer.
The Company has retained Citibank, N.A. to act as Tender Agent in connection with the Tender Offer. Pursuant to the Tender Agency Agreement, the Tender Agent will, among other things, receive tenders of ADSs, examine Letters of Transmittal to ascertain whether they have been improperly completed or executed, and facilitate payment to ADS Holders whose Ordinary Shares represented by their tendered ADSs are purchased in the Tender Offer. The Tender Agent will receive customary compensation for its services, will be reimbursed by the Company for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will be indemnified against certain liabilities in connection with the Tender Offer.
The Company has retained Computershare Investor Services PLC to act as Receiving Agent in connection with the Tender Offer with respect to non-US Shareholders and with respect to receiving inquiries from non-US Shareholders. The Receiving Agent, among other things, will provide a helpline facility to deal with general enquiries from non-US Shareholders in connection with the Tender Offer and/or completion of Forms of Proxy and Tender Forms and process payment of the consideration to non-US Shareholders who have successfully tendered their Ordinary Shares. The Receiving Agent will receive reasonable and customary compensation for its services, will be reimbursed by the Company for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will be indemnified against certain liabilities in connection with the Tender Offer.
A deposit agreement was entered into by the Company, the Depositary and ADS Holders from time to time and beneficial owners of ADSs issued thereunder on 11 November 2020 (the "Deposit Agreement"). The Deposit Agreement sets out ADS Holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the Depositary.
The Deposit Agreement and the ADSs are governed by New York law.
Under the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, an ADS Holder may have to pay the following fees to the Depositary:
| Service | Fees |
|---|---|
| Issuance of ADSs (e.g., an issuance of ADS upon a deposit of ordinary shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-ordinary share(s) ratio, or for any other reason), excluding ADS issuances as a result of distributions of ordinary shares) |
Up to US\$0.05 per ADS issued |
| Cancellation of ADSs (e.g., a cancellation of ADSs for delivery of deposited property, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-ordinary share(s) ratio, or for any other reason) |
Up to US\$0.05 per ADS cancelled |
| Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (e.g., upon a sale of rights and other entitlements) |
Up to US\$0.05 per ADS held |
| Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) share dividends or other free share distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs |
Up to US\$0.05 per ADS held |
| Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (e.g., upon a spin-off) |
Up to US\$0.05 per ADS held |
| ADS services Registration of ADS transfers (e.g., upon a registration of the transfer of registered ownership of ADSs, upon a transfer of ADSs into DTC and vice versa, or for any other reason) |
Up to US\$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary bank Up to US\$0.05 per ADS (or fraction thereof) transferred |
| Conversion of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series (e.g., upon conversion of partial entitlement ADSs for full entitlement ADSs, or upon conversion of restricted ADSs (each as defined in the Deposit Agreement) into freely transferable ADSs, and vice versa) |
Up to US\$0.05 per ADS (or fraction thereof) converted |
grant Jefferies an option for Jefferies to require the Company to acquire from Jefferies up to 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs); and (iii) Jefferies agreed to grant the Company an option for the Company to require Jefferies to sell up to 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) to the Company, subject to the maximum consideration payable by Jefferies not exceeding US\$100 million. The Tender Offer is being carried out by Jefferies outside the United States and by Jefferies LLC, in the United States on the terms and conditions set out in this Circular, respectively. Jefferies and its affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking and other services to the Company, for which Jefferies has received and expects to receive, as the case may be, customary compensation from the Company. In the ordinary course of business, including in their trading and brokerage operations and in a fiduciary capacity, Jefferies and its affiliates may hold positions, both long and short, for their own accounts and for those of their customers, in the Company's securities.
There are no governmental, legal or arbitration proceedings (including any such proceedings which are pending or threatened of which the Company is aware) relating to the Tender Offer.
Copies of this Circular will be available for inspection at the principal executive office of the Company at 6 Tide Street, Suite 400 Boston, Massachusetts 02210 and at the registered office of the Company at C/O Tmf Group, 13th Floor, One Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ, United Kingdom, during normal business hours on weekdays (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted) from the date of this document until the completion, lapse or termination of the Tender Offer.
The following information is for ADS Holders wishing to participate in the Tender Offer with respect to ADSs and does not apply to Ordinary Shareholders. As a tender of ADSs will be deemed to be an instruction to the Tender Agent to cause the Custodian to tender the Ordinary Shares underlying tendered ADSs, ADS Holders should also review the entirety of this Circular as it contains information relevant to holders of ADSs as well as Ordinary Shareholders.
The Board has arranged for Jefferies to provide ADS Holders with the opportunity to tender their ADSs, each ADS representing ten Ordinary Shares, in the Tender Offer, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Circular. The Company intends to repurchase a maximum of 33,500,000 of its Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) for up to a maximum aggregate amount of US\$100 million following the successful completion of the Tender Offer. The maximum amount of \$100 million will be translated into a pounds sterling amount on the Ordinary Share Closing Date, which pounds sterling amount shall determine the maximum number of Ordinary Shares to be accepted for payment in the Tender Offer.
Each ADS represents ten Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, the amount an ADS Holder will receive for each ADS in respect of which the underlying Ordinary Shares are successfully tendered under the Tender Offer will be ten times the Tender Price, which will be converted into US dollars.
Under the terms of the Tender Offer, ADS Holders are invited to tender their ADSs at a price of £25.00 per ADS (each representing 10 Ordinary Shares) (which is currently equivalent to US\$31.68 per ADS).
