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Greencoat UK Wind PLC — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2016
Apr 18, 2016
5320_egm_2016-04-18_6e4bb91b-fd45-422f-97f6-9cef3e1837b6.pdf
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice immediately from an independent financial adviser who is authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (''FSMA'') if you are in the United Kingdom, or from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser if you are in a territory outside of the United Kingdom.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your Ordinary Shares, please pass this document (but not the accompanying personalised Form of Proxy) as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker or other agent through whom you made the disposal for onward transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
This document does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell, or otherwise dispose of, any security. This document does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document. Any decision to acquire New Shares under the Share Issuance Programme must be made only on the basis of the information contained in, and incorporated by reference into, the Prospectus of the Greencoat UK Wind PLC (the Company) which was published today. Copies of the Prospectus are available at the Company's registered office.
Greencoat UK Wind PLC
(Incorporated in England and Wales with company number 08318092 and registered as an investment company under section 833 of the Companies Act 2006)
Circular to Shareholders
and
Notice of General Meeting
In connection with the proposals for the issue of New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme
This document should be read as a whole. Nevertheless, your attention is drawn to the letter from your Chairman which contains a recommendation from the Board of the Company that you vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting.
Notice of the General Meeting to be held at 10 May 2016 at 5.00 pm is set out at the end of this document. The Proposals described in this document are conditional upon Shareholder approval of the Resolutions at the General Meeting.
Shareholders are requested to complete and return the Form of Proxy accompanying this document for use at the General Meeting. To be valid, Forms of Proxy must be completed, signed and returned in accordance with the instructions printed thereon to be received by the Company's UK Receiving Agent, Capita Asset Services, at PXS1, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4ZF as soon as possible and in any event so as to arrive by no later than 5.00 p.m. on 6 May 2016.
The distribution of this document, together with accompanying documents, into jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession such 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 such jurisdiction.
This document is not a prospectus and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The Ordinary Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Company has not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Shareholders should make their own investigation of the proposals set out in this Circular, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing in this Circular constitutes legal, tax, financial or other advice and, if a Shareholder is in any doubt about the contents of this Circular, they should consult their own professional advisers.
| Clause | Page |
|---|---|
| EXPECTED TIMETABLE | 3 |
| PART I: LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN | 4 |
| PART II: NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING | 8 |
| PART III: DEFINITIONS | 11 |
EXPECTED TIMETABLE
| Date of Circular | 18 April 2016 |
|---|---|
| Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy or transmission of CREST Proxy Instructions for the General Meeting |
5.00 p.m. on 6 May 2016 |
| General Meeting | 5.00 p.m. on 10 May 2016 |
| Initial Issue | |
| Initial Offer for Subscription closes | 11.00 a.m. on 10 May 2016 |
| Initial Placing closes | 3.00 p.m. on 12 May 2016 |
| Announcement of the results of the Initial Issue | 13 May 2016 |
| Initial Admission and crediting of CREST accounts in respect of the Initial Issue |
17 May 2016 |
| Despatch of share certificates to certificated applicants under the Initial Offer for Subscription if applicable |
24 May 2016 |
| Further Tranches pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme | |
| Admission and crediting of CREST accounts in respect of subsequent Tranches |
8.00 a.m. on the Business Day on which the Shares are issued |
| Share Issuance Programme closes | 17 April 2017 |
The times and dates set out in the expected timetable and mentioned throughout this Circular may, in certain circumstances, be adjusted by the Company, in which event details of the new times and dates will be notified, as required, to the UKLA and the London Stock Exchange and, where appropriate, Shareholders and an announcement will be made through a Regulatory Information Service. All references to times in this Circular are to London time unless otherwise stated.
PART I: LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN
GREENCOAT UK WIND PLC
(Incorporated in England and Wales with company number 08318092 and registered as an investment company under section 833 of the Companies Act 2006)
Directors: Registered Office: Tim Ingram (Chairman) Shonaid Jemmett-Page William Rickett Martin McAdam Dan Badger
27-28 Eastcastle Street London W1W 8DH
18 April 2016
Dear Shareholder
Proposals for the issue of New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme and related matters
Introduction
The Company intends to issue up to 300 million New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme in various Tranches, with the first Tranche, being launched today, comprising the Initial Offer for Subscription and the Initial Placing.
