Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement • Jun 11, 2024
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
PART TWO (EXPLANATORY STATEMENT) OF THIS DOCUMENT COMPRISES AN EXPLANATORY STATEMENT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 897 OF THE COMPANIES ACT AND DETAILS OF A PROPOSED TRANSACTION WHICH, IF IMPLEMENTED, WILL RESULT IN THE CANCELLATION OF THE ADMISSION TO TRADING OF TYMAN SHARES ON THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE'S MAIN MARKET FOR LISTED SECURITIES.
If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, accountant or other independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, if you are in the United Kingdom, or from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser if you are taking advice in a territory outside the United Kingdom.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your Tyman Shares, please send this document and the accompanying documents (but not the personalised Forms of Proxy and Form of Election (as relevant)) at once to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee. However, such documents should not be forwarded or transmitted in, into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction. If you have sold or otherwise transferred part only of your holding of Tyman Shares, please retain these documents and consult the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected. If you have recently purchased or otherwise been transferred Tyman Shares, notwithstanding receipt of this document and any accompanying documents from the transferor, you should contact Tyman's registrar, Link Group, on the telephone numbers set out in this document to obtain personalised Forms of Proxy and a Form of Election.
The release, publication or distribution of this document and/or the accompanying documents (in whole or in part) in or into jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this document comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Failure to comply with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
Neither this document nor any of the accompanying documents do or are intended to constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval pursuant to the Scheme or otherwise, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, invitation or solicitation is unlawful. This document is not a prospectus or a prospectus exempted document.
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to be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement of Tyman plc under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
This document (including any documents incorporated into it by reference), together with the accompanying Forms of Proxy and Form of Election, as relevant, should be read as a whole. Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Chairman of Tyman in Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc) of this document, which contains the unanimous recommendation of the Tyman Directors that you vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Special Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting. A letter from Greenhill explaining the Scheme appears in Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document and constitutes an explanatory statement in compliance with section 897 of the Companies Act.
Action to be taken by Tyman Shareholders and Scheme Shareholders is set out on pages 12 to 17 and in paragraph 20 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document. Tyman Shareholders are asked to complete and return the enclosed blue and yellow Forms of Proxy (or appoint a proxy electronically as referred to in this document) in accordance with the instructions printed thereon as soon as possible, but in any event so as to be received by Link Group not later than 48 hours before the relevant Meeting (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) (or in the case of any adjournment, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the adjourned meeting). Tyman Shareholders who hold Tyman Shares in CREST may also appoint a proxy using CREST or online by following the instructions set out in the Forms of Proxy, Form of Election and this document.
Notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting of Tyman, each of which will be held at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF on 12 July 2024, are set out on pages 145 to 152 of this document. The Court Meeting will start at 2:30 p.m. on that date and the General Meeting at 2:45 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting is concluded or adjourned.
Scheme Shareholders and Tyman Shareholders are strongly encouraged to appoint "the Chair of the Meeting" as their proxy.
It is important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair representation of opinion of Scheme Shareholders. Whether or not you intend to attend and/or vote at the Meetings, you are therefore strongly advised to sign and return your blue Form of Proxy (by post) or transmit a proxy appointment and voting instruction (electronically online or through CREST) for the Court Meeting as soon as possible. The completion and return of the Forms of Proxy (by post) (or transmission of a proxy appointment or voting instruction electronically, online, through CREST or by any other procedure described in this document) will not prevent you from attending, speaking and voting at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, if you are entitled to and wish to do so.
If the blue Form of Proxy for the Court Meeting is not lodged by the relevant time, it may be handed to Tyman's registrars Link Group, on behalf of the Chair of the Court Meeting before the start of the Court Meeting. If the yellow Form of Proxy for the General Meeting is not lodged by the relevant time, it will be invalid.