Amounts in pounds sterling will be converted by the Tender Agent or the Depositary to US dollars (in the manner contemplated by the Deposit Agreement) and paid over to ADS Holders whose ADSs are successfully tendered (less any applicable fees and expenses contemplated thereunder). Any fees due to the Tender Agent or Depositary for cancellation of the tendered ADSs and/or distribution of the Tender Price (after converting into US dollars), in each case pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, will be paid by the Company. If you own your ADSs through a bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee and such nominee tenders your ADSs on your behalf, such nominee may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult with your bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.
The Tender Agent is not acting as tender agent for the holders of the Ordinary Shares, regardless of where such holders may reside.
The Information Agent with respect to the Tender Offer for ADSs is Georgeson LLC If you are an ADS Holder, bank, broker or institutional holder and have questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer in respect of the ADSs, please call the Information Agent at (+1) 866 529 2770 (toll-free from the US) and (+1) 781 896 6940 (from other countries) from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time).
Please note that for legal reasons the Information Agent will only be able to provide information contained in this Circular and the accompanying Tender Form and Letter of Transmittal and will be unable to give advice on the merits of the Tender Offer or to provide financial, investment or taxation advice. If you need additional copies of this Circular or the Letter of Transmittal (or the Tender Form for Ordinary Shares in the United States), please contact our Information Agent.
References below are to New York City time unless otherwise stated. If any of the times or dates set out herein should change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified to Shareholders by a public announcement and in accordance with the rules of the SEC.
| File Schedule TO with the SEC | 20 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Commencement of Tender Offer | 20 May 2024 |
| Latest time and date for receipt by Tender Agent of Letters of Transmittal for ADSs or book-entry transfer of ADSs |
5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on 18 June 2024 |
| Announcement of results under Tender Offer | by 24 June 2024 |
| Settlement date for purchases under the Tender Offer | 3 July 2024 |
| Credit of proceeds in respect of book entry ADSs | by 3 July 2024 |
| Despatch of cheques for Tender Offer proceeds and despatch of balance ADRs, as applicable |
by 3 July 2024 |
The dates and times set forth above are in accordance with English law and practice and are subject to the Company's right or, upon certain conditions set forth in the US securities laws, the Company's obligation to extend or amend the Tender Offer.
Any ADS Holder who holds ADSs on the books of the Depositary who wishes to tender pursuant to the Tender Offer should properly complete and duly execute a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), together with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, and deliver such documents to the Tender Agent at the appropriate address set forth in the Letter of Transmittal so as to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on ADS Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended).
If the ADSs are held through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other securities intermediary and the ADS Holder wishes to participate in the Tender Offer, such ADS Holder should provide tender instructions in accordance with the instructions provided by such intermediary in sufficient time so as to ensure that such intermediary can provide such instructions to the Tender Agent so as to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, the Company will not be required to accept for purchase and pay for any Ordinary Shares tendered (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs), and the Company may terminate or withdraw the Offer, or may postpone the acceptance for purchase of, or the purchase of and the payment for, Ordinary Shares, subject to Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable, if any of the Tender Conditions are not satisfied or waived at any time on or prior to the Unconditional Time. The Tender Offer is subject to and conditional upon the following Tender Conditions:
which in the opinion of Jefferies, acting reasonably, makes or would be likely to make it impracticable, impossible or unduly onerous to proceed with the Tender Offer as contemplated by this Circular;
not available on terms reasonably acceptable to the Company in respect of the Tender Offer and, if required under any such laws, the Company shall have received the necessary exemptions from, or waivers, of the appropriate courts or securities regulatory authorities in respect of the Tender Offer; or
I. at no time during which the Tender Offer remains open, the aggregate value of the FTSE 250 Index having fallen more than 20 per cent. at the close of trading on any day from the aggregate value of 20,822.84 (being the aggregate value of the FTSE 250 Index as at the close of trading on 16 May 2024).
For these purposes, the "Unconditional Time" shall be, subject to the satisfaction or (in accordance with these terms and conditions) waiver, where applicable, of the Tender Conditions referred to above, 1:00 p.m. on the Ordinary Share Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended).
Jefferies will not purchase the Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer unless the Tender Conditions have been satisfied or, as provided below, waived. In the event that the Tender Conditions are not satisfied, the Company shall (with the prior consent of Jefferies) be entitled to waive, excluding paragraphs A of and D above, such Tender Condition(s) and to elect to proceed with the implementation of the Tender Offer, subject to applicable law. The purchase by Jefferies of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer will occur upon the Tender Conditions being satisfied or waived. If any of the Tender Conditions are not satisfied or waived by the Unconditional Time, the Tender Offer will lapse.
Each of the foregoing conditions must be complied with or waived at or prior to the Unconditional Time. If any of the conditions referred to above are waived, the Company will promptly notify Shareholders. Any waiver of a Tender Condition, or the withdrawal of the Tender Offer, shall be deemed to be effective on the date on which notice of such waiver or withdrawal is delivered or otherwise communicated to the Receiving Agent. The Company, after giving notice to the Receiving Agent of any waiver of a condition or the withdrawal of the Tender Offer, shall forthwith thereafter make a public announcement by way of a Regulatory Information Service of such waiver or withdrawal and will file such notice as an amendment to its tender offer statement on Schedule TO filed with the SEC with respect to the Tender Offer. If the Tender Offer is withdrawn, the Company shall not be obligated to effect the purchase of any tendered Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Share represented by ADSs) under the Tender Offer and all Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADS) and all ADSs previously tendered and not withdrawn will be promptly returned to tendering holders.