Each subsequent Tranche will comprise a placing on similar terms to the Initial Placing and may, at the discretion of the Company, in consultation with RBC, comprise an open offer or an offer for subscription component (on similar terms to the Initial Offer for Subscription). The Share Issuance Programme is flexible and may have a number of closing dates in order to provide the Company with the ability to issue New Shares on appropriate occasions throughout the next twelve months.
The total net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme will depend on the number of New Shares issued throughout the Share Issuance Programme, the issue price of such New Shares, and the aggregate costs and commissions for each Tranche. However, assuming that the maximum number of 300 million New Shares available under the Share Issuance Programme are issued at an issue price of 105 pence per Share with aggregate costs and commissions of £5.7 million, the total net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme would be £309.3 million.
The size and frequency of each Tranche, and of each placing, open offer and offer for subscription component of each Tranche, will be determined jointly by the Company and the Manager. The maximum number of New Shares under the Share Issuance Programme should not be taken as an indication of the number of the New Shares finally to be issued, which will depend on the timing and size of future acquisitions of the Company. The costs and commissions of each Tranche will be met out of the Gross Issue Proceeds of the relevant Tranche.
Shareholders are being asked to vote on the Proposals to enable the Company to comply with its various legal and regulatory obligations. The purpose of this Circular is to explain the background to, and reasons for, the Proposals. Notice of the General Meeting at which Shareholder approval for the Proposals will be sought is set out in Part II of this Circular.
Shareholders should make their own investigation of the Proposals set out in this Circular, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing in this Circular constitutes legal, tax, financial or other advice, and if they are in any doubt about the contents of this Circular, Shareholders should consult their own professional advisers.
Background to and reasons for the Share Issuance Programme
The Company was launched in March 2013 when it raised £260 million (before expenses) in an over-subscribed offer and acquired a portfolio of wind farm investments from RWE and SSE. In October and November 2013, the Company acquired additional wind farm investments from BayWa and RWE using third party debt and internal cash resources which was partially refinanced with a further equity issuance in December 2013. The Company then acquired additional wind farm investments from Velocita and BayWa in June 2014 and from AES in August 2014. After further equity issuance in October 2014 and November 2015, the Company acquired additional wind farm investments from BayWa in December 2015 and SSE in March 2016 using third party debt and internal cash resources.
As a result of the acquisition of a 100 per cent. interest in Stroupster Wind Farm in December 2015 and a 28.2 per cent. interest in Clyde Wind Farm in March 2016 for aggregate consideration of approximately £280 million, the Company has outstanding borrowings of £225 million under its Revolving Facility Agreement and £100 million under its Long Term Facility Agreement.
Amounts being raised under the Initial Issue are expected to be used primarily to reduce the Company's drawdowns under the Revolving Facility Agreement.
The Board intends to use the Net Issue Proceeds of each subsequent Tranche under the Share Issuance Programme to repay amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility Agreement used to acquire, or to raise further money for investment in, assets in accordance with the Company's Investment Policy.
The Proposals
After due consideration of the Company's strategy, the Board has concluded that it is now an appropriate time to seek authority to issue New Shares and to raise additional capital for the Company.
The proposals involve:
- (i) the grant to the Directors of the authority to allot a maximum of 300,000,000 New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme and for the purpose of satisfying the equity element of the Investment Manager's fee in accordance with the terms of the Investment Management Agreement;
- (ii) the disapplication of the pre-emption rights contained in the Articles in respect of such number of New Shares;
- (iii) the grant of authority to purchase in the market up to 14.99 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company following Initial Admission, such authority to expire at the conclusion of the Share Issuance Programme,
(together, the Proposals).
The Proposals described in paragraph (i) and (ii) above are required in order to effect the Share Issuance Programme and are therefore conditional on the passing of Resolutions 1 and 2. The Proposal described in paragraph (iii) above seeks to increase the Company's buy-back authority to up to 14.99 per cent. of the increased issued share capital of the Company following Initial Admission. Further details of the Company's discount management policy are set out in Part I of the Registration Document.