Any changes to the arrangements for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting will be communicated to Tyman Shareholders and Scheme Shareholders before the Meetings, including through Tyman's website https://www.tymanplc.com/investor-relations and by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in certificated form are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order that their interests in New Quanex Shares may be more readily transferrable and not subject to US withholding taxes otherwise applied in respect of interests in New Quanex Shares held directly by non-US investors. Scheme Shareholders should contact their broker for details of how to arrange such a transfer. Scheme Shareholders holding in certificated form at the Scheme Record Time will receive an account statement of ownership of New Quanex Shares from Equiniti as soon as practicable after the Effective Date. Scheme Shareholders who are resident outside the United States and are holding their Scheme Shares in certificated form should note that US withholding taxes may be applied in respect of any dividends or other distributions made by Quanex, and the Quanex Transfer Agent shall contact such persons regarding their US tax status.
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) and who wish to hold New Quanex Shares directly or through a US brokerage account via DRS rather than hold Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) through CREST are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into certificated form (that is, in materialised form through a Tyman share certificate). Such shareholders should make the appropriate arrangements in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order to avoid incurring cross-border transaction fees which may be incurred after the Scheme Record Time should such shareholders wish to transfer the New Quanex Shares underlying such Quanex CDIs from the depository structure for the Quanex CDIs into a US brokerage account via DRS. Shareholders should read Part Sixteen (Q&A for Holders of Uncertificated Tyman Shares) of this document for further details.
If you are an eligible Tyman Shareholder who holds Tyman Shares in certificated form (that is, not CREST) and you wish to make an election under the Capped All-Share Alternative, please complete the green Form of Election in accordance with the instructions printed on such form and return it by post to Link Group, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL, or, if you hold your Tyman Shares through CREST, submit a TTE Instruction in respect of all of your Tyman Shares, in each case so as to reach Link Group by no later than the Election Return Time.
Full instructions as to how to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative are set out in Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) of this document.
If you wish to receive the Main Offer for all the Tyman Shares that you hold at the Scheme Record Time and do not wish to make an election in respect of all the Scheme Shares you hold under the Capped All-Share Alternative, you are not required to return the green Form of Election or make a TTE Instruction electing for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
Certain terms used in this document are defined in Part Twelve (Definitions) of this document.
If you have any questions about this document, the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, or how to complete the Forms of Proxy or Form of Election or to submit your proxies electronically, call Link Group, on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. 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. The helpline is open between 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note that helpline operators cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
Greenhill, an affiliate of Mizuho, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting exclusively as lead financial adviser to Tyman and for no one else in connection with the Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone other than Tyman for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction, the contents of this document or any other matters referred to in this document. Neither Greenhill nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Greenhill in connection with the Transaction, this document and any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Deutsche Numis, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Tyman and no one else in connection with the matters described in this document and will not be responsible to anyone other than Tyman for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Numis, or for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Deutsche Numis nor any of its group undertakings or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Deutsche Numis in connection with this document or any matter referred to herein.
UBS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. It is authorised by the PRA and subject to regulation in the United Kingdom by the FCA and limited regulation in the United Kingdom by the PRA. UBS is acting exclusively as sole financial adviser to Quanex and for no one else in connection with the Transaction and will not be responsible to anyone other than Quanex for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the Transaction, the contents of this document or any other matters referred to in this document. Neither UBS nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of UBS in connection with the Transaction, this document and any statement contained herein or otherwise.
No person has been authorised to give any information or make any representations other than those contained in this document and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorised by Tyman, the Tyman Directors, Quanex, the Quanex Directors or by Greenhill, Deutsche Numis or UBS or any other person involved in the Transaction. Neither the delivery of this document nor holding of the Meetings, the Court Hearing, or the filing of the Court Order shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Tyman Group or the Quanex Group since the date of this document or that the information in, or incorporated into, this document is correct as at any time subsequent to its date.
The release, publication or distribution of this document in or into jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Transaction disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
Neither this document nor any of the accompanying documents do or are intended to constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval pursuant to the Scheme or otherwise, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, invitation or solicitation is unlawful. This document and the accompanying Forms of Proxy and Form of Election have been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law, the Market Abuse Regulation, the Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the Takeover Code, and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this document had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of England and Wales.