If the Company materially changes the terms of the Tender Offer, including any waiver of a material condition, or the information concerning the Tender Offer, the Company will extend the Tender Offer to the extent required by Rules 13e-4(d)(2), 13e-4(e)(3) and 13e-4(f)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act. These rules and certain related releases and interpretations of the SEC provide that the minimum period during which a tender offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the tender offer or information concerning the tender offer (other than a change in price or a change in percentage of securities sought) will depend on the facts and circumstances, including the relative materiality of such terms or information; however, in no event will the Tender Offer remain open for fewer than five US Business Days following such a material change in the terms of, or information concerning, the Tender Offer. The Company intends for the Tender Price to remain fixed throughout the Tender Offer. If the Company increases or decreases the Tender Price and the Tender Offer is scheduled to expire at any time earlier than the expiration of a period ending at the end of the day, 12:00 midnight (New York City time), on the tenth US Business Day from, and including, the date that notice of any such increase or decrease is first published, sent or given in the manner specified in this Section 2, then the Tender Offer will be extended until the expiration of such period of 10 US Business Days.
The foregoing conditions are for the exclusive benefit of the Company and Jefferies and may be asserted by the Company at any time prior to the Unconditional Time in its discretion regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such assertion (excluding any action or inaction by the Company), or may (subject to applicable law, be waived by the Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies) in whole or in part at any time prior to the Unconditional Time in its discretion, without prejudice to any other rights which the Company may have). The failure by the Company at any time to exercise its rights under any of the foregoing conditions shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right, and the waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and other circumstances shall not constitute a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances, and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time or from time to time. Any determination by the Company or Jefferies, as applicable, concerning the events described in this paragraph 2 of Part V of this Circular shall be made in the reasonable opinion of such person, and shall be final and binding on all parties, subject to such parties disputing such determination in a court of competent jurisdiction.
In the United States, the registered US broker-dealer affiliate of Jefferies, Jefferies LLC, is also participating in the Tender Offer as required by US law.
PureTech Health plc, a public company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, is a clinicalstage biotherapeutics company dedicated to giving life to new classes of medicine to change the lives of patients with devastating diseases.
The right to tender ADSs is being made available by the Company to holders of ADSs.
ADS Holders will not be entitled to attend, or vote directly at, the General Meeting in person or by proxy. If you are an ADS Holder who holds ADSs through a bank, broker or other nominee who wishes for the Depositary to vote your ADSs at the General Meeting, you may provide your voting instructions in accordance with such bank, broker or other nominee's voting procedures and requirements. If you are an ADS Holder who holds ADSs on the books of the Depositary who wishes for the Depositary to vote your ADSs at the General Meeting, you may provide your voting instructions to the Depositary by sending in a completed ADS voting instruction card, as described on such card. Voting instructions must be received by the Depositary by 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) (3:00 p.m. (London time)) on Friday 31 May 2024.
If you are an ADS Holder and you wish to vote directly (whether in person or by proxy) at the General Meeting, you must elect to become a registered ordinary shareholder by surrendering some or all of your ADSs to the Depositary for cancellation to withdraw the Ordinary Shares represented by those ADSs, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement, so as to become a registered holder of Ordinary Shares (i) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 if you intend to become a registered ordinary shareholder and vote by proxy in accordance with the arrangements set out in paragraph 9.1(A) of Part III or (ii) prior to 6:00 p.m. (London time) (1:00 p.m. New York City time)) on Tuesday 4 June 2024 if you intend to become a registered ordinary shareholder and attend the General Meeting and vote in person. Pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary is entitled to receive a cancellation fee of \$0.05 per ADS cancelled from each ADS Holder who cancels some or all of their ADSs.
Letters of Transmittal in respect of ADSs must be returned to the Depositary so as to be received by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date. The Tender Offer with respect to the ADSs will close at that time and tenders received after that time will not be accepted (unless the Tender Offer is extended).
Only if you provide instructions to your broker or other nominee to do so. You should follow the directions provided by your broker or other nominee regarding how to instruct your broker or other nominee to tender your ADSs. Note that your broker or other nominee may establish a response deadline earlier than that which is established by other brokers and/or nominees and earlier than the deadline imposed by the Tender Agent. Without your specific instructions, your ADSs will not be tendered for purchase under the Tender Offer.
No. ADSs may not be tendered in the Tender Offer by guaranteed delivery.
You can withdraw or amend your tender of ADSs up until 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended). The Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer will be deemed to have been accepted for payment when, as and if the Company and Jefferies give written notice of acceptance to the Tender Agent. ADSs representing Ordinary Shares that are not accepted for payment will be returned by the Tender Agent.
Under the expected timetable of events as set forth above, it is anticipated that the Depositary will receive payment in pounds sterling on the purchase settlement date for the Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs purchased by Jefferies through the Tender Offer. As soon as practicable after the Tender Agent converts such payment into US dollars, the Tender Agent will despatch cheques to registered ADS Holders entitled thereto and remit payment through DTC for further credit to its participants in respect of ADSs accepted for payment that were tendered through DTC.
Neither the Company nor Jefferies is imposing any fees in connection with the Tender Offer. Pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary is entitled to receive (a) a cash distribution fee of \$0.05 per ADS held, payable for every ADS held by an ADS Holder whose ADSs are successfully tendered, and (b) a cancellation fee of \$0.05 per ADS cancelled. The Company will reimburse the Depositary for such fees.
If you own your ADSs through a bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee and such nominee tenders your ADSs on your behalf, such nominee may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult with your bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.
For information on certain material US federal income tax consequences of the Tender Offer and Special Dividend (if any) with respect to ADSs, please see Part VI of this Circular. You should consult an independent professional tax advisor.