Benefits of the Share Issuance Programme
The Directors believe that the Share Issuance Programme will confer the following benefits for Shareholders and the Company:
- (a) allows the Company to repay part or all of its borrowings under its Revolving Facility Agreement more rapidly, enabling it to borrow again to take advantage of the significant pipeline of opportunities;
- (b) provides a larger equity base which should:
- (i) increase the scope for institutional investment in the Company;
- (ii) improve the secondary market liquidity of the Ordinary Shares; and
- (iii) reduce the Company's ongoing expense ratio due to the fixed costs of the Company being spread across the larger equity base.
The Share Issuance Programme
The Share Issuance Programme will open on 18 April 2016 and will close on 17 April 2017 (or any earlier date on which it is fully subscribed). The maximum number of New Shares to be issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme is 300 million.
The issue of New Shares under the Share Issuance Programme is not being underwritten. The issue of New Shares under the Share Issuance Programme is at the discretion of the Directors. Issuance may take place at any time prior to: (i) the final closing date of 17 April 2017; or (ii) such earlier date as all the New Shares the subject of the Share Issuance Programme are issued.
Where a new Tranche includes an open offer and/or Subsequent Offer for Subscription component, the Company will publish a Future Securities Note (which, inter alia, will set out the terms and conditions of the relevant open offer and/or Subsequent Offer for Subscription) and a Future Summary.
In the event that there are any significant changes affecting any of the matters described in this document or where any significant new matters have arisen after the publication of the Prospectus and prior to an Admission of a Tranche of New Shares to be issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme, the Company will publish a supplementary prospectus or a Future Securities Note. Any supplementary prospectus or Future Securities Note published will give details of the significant change(s) or the significant new matter(s).
It is anticipated that dealings in the New Shares will commence no more than two Business Days after the trade date for each issue of New Shares. Whilst it is expected that all New Shares issued pursuant to a particular Tranche will be issued in uncertificated form, if any New Shares are issued in certificated form it is expected that share certificates would be despatched approximately two weeks after Admission of the relevant Tranche. No temporary documents of title will be issued.
New Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme will rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares then in issue (save for any dividends or other distributions declared, made or paid on the Ordinary Shares by reference to a record date prior to the allotment of the relevant New Shares).
The Share Issuance Programme will be suspended at any time when the Company is unable to issue New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme under any statutory provision or other regulation applicable to the Company or otherwise at the Directors' discretion. The Share Issuance Programme may resume when such conditions cease to exist, subject always to the final closing date of the Share Issuance Programme being no later than 17 April 2017.
Issue Price
All New Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme on a non-pre-emptive basis will be issued at a premium to the Net Asset Value per Ordinary Share at least sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of the relevant Tranche. No additional expenses will be charged to investors.
General Meeting
A General Meeting of the Company has been convened for 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 10 May 2016 in order to obtain Shareholders' approval for the grant of authority to allot the New Shares and the disapplication of pre-emption rights in connection with the implementation of the Share Issuance Programme. Notice of the General Meeting is set out at the end of this document.
Admission and Dealings
Application will be made for the New Shares to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities. It is expected that Initial Admission will become effective, and that dealings in the New Shares will commence, at 8.00 a.m. on 17 May 2016.
Conditions
The issuance of each Tranche of New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme is conditional upon inter alia:
- (a) the passing of Resolutions 1 and 2 at the General Meeting, as set out in Part II of this Circular;
- (b) Admission occurring in respect of the relevant Tranche;
- (c) the Placing Agreement becoming otherwise unconditional in respect of the relevant Tranche, and not being terminated in accordance with its terms or such Tranche not having been suspended in accordance with the Placing Agreement, in each case before Admission of the relevant Tranche of New Shares becomes effective; and
- (d) if a supplementary prospectus is required to be published in accordance with FSMA, such supplementary prospectus being approved by the FCA and published by the Company in accordance with the Prospectus Rules.
If any of these conditions is not met, the relevant Tranche of New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme will not proceed.
There is no minimum amount required to be raised under the Share Issuance Programme in order for the Share Issuance Programme or the issue of any Tranche to proceed.
The Share Issuance Programme is not underwritten.
