Delisting Announcement • Nov 6, 2013
Delisting Announcement
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THIS DOCUMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING FORM OF PROXY ARE IMPORTANT AND REQUIRE YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own personal financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, fund manager, solicitor, accountant or other appropriate independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
If you sell or transfer or have sold or transferred all of your Ordinary Shares you should deliver this document, with the accompanying Form of Proxy, as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through or to whom the sale or transfer was effected for onward transmission to the buyer or transferee. If you sell or transfer or have sold or transferred only part of your holding of Ordinary Shares you should retain this document and consult the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected as to the action you should take.
This document should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Form of Proxy and the definitions set out in pages 3 to 5 of this document. The whole of this document should be read and, in particular, your attention is drawn to the letter from the Executive Chairman of Panther Securities plc which is set out on pages 6 to 9 of this document and which contains the unanimous recommendation of the Directors to Shareholders to vote in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting referred to below.
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Panther Securities plc (Incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered number 293147) (ISIN: GB0005132070) Proposed cancellation of admission to the premium segment of the Official List and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange Admission to AIM and Notice of General Meeting Financial Adviser and Proposed Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker Sanlam Securities UK Limited
Proposed Joint Broker Raymond James Investment Services Limited
_______________________________________________________________________________________
The General Meeting to consider the Resolution will be held at Deneway House, 88-94 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AQ on 27 November 2013 at 11.30 a.m. The notice convening the General Meeting is set out at the end of this document.
The action to be taken in respect of the General Meeting is set out in the letter from the Executive Chairman of Panther Securities plc on pages 6 to 9 this document. Whether or not you intend to be present at the meeting, it is important that you complete, sign and return the Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon to the Company's Registrars at Capita Asset Services, The Proxy Department, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU as soon as possible but, in any event to be valid, so as to arrive no later than 11.30 a.m. on 25 November 2013. The completion and return of the Form of Proxy will not preclude you from attending the General Meeting and voting in person should you wish to do so.
Sanlam Securities, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for the Company in connection with the Move to AIM and will not be responsible to any person other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its customers or for advising any other person on the contents of this document or any matter, transaction or arrangement referred to therein. Sanlam Securities makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the contents of this document and Sanlam Securities does not accept any liability whatsoever for the accuracy of or opinions contained in (or for the omission of any material information) this document and shall not be responsible for the contents of this document. Sanlam Securities has given its consent to inclusion herein of the references to its name in the form and context in which it is included.
If you have any questions about this document or the General Meeting, or are in any doubt as to how to complete the Form of Proxy, please call Capita Asset Services' helpline on 0871 664 0300 (calls cost 10 pence per minute plus network extras). Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. (from outside the UK: +44 20 8639 3399). Please note that calls may be monitored or recorded and the representatives cannot provide financial advice or advice on the merits of the Resolution.
The contents of this document are not to be construed as legal, business or tax advice. Prospective investors should consult their own professional advisers for legal, financial or tax advice in relation to an investment or proposed investment in Ordinary Shares.
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Expected timetable of principal events | 2 |
| Definitions | 3 |
| Letter from the Executive Chairman | 6 |
| Notice of General Meeting |
| Publication of this document | 4 November 2013 |
|---|---|
| Latest time and date for receipt of completed Forms of Proxy | 11.30 a.m. on 25 November 2013 |
| General Meeting | 11.30 a.m. on 27 November 2013 |
| Last day of dealings on the Official List | 27 December 2013 |
| Cancellation effective | 8.00 a.m. on 30 December 2013 |
| Admission and commencement of dealings on AIM | 8.00 a.m. on 30 December 2013 |
Each of the times and dates above are indicative only and subject to change without consultation. If any of the above times and/or dates change, the revised times and/or dates will be notified by announcement on a Regulatory Information Service. References in this document to time are to London time, unless specified otherwise.