If you are an ADS Holder that holds ADS on the books of the Depositary and you wish to tender all or any of your Ordinary Shares, you should:
and deliver such documents to the Tender Agent at the appropriate address set forth in the Letter of Transmittal.
If you own your ADS through a custodian, nominee or trustee should you consult your custodian, nominee or trustee for guidance on providing the forms and certifications described in this section.
The Tender Offer is open to all ADS Holders. The Tender Offer in respect of ADSs will open on 20 May 2024 and, subject to the passing of the Resolution at the General Meeting, will close at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on Tuesday 18 June 2024. All or any part (representing whole ADSs) of ADS Holders' ADS holdings may be tendered. If an ADS Holder does not tender all of such ADS Holder's ADSs, the ADSs that are not tendered will remain outstanding and the Tender Offer will not affect the terms of such ADSs or of the underlying Ordinary Shares. Such holders will be entitled to receive dividends, interest, or other periodic distributions, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the ADSs held.
Once commenced, the Tender Offer will close with respect to ADSs at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date, which is two Business Days prior to the Ordinary Share Closing Date. No tenders of ADSs received after that time will be accepted (unless the Tender Offer is extended). If ADSs are held in a brokerage or custodian account through an agent, holders of such ADSs should be aware that banks, brokers and other nominee holders of ADSs generally establish their own earlier cut-off times and dates for receipt of instructions to ensure that those instructions will be timely received by the Depositary. ADS Holders should be aware that ADSs may not be tendered by guaranteed delivery. After 5:00 p.m.
(New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date, and prior to 1:00 p.m. (London time) on the Ordinary Share Closing Date (unless in each case the Tender Offer is extended), the Tender Agent will instruct the Custodian to tender the number of Ordinary Shares underlying validly tendered ADSs in accordance with the procedures applicable to the tender of Ordinary Shares set forth in this Circular.
The results of the Tender Offer and, if applicable, the extent to which tenders will be scaled down, are expected to be announced on Monday 24 June 2024, unless the Tender Offer is extended. Subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company also reserves the right, at any time prior to the Ordinary Share Closing Date, and with the prior consent of Jefferies, to extend the period during which the Tender Offer is open, in which event the term "ADS Closing Date" shall mean the time and date at which the Tender Offer applicable to Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs, as so extended, shall close. If the Tender Offer is extended, the Company will notify the Tender Agent by written notice. The Company shall also notify ADS Holders of any such revision, change or extension promptly by public announcement. The Company will post such announcement on its website, deliver such announcement through a Regulatory Information Service not later than 8:00 a.m. (London time) and by press release in the US and file such announcement with the SEC no later than the earlier of 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) and the first opening of the NASDAQ Global Market in each case, on the next US Business Day after the scheduled expiration date of the Tender Offer. Additionally, any change to the amount or percentage of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) that is subject to the Tender Offer will be made in accordance with any applicable US securities laws and the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market.
All Ordinary Shares purchased under the Tender Offer (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) will be purchased at the Tender Price, as set out in this Circular. Jefferies will purchase at the Tender Price up to the maximum number of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) for a total aggregate amount not exceeding US\$100 million. The maximum amount of \$100 million will be translated into a pounds sterling amount on the Ordinary Share Closing Date, which pounds sterling amount shall determine the maximum number of Ordinary Shares to be accepted for payment in the Tender Offer. Ordinary Shares tendered at a price other than the Tender Price will not be purchased under the Tender Offer.
Under the Option Agreement, the Company has granted to Jefferies a put option, pursuant to which, if exercised, the Company is obliged to purchase from Jefferies, at the Tender Price, the Ordinary Shares purchased by Jefferies pursuant to the Tender Offer. Jefferies has granted a call option to the Company under the Option Agreement, which, on exercise, obliges Jefferies to sell to the Company, at the Tender Price, the Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) purchased by Jefferies pursuant to the Tender Offer if Jefferies does not exercise its put option. The Company intends to cancel all of the Ordinary Shares purchased by the Company under the Option Agreement.
If, as a result of proration or scaling down, fewer than all ten of the Ordinary Shares underlying an ADS are accepted pursuant to the Tender Offer, the ADS Holder will be entitled to receive payment in respect of the remaining Ordinary Shares in lieu of a fractional ADS. The Tender Agent will, as promptly as practicable, aggregate the fractional ADSs into whole ADSs and sell the ADSs into the market. The amount such ADS Holder receives in lieu of fractional ADSs will be based on the amount received from the sale of ADSs by the Tender Agent (net of applicable fees, taxes or other expenses incurred in such sale). As a result, the amount such ADS Holder receives in lieu of fractional ADSs may be more or less than the corresponding fraction of the ADS Tender Price.
If an ADS Holder's ADSs are not accepted for purchase for any reason or a tender is withdrawn, those ADSs will be returned promptly after the expiration of the Tender Offer or the proper withdrawal of the ADSs, as applicable, or, in the case of ADSs transferred through DTC, the unpurchased ADSs will be credited promptly to the account at DTC from which they were transferred.
ADS Holders whose tender is accepted will be paid in US dollars; however, the Tender Agent will receive payment for the ADSs tendered in pounds sterling. The Tender Agent will convert such funds into US dollars in the same manner as it would do so in its role as Depositary, and promptly after settlement thereof, pay for such ADSs. Therefore, at the time an ADS Holder tenders such ADSs, such ADS Holder will not be able to determine the exact US dollar amount of the cash consideration such ADS holder will receive in the Tender Offer. The actual amount of US dollars such ADS Holder receives will depend upon the exchange rate prevailing at the time the Tender Agent converts the pounds sterling into US dollars. ADS Holders should be aware that the US dollar/pound sterling exchange rate that is prevailing on the date on which ADSs are tendered may be different than the US dollar/pound sterling exchange rate prevailing at the time the pounds sterling are converted into US dollars. In all cases, fluctuations in the US dollar/pound sterling exchange rate are at the risk of the tendering ADS Holder who will receive their consideration in US dollars.