Risk Factors and Further Information
Your attention is drawn to the Risk Factors set out on pages 3-25 of the Registration Document and on pages 5-6 of Securities Note and to the additional information set out in Part VII of the Registration Document.
Your attention is also drawn to the additional information set out in Part IV of the Securities Note and Part VII of the Registration Document and the terms and conditions set out in the Application Form.
Actions to be taken
Existing Shareholders only will be sent a Form of Proxy for use in connection with the General Meeting. Shareholders who hold their Shares in certificated form (that is, not in CREST) are urged to complete and return the Form of Proxy so as to be received by no later than 5.00 p.m. on 6 May 2016. Proxies may also be submitted in CREST, further details of which are set out in note 11 of the Notice of General Meeting. Submitting a Form of Proxy will not preclude a Shareholder from attending the General Meeting and voting in person should they so wish.
Recommendation to Shareholders
The Board considers that the Proposals are in the best interests of Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting. The Board intends to vote in favour of the Resolutions in respect of its own beneficial holdings of Ordinary Shares which amount in aggregate to 395,644 Ordinary Shares, constituting 0.078 per cent. of the issued Ordinary Share capital.
PART II: NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING
Greencoat UK Wind PLC
(Incorporated in England and Wales with company number 08318092 and registered as an investment company under section 833 of the Companies Act 2006)
Notice of General Meeting
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Meeting of the Company will be held at Burdett House, 15-16 Buckingham Street, WC2N 6DV on 10 May 2016 at 5.00 p.m. for the following purposes:
Special business:
1 To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:
THAT, in addition to any general authority granted at the annual general meeting of the Company to be held on 27 April 2016, the Directors be and they are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised, in accordance with section 551 Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006), to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of £3,000,000.00 pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme and for the purpose of satisfying the equity element of the Investment Manager's fee in accordance with the terms of the Investment Management Agreement; provided that the authority hereby conferred on the Directors shall expire at the conclusion of the Share Issuance Programme after the date of the passing of this Resolution (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed by the Company in general meeting), save that under this authority the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares (as the case may be) in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.
2 To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution:
THAT, in addition to any general authority granted at the annual general meeting of the Company to be held on 27 April 2016, subject to the passing of Resolution 1 above, the Directors be empowered, pursuant to sections 570, 571 and 573 CA 2006, to allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 CA 2006) for cash either pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 1 or by way of a sale of treasury shares, as if section 561(1) CA 2006 did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall:
- (a) be limited to the allotment of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme and for the allotment to the Investment Manager of any Ordinary Shares for the purpose of satisfying the equity element of the Investment Manager's fee to be issued in accordance with the terms of the Investment Management Agreement; and
- (b) expire at the conclusion of the Share Issuance Programme after the passing of this Resolution (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed by the Company in general meeting), save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.
- 3 To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution:
THAT, the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised, for the purposes of section 701 CA 2006, to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) CA 2006) of Ordinary Shares on such terms and in such manner as the Directors shall from time to time determine, provided that:
(a) the maximum aggregate number of Ordinary Shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 14.99 per cent. of the Ordinary Shares in issue following Initial Admission (as defined in the Prospectus) in substitution of any existing authority granted to the Directors to make market purchases;
- (b) the minimum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is 1p;
- (c) the maximum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is the higher of:
- (i) an amount equal to 105 per cent. of the average of the middle market quotations for an Ordinary Share (as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List) for the five business days immediately preceding the date on which that Ordinary Share is contracted to be purchased; and
- (ii) an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade of an Ordinary Share and the highest current independent bid for an Ordinary Share as derived from the London Stock Exchange Trading System;
- (d) the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM after the passing of this Resolution 3 (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed by the Company in general meeting); and
- (e) the Company may at any time prior to the expiry of such authority enter into a contract or contracts under which a purchase of Ordinary Shares under such authority will or may be completed or executed wholly or partly after the expiration of such authority and the Company may purchase Ordinary Shares in pursuance of any such contract or contracts as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.