| Definitions | ||
|---|---|---|
| "2006 Act" | the Companies Act 2006 (UK) (as amended) | |
| "Admission" | the admission of the entire issued share capital of the Company to trading on AIM becoming effective in accordance with the AIM Rules for Companies |
|
| "AIM" | the market of that name operated by the London Stock Exchange | |
| "AIM Rules" | the AIM Rules for Companies and the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers |
|
| "AIM Rules for Companies" |
the rules which set out the obligations and responsibilities in relation to companies whose shares are admitted to AIM as published by the London Stock Exchange from time to time |
|
| "AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers" |
the rules which set out the eligibility, obligations and certain disciplinary matters in relation to nominated advisers as published by the London Stock Exchange from time to time |
|
| "Board" | the directors of the Company from time to time | |
| "Business Day" | any day on which the London Stock Exchange is open for the transaction of business |
|
| "Cancellation" | the cancellation of admission to the premium segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market |
|
| "certificated" or "in certificated form" |
not in uncertificated form (that is, not in CREST) | |
| "Combined Code" | the Combined Code on Corporate Governance issued by the Financial Reporting Council |
|
| "Company" or "Panther" |
Panther Securities plc |
|
| "CREST" | the relevant system (as defined in the CREST Regulations) in respect of which Euroclear UK and Ireland Limited is the Operator (as defined in the CREST Regulations) in accordance with which securities may be held and transferred in uncertificated form |
|
| "CREST Regulations" | the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (as amended from time to time) and such other regulations as are applicable to Euroclear and/or the CREST UK system from time to time |
|
| "Directors" | the existing directors of the Company whose names are set out on page 6 of this document |
| "UK | the UK Corporate Governance Code published by the | |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate | Financial | |
| Governance Code" | Reporting Council, in force from time to time | |
| "uncertificated" or "in uncertificated form" |
recorded in the register as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title to which, by virtue of the Regulations, may be transferred by means of CREST |
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 293147)
Andrew Perloff (Executive Chairman) Deneway House Simon Peters (Finance Director) 88-94 Darkes Lane John Doyle (Executive Director) Potters Bar John Perloff (Executive Director) Hertfordshire Bryan Galan (Non-executive Director) EN6 1AQ Peter Kellner (Non-executive Director)
Directors: Registered office:
4 November 2013
Dear Shareholder
The Board is seeking the authority of the Shareholders to cancel the listing of the Company's Ordinary Shares on the Official List and their trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities and to apply for admission of the entire issued share capital of the Company to trading on AIM. Under the Listing Rules, the Cancellation requires the Company to obtain the prior approval for such cancellation of not less than 75 per cent. of Shareholders who vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting. Therefore, the Resolution being proposed at the General Meeting, to be held at Deneway House, 88-94 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AQ at 11.30 a.m. on 27 November 2013, to approve the Cancellation and Admission is being proposed as a special resolution. If the Resolution is passed, the Board proposes to make an application to the UKLA for the Cancellation to be effected and an application to AIM for the Admission.
The purpose of this document is to outline the reasons for, and provide further information on, the proposed Move to AIM and to explain why the Board believes such proposal to be in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolution.
The Board has carefully considered the proposed Move to AIM and believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole for the following reasons:
AIM is the UK's leading stock market for smaller companies. Since AIM was established in 1995, more than 3,400 companies have been admitted to AIM and over £82 billion has been raised collectively. One of the perceived reasons for AIM's success has been its simplified regulatory environment which has been specifically designed for the needs of smaller and fast growing companies and is one of the reasons (along with the other reasons set out in paragraph 2 above) that the Directors believe the Move to AIM is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole.
Liquidity on AIM is currently provided by market makers who are member firms of the London Stock Exchange and are obliged to quote a share price for each company for which they make a market between 8.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. on Business Days.
The Move to AIM will not affect the way in which Shareholders buy or sell the Company's shares.
Ordinary Shares that are held in uncertificated form will continue to be held and dealt through CREST. Share certificates representing those Ordinary Shares held in certificated form will continue to be valid and no new share certificates will be issued. While for the most part the obligations of a company whose shares are traded on AIM are largely similar to the Listing Rules and other rules that apply to companies whose shares are listed on the Official List, there are certain exceptions, including those referred to below:
(g) Certain securities laws will no longer apply to the Company if Admission occurs. This is because AIM is not a regulated market for the purposes of the European Union's directives relating to its securities.
(h) As a public limited company incorporated and registered in England, after Admission the Company will remain subject to the applicable provisions of the 2006 Act, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the Prospectus Rules and the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.
The Board does not envisage that there will be any significant alteration to the standards of reporting and governance which the Company currently maintains. The Company will maintain its Audit, Nominations and Remuneration Committees which will be subject to the same terms of reference.
It is emphasised that the Move to AIM will have no impact on the existing assets and liabilities of the Company and it will continue to have the same business and operations following Admission.
Although the Company intends to apply for all of the Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM following the Cancellation, there can be no assurance that an active or liquid trading market for the Ordinary Shares will develop or, if developed, that it will be maintained following Admission. AIM is a market designed primarily for emerging and smaller companies, to which a higher investment risk tends to be attached than for larger companies, and may not provide the liquidity normally associated with the Official List or some other stock exchanges.
AIM securities are not admitted to the Official List. The Ordinary Shares may, therefore, be more difficult to sell compared to the shares of companies listed on the Official List and their market prices may be subject to greater fluctuations than might otherwise be the case. Liquidity on AIM is currently provided by market makers who are member firms of the London Stock Exchange and are obliged to quote a share price for each company for which they make a market between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Business Days. The Directors believe that AIM can provide a sufficiently liquid trading platform for shares.