Unless otherwise determined by Quanex or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, this document will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in or into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Transaction by any such use, means, instrumentality or form within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this document and all documents relating to the Transaction are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed, transmitted or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction, and persons receiving such documents (including agents, custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send such documents in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the Transaction.
This document is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the US Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. Any securities issued as part of the Transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the US Securities Act. If, in the future, Quanex ultimately seeks to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act, that offer will be made in compliance with applicable US laws and regulations.
The Transaction relates to the shares of an English company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under English company law. The Transaction will be implemented solely in accordance with this document (or in the event that the Transaction is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the offer document) which contains the full terms and conditions of the Transaction, including details of how to vote in respect of the Scheme. Any voting decision or response in relation to the Transaction should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this document, the Announcement, the Forms of Proxy and Form of Election.
Quanex reserves the right, subject to the prior consent of the Takeover Panel and in accordance with the Co-operation Agreement, to elect to implement the Transaction by means of a Takeover Offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Tyman, as an alternative to the Scheme.
Financial information included in this document has been or will be prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom.
The statements contained in this document are made as at the date of this document, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and service of this document shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set forth in this document since such date. Nothing in this document shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Tyman, the Wider Tyman Group, Quanex or the Wider Quanex Group except where otherwise stated.
This document does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus exempted document.
The release, publication or distribution of this document and/or any accompanying documents (in whole or in part) in or into or from jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom (including Restricted Jurisdictions) should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to the laws of another jurisdiction to vote their Tyman Shares in respect of the Scheme at the Meetings, or to execute and deliver the Forms of Proxy (appointing another to vote at the Meetings on their behalf) or the Form of Election, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or to which they are subject. Any failure to comply with applicable legal or regulatory requirements of any jurisdiction may constitute a violation of securities laws in that jurisdiction. If the Transaction is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Transaction will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.
This document may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the Transaction, including the issuance of Quanex Shares. In connection with the proposed issuance of the New Quanex Shares, Quanex has filed the Proxy Statement with the SEC. To the extent Quanex effects the Transaction as a Scheme under English law, the issuance of the New Quanex Shares is anticipated to be made in reliance on an exemption from registration under the US Securities Act pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the US Securities Act. If, in the future, Quanex exercises its right to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act, such issuance of New Quanex Shares will be made in compliance with applicable US laws and regulations. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, TYMAN'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT (IF ANY) CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE TRANSACTION. Tyman's shareholders and investors will be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the Proxy Statement (or, if applicable, the registration statement), including this document (or, if applicable the offer document), and other relevant documents filed with the SEC (when available) from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Quanex's Stockholders and investors will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the Proxy Statement, and other relevant documents (when available) by directing a written request to Quanex (Attention: Investor Relations), or from Quanex's website at https://investors.quanex.com/.
Quanex and certain of its directors and executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Quanex in respect of the Transaction, including the proposed issuance of the New Quanex Shares. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Quanex in connection with the Transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set out in the Proxy Statement filed with the SEC. Information regarding Quanex's directors and executive officers is contained in Quanex's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated 6 June 2024, which are filed with the SEC.
This document contains statements about the Quanex Group and the Tyman Group which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" and which are prospective in nature. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this document may be forward-looking statements. They are based on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "aims", "projects", "future-proofing" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative of such words or terms, as well as variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Forward-looking statements may include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of the Wider Quanex Group's or the Wider Tyman Group's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Transaction; and (iii) the effects of global economic conditions and governmental regulation on the Wider Quanex Group's or the Wider Tyman Group's business.