By Order of the Board,
18 April 2016
Heritage Administration Services Limited
Registered office: 27-28 Eastcastle Street London W1W 8DH
8 Any person receiving a copy of this Notice as a person nominated by a member to enjoy information rights under section 146 Companies Act 2006 (a Nominated Person) should note that the provisions in Notes 1 to 2 above concerning the appointment of a proxy or proxies to attend the meeting in place of a member, do not apply to a Nominated Person as only shareholders have the right to appoint a proxy. However, a Nominated Person may have a right under an agreement between the Nominated
Notes:
1 A member is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to exercise all or any of the member's rights to attend, speak and vote at the meeting. A proxy need not be a member of the Company but must attend the meeting for the member's vote to be counted. Details of how to appoint the Chairman of the meeting or another person as your proxy using the Form of Proxy are set out in the Notes to the Form of Proxy. If a member appoints more than one proxy to attend the meeting, each proxy must be appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by the member.
2 A Form of Proxy is provided with this Notice for members. If a member wishes to appoint more than one proxy and so requires additional Forms of Proxy, the member should contact Capita Asset Services on 0871 664 0300 (calls cost 12 pence per minute plus network extras, lines are open 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday or on +44 208 639 3399 (if calling from outside the UK). To be valid, the Form of Proxy and any power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed (or a notarially certified copy of such authority) must be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at the Company's Registrars, Capita Asset Services, PXS1, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4ZF not less than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday) before the time of the holding of the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Completion and return of the Form of Proxy will not preclude members from attending and voting at the meeting should they wish to do so. Amended instructions must also be received by the Company's Registrars by the deadline for receipt of Forms of Proxy.
3 To change your proxy instructions simply submit a new Form of Proxy using the methods set out above and in the notes to the Form of Proxy. Note that the cut-off date and time for receipt of a Form of Proxy (see above) also apply in relation to amended instructions; any amended Form of Proxy received after the relevant cut-off date and time will be disregarded. If you submit more than one valid Form of Proxy, the Form of Proxy received last before the latest time for the receipt of Forms of Proxy will take precedence.
4 In order to revoke a proxy instruction you will need to inform the Company by sending a signed hard copy notice clearly stating your intention to revoke your proxy appointment to Company's Registrars. In the case of a member which is an individual the revocation notice must be under the hand of the appointer or of his attorney duly authorised in writing or in the case of a member which is a company, the revocation notice must be executed under its common seal or under the hand of an officer of the company or an attorney duly authorised. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the revocation notice is signed (or a notarially certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the revocation notice.
5 The revocation notice must be received before the time of the holding of the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you attempt to revoke your proxy appointment but the revocation is received after the time specified then, subject to the paragraph directly below, your proxy appointment will remain valid.
6 Appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending the meeting and voting in person. If you have appointed a proxy and attend the meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated.
7 A copy of the Articles will be available for inspection at the registered office of the Company at 27-28 Eastcastle Street, London W1W 8DH or otherwise available on request from the secretary of the Company, Heritage Administration Services Limited from the date of this notice until the time of the Meeting.
Person and the member by whom he or she was nominated to be appointed, or to have someone else appointed, as a proxy for the meeting. If a Nominated Person has no such proxy appointment right or does not wish to exercise it, he/she may have a right under such an agreement to give instructions to the member as to the exercise of voting rights at the meeting.
- 9 Nominated persons are reminded that their main point of contact in terms of their investment in the Company remains the member who nominated the Nominated Person to enjoy information rights (or, perhaps the custodian or broker who administers the investment on their behalf). Nominated Persons should continue to contact that member, custodian or broker (and not the Company) regarding any changes or queries relating to the Nominated Person's personal details and interest in the Company (including any administrative matter). The only exception to this is where the Company expressly requests a response from a Nominated Person.
- 10 Only those members registered on the register of members of the Company at 5.00 p.m. on 6 May 2016 (the Specified Time) (or, if the meeting is adjourned, at 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting) shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at that time. Changes to the register of members after the relevant deadline shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the meeting.
- 11 CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so for the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf.
- 12 In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a CREST Proxy Instruction) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited's specifications and must contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual (available via www.euroclear.com http://www.euroclear.com/CREST). The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy, or is an amendment to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer's agent (ID RA10) by the latest time(s) for receipt of proxy appointments specified in Note 2 above. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the time stamp applied to the message by the CREST Application 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 proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means.