The Company has appointed Citibank, N.A. to act as the Tender Agent to facilitate the tendering of, and payment for, ADSs in the Tender Offer. ADS holders should direct executed Letters of Transmittal, if applicable, to the Tender Agent at the address set forth in the Letter of Transmittal.
If an ADS Holder is required to submit a Letter of Transmittal and such holder delivers a Letter of Transmittal to an address other than the address set forth in the Letter of Transmittal, such tender of ADSs will not be effective.
The Company has appointed Georgeson LLC to act as the Information Agent for the Tender Offer with respect to ADS Holders. This Circular, the Letter of Transmittal and other relevant materials have been or will be mailed or furnished to registered holder of ADSs. Additional copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting the Information Agent at (+1) 866 529 2770 (toll-free from the US) and (+1) 781 896 6940 (from other countries) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time).
Any ADS Holder who holds ADSs on the books of the Depositary who wishes to tender pursuant to the Tender Offer should properly complete and duly execute a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), together with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, and deliver such documents to the Tender Agent at the appropriate address set forth in the Letter of Transmittal.
Completed documents should be received by the Tender Agent as soon as possible and in any event, by not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the ADS Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended).
Delivery of a properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal and other required documents to the Tender Agent by an ADS Holder will be deemed (without any further action by the Tender Agent) to constitute a tender of ADSs by such ADS Holder as indicated in the Letter of Transmittal, subject to the terms and conditions described in the Letter of Transmittal. If ADSs are tendered, then a separate tender of the Ordinary Shares represented by such ADSs may not be made.
No alternative, conditional or contingent tender will be valid and no fractional ADSs will be purchased. All tendering ADS Holders, by execution of the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their ADSs for payment.
The Tender Agent will establish an account at DTC with respect to the ADSs held through a bank, broker or other nominee participant of DTC for the purposes of the Tender Offer. Any financial institution that is a participant in any of DTC's systems may make book-entry delivery of ADSs by causing DTC to transfer such ADSs into the Tender Agent's account at DTC in accordance with DTC's procedure for such transfer.
Although delivery of ADSs may be effected through book-entry transfer into such account of the Tender Agent at DTC, Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs will be counted as valid tenders for the purposes of determining the number of Ordinary Shares that have been validly tendered and not withdrawn only after timely confirmation utilizing DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program (an "ATOP Confirmation") of such book-entry transfer of ADSs into the Tender Agent's account, and timely receipt by the Tender Agent of an Agent's Message and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal.
The term "Agent's Message" means a message transmitted by DTC and received by the Tender Agent and forming part of an ATOP Confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgement from a participant in DTC tendering ADSs which are the subject of such ATOP Confirmation that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal, and that Jefferies may enforce such agreement against such participant. Delivery of documents to DTC in accordance with DTC's procedures (including DTC's ATOP procedures, if applicable) does not constitute delivery to the Depositary.
Tenders of ADSs pursuant to any one of the procedures described above and the instructions to the Letter of Transmittal will constitute the tendering ADS Holder's acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer, as well as the representation and warranty to Jefferies that (i) such ADS Holder has a net long position in the ADSs or equivalent securities being tendered within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and (ii) the tender of such ADSs complies with Rule 14e-4 of the Exchange Act. Jefferies's acceptance for payment of Ordinary Shares underlying ADSs tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer will constitute a binding agreement between the tendering ADS Holder and Jefferies, upon the terms and subject to the Tender Conditions of the Tender Offer.
All successfully tendered Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs successfully tendered will be purchased by Jefferies, as principal, at the Tender Price.
The method of delivery of Letters of Transmittal and all other required documents is at the option and risk of the tendering ADS Holder. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.
The execution of the Letter of Transmittal or an ATOP Confirmation (as the case may be) shall constitute an offer to sell to Jefferies the Ordinary Shares underlying such number of ADSs (each ADS representing 10 Ordinary Shares) as is specified in such Letter of Transmittal or ATOP Confirmation, in each case, on and subject to the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer.
All questions as to the number of ADSs to be accepted, the price to be paid therefor and the validity, form, eligibility (including the time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of ADSs will be determined by the Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies), which determination shall be final and binding on all of the parties (except as otherwise required under applicable law). The Company reserves the right (with the prior consent of Jefferies) to reject any or all tenders of ADSs determined not to be in proper form and to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of ADSs. No tender of ADSs will be deemed to be validly made until all defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. In the event of a waiver, the consideration under the Tender Offer will not be despatched until after the Letter of Transmittal, together with any required signature guarantees, is complete in all respects and other document(s) of title satisfactory to the Tender Agent have been received. None of the Company, Jefferies, the Receiving Agent, the Tender Agent or any other person is or will be obligated to give notice of any defects or irregularities in tenders, and none of them will incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the ADSs being tendered thereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the books and records of the Depositary without any change whatsoever. If any of the ADSs being tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign the Letter of Transmittal.
If any of the ADSs being tendered with the Letter of Transmittal are registered in different names, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of ADSs.
If the Letter of Transmittal or stock powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority so to act must be submitted.