Although Quanex and Tyman believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, neither Tyman nor Quanex can give any assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Quanex Group or the Tyman Group to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the ability to complete the Transaction; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of other Conditions; changes in the global political, economic, business and competitive environments and in market and regulatory forces; changes in future exchange and interest rates; changes in tax rates; future business combinations and disposals; changes in general economic and business conditions; changes in the behaviour of other market participants; the anticipated benefits from the Transaction not being realised as a result of changes in general economic or market conditions in the countries in which, Quanex, Tyman, the Wider Quanex Group and/or the Wider Tyman Group operate; weak, volatile or illiquid capital and/or credit markets; changes in the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Quanex, Tyman, the Wider Quanex Group and/or the Wider Tyman Group operate; any changes in laws or in supervisory expectations or requirements. For a discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements in relation to the Tyman Group or the Quanex Group (as applicable), refer to the annual report and accounts of the Tyman Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 or the risks discussed in Quanex's most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q or the Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, each as filed with the SEC. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements. If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialises or if any one or more of the assumptions proves incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected. No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and persons reading this document are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Each of the Quanex Group and the Tyman Group, and each of their respective members, directors, officers, employees, advisers and persons acting on their behalf, expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking or other statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
No member of the Quanex Group, nor the Tyman Group, nor any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this document will actually occur.
Except as expressly provided in this document, no forward-looking or other statements have been reviewed by the auditors of the Quanex Group or the Tyman Group. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to any member of the Quanex Group or the Tyman Group, or any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.
Tyman Shareholders in the United States should note that the Transaction relates to the securities of a UK company and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under English law. This document and certain other documents relating to the Transaction have been or will be prepared in accordance with English law, the Takeover Code and UK disclosure requirements, format and style, all of which differ from those in the United States. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Transaction is subject to the disclosure requirements of and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the disclosure requirements of the United States tender offer rules. If, in the future, Quanex exercises the right to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the offer into the United States, the Transaction will be made in compliance with applicable United States laws and regulations, including any applicable exemptions under the US Securities Act or US Exchange Act.
The New Quanex Shares to be issued pursuant to the Transaction have not been registered under the US Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act.
The New Quanex Shares to be issued pursuant to the Transaction are expected to be issued in reliance upon an exemption from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) under the US Securities Act. If, in the future, Quanex exercises its right to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act, such issuance of New Quanex Shares will be made in compliance with applicable US laws and regulations. In this event, Tyman Shareholders are urged to read these documents and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information. Such documents will be available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Quanex's Investor Relations team identified above, or from Quanex's website at https://investors.quanex.com/.
New Quanex Shares issued to persons other than "affiliates" of Quanex (defined as certain control persons, within the meaning of Rule 144 under the US Securities Act) will be freely transferable under US federal securities laws and regulations following the Transaction. Persons (whether or not US persons) who are or will be "affiliates" of Quanex within 90 days prior to, or after, the Effective Date will be subject to certain transfer restrictions relating to the New Quanex Shares under US federal securities laws and regulations.
Neither the SEC nor any US state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the New Quanex Shares to be issued in connection with the Transaction, or determined if this document is accurate or complete or has passed upon the fairness or the merits of the proposal described herein. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
Tyman's financial statements, and all financial information that is included in this document, or any other documents relating to the Transaction, have been or will be prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and may not be comparable to financial statements of companies in the United States or other companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP"). The financial information included in this document in relation to Quanex has been or will have been prepared in accordance with US GAAP, except as otherwise specified therein.
Save as specified in relation to certain of the documents incorporated by reference by paragraph 1 of Part Five (Financial Information), none of the financial information in this document has been audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States or the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). For the purposes of qualifying for the exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act afforded by Section 3(a)(10) thereof, Tyman will advise the Court that its sanctioning of the Scheme will be relied upon by Quanex and Tyman as an approval of the Scheme following a hearing on its fairness which all Scheme Shareholders are entitled to attend, in person or through counsel, to support or oppose the sanctioning of the Scheme and with respect to which notification has been given to all such Scheme Shareholders.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Transaction by a direct or indirect US Scheme Shareholder as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme Shares pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each Tyman Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Transaction applicable to them.
It may be difficult for US holders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since Tyman is located outside of the US, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the US. US holders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's jurisdiction or judgment.
The statements contained in this document are made as at the date of this document, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and service of this document shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set forth in this document since such date. Nothing in this document shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Tyman, the Tyman Group, Quanex or the Quanex Group, except where otherwise stated.