Following Admission, the Company will be subject to the regulatory and disciplinary controls of the AIM Rules. While for the most part the obligations of a company whose shares are traded on AIM are similar to those of companies whose shares are listed on the Official List, Shareholders should note that the protections afforded to investors in AIM companies are less rigorous than those afforded to investors in companies listed on the Official List, including the differences between the obligations of a company whose shares are traded on AIM and a company whose shares are listed on the Official List set out in paragraph 3 of this document.
In order to effect the Move to AIM, the Company will require, inter alia, Shareholder approval of the Resolution at the General Meeting to be held at Deneway House, 88-94 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AQ at 11.30 a.m. on 27 November 2013. The Notice of General Meeting at the end of this document sets out the terms of the Resolution which will be proposed at the General Meeting as a special resolution in order to approve the Cancellation and Admission. The Resolution is subject to approval being obtained from not less than 75 per cent. of Shareholders voting in person or by proxy and, if it is not passed, the Company will retain its premium listing on the Official List and its Ordinary Shares will remain traded on the Main Market.
Assuming the Resolution is passed, the Company will apply to cancel the listing of its Ordinary Shares on the Official List and to trading on the Main Market and will give 20 Business Days' notice of its intention to seek admission to trading on AIM under AIM's 'fast track procedure' for companies that have their securities traded on an AIM Designated Market (which includes the Official List).
It is expected that the last day of dealings in the Ordinary Shares on the Main Market will be 27 December 2013 and that cancellation of the listing of the Ordinary Shares on the Official List will take effect at 8.00 a.m. on 30 December 2013, being not less than 20 Business Days from the passing of the Resolution. Admission is expected to take place, and dealings in Ordinary Shares are expected to commence on AIM at 8.00 a.m. on 30 December 2013.
Shareholders and prospective investors should consult their own professional advisers on whether an investment in an AIM security is suitable for them. Companies whose shares trade on AIM are deemed to be unlisted for the purposes of certain areas of UK taxation. Shareholders and prospective investors should also note that, since 5 August 2013 shares traded on AIM can be held in ISAs. However, Shareholders should be aware that as Panther is a property investment company, Panther is not a qualifying company and therefore its shares will not qualify for inheritance tax relief.
The comments on the tax implications described in this Document are based on the Directors' current understanding of tax law and practice, are not tailored to any individual circumstances and are primarily directed at individuals who are UK resident and domiciled. Tax rules can change and the precise tax implications for you will depend on your particular circumstances. If you are in any doubt as to your tax position, you should consult your own independent professional adviser.
A Form of Proxy for use at the General Meeting accompanies this document. Whether or not you propose to attend the General Meeting in person, it is important that you complete and sign the Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed on it and return it to the Registrar, Capita Asset Services at The Proxy Department, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to be received not later than 11.30 a.m. on 25 November 2013.
The completion of a Form of Proxy will not preclude you from attending the General Meeting and voting in person, if you so wish.
The Directors have received irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Resolution from Shareholders holding in aggregate 74.85 per cent. of the existing issued Ordinary Shares as at 1 November 2013, being the last practicable day before the publication of this document.
The Board considers that the Move to AIM is in the best interests of the Company and Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolution set out in the Notice, as the Directors intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings amounting to, in aggregate, 4,893,061 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 38.04 per cent. of the existing issued Ordinary Shares as at 1 November 2013, being the last practicable day before the publication of this document.
Yours faithfully
Andrew Perloff Executive Chairman
Notice is given that a general meeting of Panther Securities plc ("Company") will be held at Deneway House, 88-94 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AQ on 27 November 2013 at 11.30 a.m. for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolution which will be proposed as a special resolution.
That the listing of the ordinary shares of 25 pence each in the capital of the Company on the premium segment of the official list of the UK Listing Authority and admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities be cancelled and application be made for admission of the said shares to trading on AIM and the directors of the Company be and are hereby authorised to do and/or procure to be done all such acts and/or things as they may consider necessary or desirable in connection therewith.
By order of the Board Simon Peters Secretary
4 November 2013
Deneway House 88-94 Darkes Lane Potters Bar Hertfordshire EN6 1AQ
Registered in England and Wales No. 293147
Proxies
A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the meeting, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by that shareholder. Failure to specify the number of shares each proxy appointment relates to or specifying a number which when taken together with the numbers of shares set out in the other proxy appointments is in excess of the number of shares held by the shareholder, may result in the proxy appointment being invalid.
A proxy may only be appointed in accordance with the procedures set out in note 4 below and the notes to the proxy form.
The appointment of a proxy will not preclude a shareholder from attending and voting in person at the meeting.
To be valid, a proxy form must be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at the offices of the Company's registrar, Capita Asset Services at The Proxy Department, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU no later than 11.30 a.m. on 25 November 2013 (or, if the meeting is adjourned, no later than 48 hours before the time of any adjourned meeting).
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