When the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the ADSs listed and transmitted thereby, no endorsements of certificates or separate stock powers are required unless payment of the purchase price for ADSs not tendered or not purchased are to be issued to a person other than the registered holder(s). Signatures on such stock powers must be guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program or the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (an "Eligible Institution").
If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the ADSs listed, it must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the books and record of the Depositary. Signatures on such stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If you have questions regarding the Tender Offer with respect to ADSs, please telephone the Information Agent at (+1) 866-529-2770 (toll free from the US) and (+1) 781 896 6940 (from other countries).
Please note that for legal reasons the Information Agent will only be able to provide information contained in this Circular and the accompanying Tender Form and Letter of Transmittal and will be unable to give advice on the merits of the Tender Offer or to provide financial, investment or taxation advice. If you need additional copies of this Circular or the Letter of Transmittal (or the Tender Form for Ordinary Shares in the United States), please telephone the Information Agent at (+1) 866 529 2770 (toll-free) and (+1) 781 896 6940 (from other countries).
ADSs tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer may be withdrawn in accordance with the procedures described below, but in no event later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended). The Ordinary Shares represented by the ADSs tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer will be deemed to have been accepted for payment when, as and if the Company and Jefferies give written notice of acceptance to the Tender Agent. The notice of acceptance to the Tender Agent will be given upon the issuance of the announcement of the final results of the Tender Offer described in Part V, Section 2.12 above.
To be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be received by the Tender Agent and must specify the name of the person having tendered ADSs in the Tender Offer, the number of ADSs to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of the ADSs, as the case may be, if different from the name of the person who tendered such securities pursuant to the Tender Offer.
If ADSs have been delivered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer described in Section 5 of this Part VIII, any notice of withdrawal must also specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn ADSs and must otherwise comply with DTC's procedures. Withdrawals of tendered ADSs may not be rescinded, and any ADS properly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not validly tendered for purposes of the Tender Offer. However, withdrawn ADSs may be re-tendered by again following the procedures described in Section 5 of this Part VIII at any time on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the ADS Closing Date (unless the Tender Offer is extended).
All questions as to the validity (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Company (with the prior consent of Jefferies) in its discretion, which determination shall be final and binding (except as otherwise required under applicable law). None of the Company, Jefferies, the Tender Agent, the Depositary or any other person is or will be obligated to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal, and none of them will incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
If the aggregate value at the Tender Price of all validly tendered Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) exceeds US\$100 million (based on the applicable exchange rate of US dollars to pounds sterling on the Ordinary Share Closing Date), or the number of validly tendered Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) exceeds 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares, not all of the Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) validly tendered will be accepted and purchased. In these circumstances, all valid tenders of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) will be scaled down pro-rata to the total number of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) so tendered by that Shareholder, such that the total cost of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer does not exceed US\$100 million and the total number of Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) purchased pursuant to the Tender Offer does not exceed 33,500,000 Ordinary Shares.
Payment of the consideration in respect of successfully tendered Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs held by ADS Holders who hold ADSs on the books of the Depositary will be sent by first class mail on or about the dates designated in the "Expected Timetable Applicable to ADS Holders", at the risk of the
person entitled thereto. Payment of the consideration in respect of successfully tendered Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs held by ADS Holders who hold ADSs through a bank, broker or other nominee participant of DTC will be made through DTC. All cash payments of proceeds for successfully tendered Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs under the Tender Offer will be made (i) by Jefferies in pounds sterling by CREST payment to the nominee account of the Depositary, in respect of Ordinary Shares underlying the ADSs, and then (ii) after conversion thereof by the Tender Agent, in US dollars, (a) in the case of ADS Holders whose ADSs are held on the books of the Depositary, by cheque, and (b) in the case of payment to Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, by wire transfer issued by a US bank, in each case in respect of ADSs purchased in the Tender Offer. The actual amount of US dollars received will depend upon the exchange rate obtained when such currency is exchanged. In all cases, fluctuations in the US dollar/pound sterling exchange rate are at the risk of the tendering ADS Holders who will receive their consideration in US dollars.
The Company intends to rely on the Tier II exemption from Rule 14e-1(c) on prompt payment where the Company will follow English law and practice. Under no circumstances will interest accrue or be paid by the Company or the Receiving Agent to persons tendering Shares in the Tender Offer by reason of any delay in effecting payment for the tendered Shares or otherwise.
All ADS Holders who hold ADSs on the books of the Depositary are being sent a Letter of Transmittal for use in tendering their ADSs pursuant to the Tender Offer. Any ADS Holder that also holds Ordinary Shares in Certificated Form may request copies of the Tender Form to tender such Ordinary Shares by phoning the Information Agent.
Nominees, such as brokers, trustees or depositories for securities, who hold ADSs for the account of others should notify and distribute this Circular and (if the nominee is the registered holder of such ADSs on the books of the Depositary) the Letter of Transmittal (or requests for instructions regarding tenders) to the respective beneficial owners of such ADSs as soon as possible to ascertain such beneficial owners' intentions and to obtain instructions with respect to the Tender Offer. If a beneficial owner so instructs, the nominee should complete the Letter of Transmittal and submit it (if the nominee is the registered holder of such ADSs on the books of the Depositary) to the Tender Agent or follow the procedures within DTC and send an Agent's message and the ADSs to the account of the Tender Agent through such system. In addition, beneficial owners should contact the nominee and request the nominee to effect tenders in accordance with the beneficial owner's instructions.
Beneficial owners who hold ADSs through more than one bank, broker or other nominee should arrange for separate tenders to be submitted by each such registered holder.