The Quanex Profit Forecast is an ordinary course profit forecast for the purposes of Note 2 on Rule 28.1 of the Takeover Code. The Quanex Profit Forecast, the assumptions and basis of preparation on which the Quanex Profit Forecast is based and the Quanex Directors' confirmation, as required by Rule 28.1 of the Takeover Code, are set out in Part Seven (Quanex Profit Forecast) of this document.
Other than in respect of the Quanex Profit Forecast, no statement in this document is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this document should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per ordinary share or unit of common stock, for Tyman or Quanex respectively, for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per ordinary share or unit of common stock, for Tyman or Quanex respectively.
Quanex uses Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA (defined as net income or loss before interest, taxes depreciation and amortization and other, net), Adjusted Diluted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA (defined as EBITDA further adjusted to exclude purchase price accounting inventory step-ups, transaction costs, certain severance charges, gain/loss on the sale of certain fixed assets, restructuring charges, stock-based compensation and asset impairment charges), net debt and Free Cash Flow, each of which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Quanex believes that the presented non-GAAP measures provide a consistent basis for comparison between periods and will assist investors in understanding the Quanex's financial performance when comparing results to other investment opportunities. These non-GAAP measures may not be the same as those used by other companies. Quanex does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with US GAAP.
Quanex does not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable US GAAP reported financial measures on a forward-looking basis because it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of certain future events. Moreover, estimating such forward-looking US GAAP financial measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Undue reliance should not be placed on these measures and these financial measures should be carefully reviewed alongside the risks and uncertainties described in the cautionary statement relating to "Forward-Looking Statements" contained herein.
The statements in the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement relate to future actions and circumstances which by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies. The synergies and cost savings referred to may not be achieved, or may be achieved later or sooner than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different from those estimated. No statement in the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, or this document generally, should be construed as a profit forecast or interpreted to mean that the Enlarged Group's earnings in the first full year following the Effective Date, or in any subsequent period, would necessarily match or be greater than or be less than those of Quanex and/or Tyman for the relevant preceding financial period or any other period. For the purposes of Rule 28 of the Takeover Code, the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement is the responsibility of Quanex and the Quanex Directors.
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code applies must be made by no later than 3:30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3:30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8 of the Takeover Code. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code applies must be made by no later than 3:30 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day following the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4 of the Takeover Code).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the Offer Period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Takeover Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0) 20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
Certain figures included in this document have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
Unless otherwise stated, the Announcement Exchange Rate has been used for the purposes of converting £ amounts into \$ amounts and vice versa.
A copy of this document and the documents required to be published by Rule 26 of the Takeover Code will be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, for inspection on Quanex's website at https://www.roadto2b.com/ and on Tyman's website at https://www.tymanplc.com/investor-relations promptly and in any event by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day following the date of this document. For the avoidance of doubt the contents of those websites are not incorporated into, and do not form part of, this document.
Any person entitled to receive a copy of documents, announcements and information relating to the Transaction is entitled to receive such documents in hard copy form free of charge. Any such person may also request that all future documents, announcements and information in relation to the Transaction are sent to them in hard copy form.
Recipients of this document may request hard copies of the above-referenced financial information by contacting Tyman on +44(0)207 976 8000 or at [email protected].
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by Tyman Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Tyman may be provided to Quanex during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.
This document is dated 11 June 2024.
For the reasons set out in this document, the Tyman Directors, who have been so advised by Greenhill as to the financial terms of the Main Offer and Capped All-Share Alternative, consider the terms of the Main Offer and Capped All-Share Alternative to be fair and reasonable. In providing their advice to the Tyman Directors, Greenhill has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Tyman Directors. The Tyman Directors note that the implied value of both the Main Offer and of the Capped All-Share Alternative will be subject to volatility due to Quanex stock market price movements and changes in the foreign exchange rate which the Tyman Board will continue to assess during the Transaction. The Tyman Directors also note that the implied value of the Capped All-Share Alternative will be subject to greater volatility than the Main Offer and Tyman Shareholders should consider the disadvantages and advantages outlined in paragraph 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) regarding an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Greenhill is providing independent financial advice to the Tyman Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, in order to implement the Transaction, the Tyman Directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Special Resolution proposed at the General Meeting, as the Tyman Directors who held Tyman Shares as at the date of the Announcement have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of Tyman Shares, and that you take the action described below.