- 13 CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited 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(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) 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 (www.euroclear.com/ CREST).
- 14 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 (as amended).
- 15 Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its powers as a member provided that they do not do so in relation to the same shares.
- 16 As at 15 April 2016, being the latest practicable date prior to the printing of this Notice, the Company's issued capital consisted of 506,787,431 Ordinary Shares carrying one vote each. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company as at 15 April 2016 are 506,787,431.
- 17 This Notice, together with information about the total numbers of shares in the Company in respect of which members are entitled to exercise voting rights at the meeting as at 15 April 2016, being the latest practicable date prior to the printing of this Notice will be available on the Company's website www.greencoat-ukwind.com.
PART III: DEFINITIONS
AES means a subsidiary (or subsidiaries) of The AES Corporation
Admission means admission of any New Shares to the Official List (premium listing) and admission of the New Shares to trading on the Main Market
Aggregate Group Debt means the Group's proportionate share of the outstanding third party borrowings of Group companies and non-subsidiary companies in which the Group holds an interest
Application Form means the application form in connection with the Offer for Subscription which is attached to the Prospectus
Articles or Articles of Association means the articles of association of the Company
BayWa means BayWa r.e. Operation Services GmbH and/or any other subsidiary of BayWa AG, as the context requires
Board means the board of Directors or a duly constituted committee thereof
Business Day means a day on which the London Stock Exchange and banks in London are normally open for business
Chairman means Tim Ingram or the chairman of the Company from time to time
Circular means this document
Clyde Wind Farm means the Clyde North, Clyde South and Clyde Central wind farms owned by Clyde Windfarm (Scotland) Limited and the Clyde Extension wind farm currently under construction and also owned by Clyde SPV
CREST means the computerised settlement system operated by Euroclear UK and Ireland Limited which facilitates the transfer of title to shares in uncertificated form
CREST Manual the compendium of documents entitled CREST Manual issued by Euroclear from time to time and comprising the CREST Reference Manual, the CREST Central Counterparty Service Manual, the CREST International Manual, CREST Rules, CCSS Operations Manual and the CREST Glossary of Terms
CREST Proxy Instructions means allowing holders of Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST) to appoint a proxy by completing and transmitting a CREST Proxy Instruction
Directors means the directors from time to time of the Company and Director is to be construed accordingly
FCA means the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority or any successor entity or entities
Form of Proxy means the personalised form of proxy provided with this document for use by Shareholders in connection with the General Meeting
FSMA means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended from time to time
Future Securities Note means a securities note to be issued in the future by the Company in respect of each issue, if any, of New Shares under the Share Issuance Programme (other than pursuant to the Initial Issue) made pursuant to the Registration Document and subject to separate approval by the FCA
Future Summary means a summary to be issued in the future by the Company in respect of each issue, if any, of New Shares under the Share Issuance Programme (other pursuant to the Initial Issue) made pursuant to the Registration Document and subject to separate approval by the FCA
General Meeting means the extraordinary general meeting of the Company to consider the Proposals, convened for 5.00 p.m. on 10 May 2016 or any adjournment thereof, notice of which is set out in Part II of this document
Gross Asset Value means the aggregate of (i) the fair value of the Group's underlying investments (whether or not subsidiaries), valued on an unlevered, discounted cash flow basis as described in the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines (latest edition December 2015), (ii) the Group's proportionate share of the cash balances and cash equivalents of Group companies and non-subsidiary companies in which the Group holds an interest and (iii) the Group's proportionate share of other relevant assets or liabilities of the Group valued at fair value (other than third party borrowings) to the extent not included in (i) or (ii) above
Gross Issue Proceeds means the gross proceeds of the issue of New Shares pursuant to the relevant Tranche
Group means the Company and its subsidiaries from time to time or any one or more of them, as the context may require
Initial Admission means Admission pursuant to the Initial Issue
Initial Issue means together, the Initial Placing and the Initial Offer for Subscription
Initial Offer for Subscription means the first offer for subscription of New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (and forming part of the Initial Issue) which is expected to close on or around 10 May 2016