The failure of any person to receive a copy of this Circular or the Letter of Transmittal shall not invalidate any aspect of the Tender Offer. Additional copies of this Circular and the Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from the Depositary or the Information Agent at the addresses and telephone numbers set forth below. No acknowledgment of receipt of any Tender Forms, Letters of Transmittal, certificates and/or other documents of title will be given.
If you are an ADS Holder, bank, brokers or institutional holder, and have questions on how you can participate in the Tender Offer in respect of the ADSs, please call the Information Agent at (+1) 866-529-2770 (toll free) and (+1) 781 896 6940 (from other countries) from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) Monday to Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time).
Pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)(2) under the Exchange Act, the Company has filed with the SEC an Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, which contains additional information with respect to the Tender Offer. The SEC maintains a website on the internet at www.sec.gov that contains reports and other information that the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC, including the Schedule TO and the exhibits and any amendments and supplements thereto. The Company will provide copies of such documents free of charge to its security holders.
The following definitions apply throughout this document, unless stated otherwise:
| Act | the Companies Act 2006 of England and Wales, as amended from time to time; |
|---|---|
| ADR | American Depositary Receipt representing ADSs; |
| ADS | American Depositary Share, each representing 10 Ordinary Shares; |
| ADS Closing Date | Tuesday 18 June 2024 in respect of ADSs representing Ordinary Shares tendered or such other date as may be determined in accordance with Part VIII of this Circular; |
| ADS Holders | the holder(s) of ADSs from time to time; |
| ADS Tender Price | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 2.3 of Part III of the Circular; |
| annual exemption | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 3.1 of Part IV of this Circular; |
| ARAN message | a registrar's adjustment message (as defined in the CREST Manual); |
| BMS | Bristol Myers Squibb, Inc.; |
| Board or Board of Directors or Directors of the Company |
the directors of the Company as at the date of this Circular, whose names are set out on page 15 of this Circular; |
| Business Day | any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday on which banks are open in the City of London for the transaction of general commercial business; |
| Certificated Form or Certificated | a share, title to which is recorded in the relevant register of the share concerned as being held in certificated form (that is, not in CREST); |
| Circular | this document; |
| Code | the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
| Company | PureTech Health plc, a public limited company incorporated in England with registered number 09582467 and registered office C/ O Tmf Group, 13th Floor, One Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ, United Kingdom; |
| Company's Registrar's Helpline | +44 (0)370 707 4040, the helpline available to Shareholders in connection with the Tender Offer in respect of Ordinary Shares and operated by Computer Share Investor Services PLC, in its capacity as, the Company's Registrar and Receiving Agent; |
| Company's Registrar or Computershare Investor |
Computershare Investor Services PLC; |
| CREST | the paperless settlement procedure operated by Euroclear enabling system securities to be evidenced otherwise than by certificates and transferred otherwise than by written instrument; |
|---|---|
| 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 Participant | a person who is, in relation to CREST, a system participant (as defined in the CREST Regulations); |
| CREST Proxy Instruction | a proxy appointment or instruction made via CREST authenticated in accordance with Euroclear's specifications and containing the information set out in the CREST manual; |
| CREST Regulations | the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3755), as amended from time to time; |
| CREST Sponsor | a CREST Participant admitted to CREST as a CREST sponsor, being a sponsoring system participant (as defined in the CREST Regulations); |
| CREST Sponsored Member | a CREST Member admitted to CREST as a sponsored member; |
| Custodian | Citibank, N.A.– London Branch, as custodian for the Depositary in the United Kingdom, located at Citigroup Centre Canary Wharf, London, E14 5LB; |
| Depositary | Citibank, N.A., located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, United States; |
| Deposit Agreement | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 9.7 of Part VII of this Circular; |
| Directors | the directors of the Company, whose names are set out in paragraph 3 of Part VII of this Circular (or, where the context requires, the directors of the Company from time to time); |
| Disclosure Guidance and Transparency | |
| Rules or DTRs | the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA made under Part VI of FSMA, as amended from time to time; |
| DTC | the Depositary Trust Company; |
| Electronic Tender | the inputting and settlement of a TTE Instruction in accordance with the procedures set out in Part V of this Circular which constitutes or is deemed to constitute a tender of Ordinary Shares pursuant to and on the terms of the Tender Offer as set out in this Circular; |
| Eligible Institution | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 5 of Part VIII of this Circular; |
| ESA instructions | an escrow account adjustment input (AESN), transaction type "ESA" (as defined by the CREST Manual issued by Euroclear); |
| Euroclear | Euroclear UK & International Limited, the operator of CREST; |
| Exchange Act | United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; |
|---|---|
| Executive Directors | the executive directors of the Company as at the date of this Circular and "Executive Director" means any one of them; |
| FCA | the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom; |
| Form of Proxy | the hard copy proxy form accompanying this Circular to be used in connection with the General Meeting and to be completed and submitted in accordance with the instructions thereof and the terms and conditions of this Circular; |
| FSMA | the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended from time to time; |
| General Meeting | the general meeting of the Company to be held at 6 Tide Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02210, United States, at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time) on 6 June 2024, or any adjournment thereof, notice of which is set out in Part X of this Circular; |
| Group | the Company and its Subsidiaries and Subsidiary undertakings; |
| HMRC | HM Revenue & Customs; |
| Information Agent | Georgeson LLC of 1290 avenue of the Americas, 9th floor, New York, NY 10104, United States; |
| Issued Ordinary Share Capital | the Company's issued ordinary share capital, excluding any treasury shares from time to time; |
| Jefferies | Jefferies International Limited; |
| Karuna | Karuna Therapeutics, Inc.; |
| Latest Practicable Date | 16 May 2024, being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Circular; |
| Letter of Transmittal | the Letter of Transmittal issued with this Circular to registered ADS holders in connection with the Tender Offer; |
| Listing Rules | the listing rules made under Part VI of FSMA (and contained in the FCA's publication of the same name), as amended from time to time; |
| London Stock Exchange | London Stock Exchange plc; |
| Member account ID | the identification code or number attached to any member account in CREST; |
| Microsite | the website established by the Company at https:// investors.puretechhealth.com/tender-offer for the purposes of the Tender Offer containing copies of the Circular, Section 302 Certification, IRS Form W-9 and IRS Form W-8; |
| Non-Executive Directors | the non-executive directors of the Company as at the date of this Circular and "Non-Executive Director" means any one of them; |
| Non-US Holder | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 1.5 of section B of Part VI of this Circular; |
| Notice of General Meeting | the notice of the General Meeting which appears in Part X of this Circular; |
|---|---|
| Option Agreement | the option agreement dated 20 May 2024, between Jefferies and the Company, the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 10.1 of Part VII of this Circular; |
| Ordinary Share Closing Date | 20 June 2024 in respect of Ordinary Shares tendered or such other date as may be determined in accordance with paragraph 2.23 of Part V of this Circular; |
| Ordinary Shareholder(s) | the holder(s) of Ordinary Shares from time to time; |
| Ordinary Shares | the ordinary shares of one pence each in the capital of the Company; |
| Overseas Shareholders | a Shareholder who is a resident in, or a national or citizen of, a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom; |
| Participant ID | the identification code or membership number used in CREST to identify a particular CREST Member or other CREST Participant; |
| Prospectus Regulation Rules | the prospectus regulation rules made under Part VI of FSMA (and contained in the FCA's publication of the same name), as amended from time to time; |
| PSPs | the Company's performance share plans as described in paragraph 5 of Part III; |
| Register | the Company's register of members; |
| Receiving Agent | Computershare Investor Services PLC, at The Pavilions Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6AH, United Kingdom; |
| Regulatory Information Service | a service approved by the FCA for the distribution to the public of regulatory announcements and included within the list maintained on the FCA's website; |
| Resolution | the special resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting, as set out in the Notice of General Meeting; |
| Restricted Jurisdictions | each and any of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the Republic of South Africa and any other jurisdiction where the mailing of this Circular or the accompanying documents, or the extension of the Tender Offer, in the manner contemplated by this Circular into or inside such jurisdiction would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction; |
| SEC | the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; |
| Section 302 Certification | means the Section 302 Certification of Treatment of Tender Payment made available to holders of Ordinary Shares and ADS with this Circular and on the Microsite; |
| Shareholders | the holders of the Ordinary Shares or ADSs, as applicable, from time to time; |
| Share Buyback Program | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 4 of Part III; |
| Special Dividend | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 1 of Part III; |
| Subsidiary | a subsidiary as that term is defined in section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006; |
|---|---|
| Takeover Code | the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers; |
| Tender Agent | Citibank, N.A., located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, United States; |
| Tender Conditions | the conditions of the Tender Offer as set out in Part V and Part VIII of this Circular; |
| Tender Form | the form enclosed with this Circular for use by Ordinary Shareholders who hold Ordinary Shares in Certificated form in connection with the Tender Offer; |
| Tender Offer | the invitation to Shareholders to tender Ordinary Shares (including Ordinary Shares represented by ADSs) on the terms and conditions set out in this Circular (and, where the context so requires, the associated repurchase of such Ordinary Shares by the Company from Jefferies); |
| Tender Price | 250 pence being the price per Ordinary Share (equivalent to £25.00 per ADS); |
| TFE Instruction | a transfer from escrow instruction (as defined by the CREST Manual); |
| TTE Instruction | a transfer to escrow instruction (as defined by the CREST Manual); |
| Transaction | The acquisition by BMS of the Company's stocks in Karuna for a total equity value of approximately US\$14 billion; |
| UK CGT | United Kingdom capital gains tax; |
| Uncertificated Form or Uncertificated |
a share recorded on the Register as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title to which, by virtue of the Uncertified Securities Regulations, may be transferred by means of CREST; |
| Unconditional Time | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 2.1 of Part V of the Circular; |
| United Kingdom or UK | the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, its territories and dependencies; |
| UK Holders | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 1 of section A of Part VI of this Circular; |
| United States or USA | the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia; |
| US Business Day | a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in New York City; |
| US dollar or USD or US\$ or \$ | the lawful currency of the United States; |
| US Holders | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 1.4 of section B of Part VI of this Circular; |
| US Shareholders | Shareholders who are located in the US; |
|---|---|
| USRPI | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 1.5 of section B of Part VI of this Circular; and |
| USRPHC | has the meaning given to it in paragraph 1.5 of section B of Part VI of this Circular. |
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered number 09582467)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a general meeting of PureTech Health plc (the "Company") will be held at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (4:00 p.m. (London time)) on 6 June 2024 at the principal executive offices of 6 Tide Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02210, United States, for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolution, which will be proposed as a special resolution.
Dated: 20 May 2024
By order of the Board: Registered office 13th Floor, One Angel Court London EC2R 7HJ United Kingdom
The following notes explain your general rights as a shareholder and your right to attend and vote at the General Meeting or to appoint someone else to vote on your behalf.
For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications Host) from which the issuer's agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time any change of instructions to a proxy appointed through CREST should be communicated to him by other means. CREST members (and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers) should note that Euroclear does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider takes) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members (and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers) are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.
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