Initial Placing means the first placing of New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (and forming part of the Initial Issue) which is expected to close on or around 12 May 2016
Investment Management Agreement means the agreement between the Investment Manager and the Company, dated 27 July 2015 pursuant to which the Investment Manager has agreed to manage and administer the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries
Investment Manager means Greencoat Capital LLP
Investment Policy means the investment policy of the Company from time to time, the current version of which is set out in Part I of the Registration Document
London Stock Exchange means London Stock Exchange plc
Long Term Facility Agreement means the term facility agreement, dated 22 July 2015 and as amended and restated on 11 March 2016, of up to £100 million with a final maturity of 22 July 2022, between the Company as borrower, Holdco as guarantor, the Common Wealth Bank of Australia (London Branch) as facility agent and security agent and the Common Wealth Bank of Australia as arranger and lender
Manager means RBC
Net Asset Value means Gross Asset Value less Aggregate Group Debt
Net Issue Proceeds means the proceeds of the issue of New Shares pursuant to the relevant Tranche, after deduction of the of all expenses and commissions relating to the relevant Tranche and payable by the Company
New Shares means the new Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme
Notice of General Meeting means the notice of General Meeting as set out in Part II of this document
Official List means the official list maintained by the UK Listing Authority
Ordinary Share means an ordinary share of one penny each in the capital of the Company
Placing Agreement means the placing agreement between the Company, the Investment Manager, the Directors and the Manager dated 15 April 2016, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 10 of Part VII of the Registration Document
Proposals means the approval of existing Shareholders to the passing of the Resolutions in order to: (i) allot up to 300 million New Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme and for the purpose of satisfying the equity element of the Investment Manager's fee in accordance with the terms of the Investment Management Agreement; and (ii) disapply statutory pre-emption rights otherwise applicable to the allotment of New Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme and for the purpose of satisfying the equity element of the Investment Manager's fee in accordance with the terms of the Investment Management Agreement
Prospectus means the prospectus, in respect of the Share Issuance Programme comprising the Securities Note, the Registration Document and the Summary which is expected to be published by the Company on or about the same date as this Circular
Prospectus Rules means the prospectus rules made by the FCA under section 73A of FSMA
RBC means RBC Europe Limited (trading as RBC Capital Markets)
Registration Document means the registration document in respect of the Share Issuance Programme, which is expected to be published by the Company on or about the same date as this Circular
Resolutions means the ordinary and special resolutions proposed at the General Meeting, outlined in Part II of this circular.
Revolving Facility Agreement means the revolving credit facility, dated 27 April 2015, of up to £225 million with a maximum tenor of three years (i.e. to 27 April 2018) between the Company as borrower, Holdco as Guarantor, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as facility agent and security agent, and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, RBC and Abbey National Treasury Services PLC (trading as Santander Global Banking and Markets) as arrangers and lenders
RWE means RWE AG and/or any member of its group (including RWE npower Limited and RWE npower Renewables Limited), as the context requires
Securities Note means the securities note in respect of the New Shares, which is expected to be published by the Company on or about the same date as this Circular
Share Issuance Programme means the programme under which the Company intends to issue New Shares in Tranches
Shareholder means a registered holder of an Ordinary Share
SSE means Scottish and Southern Energy plc and/or any member of its group (including Airtricity UK Windfarm Holdings Limited, Airtricity Energy Supply (Northern Ireland) Limited, SSE Renewables Developments (UK) Limited and SSE Renewables Holdings Limited and SSE Renewables Onshore Windfarm Holdings Limited), as the context requires
Stroupster Wind Farm means the wind farm owned by Stroupster Caithness Wind Farm Limited
Subsequent Offer for Subscription means any offer for subscription to the public in the UK of New Shares, subsequent to the Initial Offer for Subscription and issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme, on the terms set out in a Future Securities Note
Subsequent Placing means any placing of New Shares, subsequent to the Initial Placing and issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme, on the terms set out in Appendix 1 of the Securities Note
Summary means the summary dated 18 April 2016 issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Document and the Securities Note and approved by the FCA
Tranches each a Tranche means a tranche of New Shares issued under the Share Issuance Programme
UKLA or UK Listing Authority means the FCA acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of admissions to the Official List
Velocita means Velocita Energy Development Ltd