Eligible Scheme Shareholders may also elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative and detailed instructions on the action to be taken by those Scheme Shareholders who wish to, and are permitted to, make an election under the Capped All-Share Alternative are set out in paragraph 12 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) and in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) and in Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) of this document. The description in the paragraph titled "Elections for the Capped All-Share Alternative" below is a summary of such instructions.
In deciding whether or not to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative, eligible Scheme Shareholders are strongly encouraged to take their own independent financial, tax and legal advice and consider carefully the disadvantages and advantages of electing for the Capped All-Share Alternative (including, but not limited to, those set out in paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) in light of their own financial circumstances and investment objectives). Eligible Scheme Shareholders should also ascertain whether acquiring or holding New Quanex Shares is affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they reside and consider whether New Quanex Shares are a suitable investment in light of their own personal circumstances.
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in certificated form are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order that their interests in New Quanex Shares may be more readily transferrable and not subject to US withholding taxes otherwise applied in respect of interests in New Quanex Shares held directly by non-US investors. Scheme Shareholders should contact their broker for details of how to arrange such a transfer. Scheme Shareholders holding in certificated form at the Scheme Record Time will receive an account statement of ownership of New Quanex Shares from Equiniti as soon as practicable after the Effective Date. Scheme Shareholders who are resident outside the United States and are holding their Scheme Shares in certificated form should note that US withholding taxes may be applied in respect of any dividends or other distributions made by Quanex, and the Quanex Transfer Agent shall contact such persons regarding their US tax status.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SCHEME SHAREHOLDERS WITH TYMAN SHARES IN UNCERTIFICATED FORM (SHARES HELD IN CREST)
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) and who wish to hold New Quanex Shares directly or through a US brokerage account via DRS rather than hold Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) through CREST are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into certificated form (that is, in materialised form through a Tyman share certificate). Such shareholders should make the appropriate arrangements in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order to avoid incurring cross-border transaction fees which may be incurred after the Scheme Record Time should such shareholders wish to transfer the New Quanex Shares underlying such Quanex CDIs from the depository structure for the Quanex CDIs into a US brokerage account via DRS. Shareholders should read Part Sixteen (Q&A for Holders of Uncertificated Tyman Shares) of this document for further details.
Tyman Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions are not eligible to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
This page should be read in conjunction with the rest of this document, and in particular, paragraph 14 of Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc) of this document and the notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting at the end of this document.
Please check that you have received the following:
If you have not received all of these documents, please contact the Shareholder Helpline operated by Link Group on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. 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. The helpline is open between 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note that helpline operators cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT, FOR THE COURT MEETING IN PARTICULAR, AS MANY VOTES AS POSSIBLE ARE CAST SO THAT THE COURT MAY BE SATISFIED THAT THERE IS A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF SCHEME SHAREHOLDER OPINION. YOU ARE THEREFORE STRONGLY URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN YOUR FORMS OF PROXY BY POST (OR TRANSMIT A PROXY APPOINTMENT AND VOTING INSTRUCTION ONLINE OR THROUGH THE CREST ELECTRONIC PROXY APPOINTMENT SERVICE) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
The Scheme will require approval at a meeting of Scheme Shareholders convened with the permission of the Court to be held at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF at 2:30 p.m. on 12 July 2024. Implementation of the Scheme will also require approval of the Special Resolution relating to the Transaction to be proposed at the General Meeting. The General Meeting will be held at the same place as the Court Meeting on 12 July 2024 at 2:45 p.m. (or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting concludes or is adjourned).
Scheme Shareholders and Tyman Shareholders are strongly encouraged to submit proxy appointments and instructions for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting as soon as possible, using any of the methods (by post, online or electronically through CREST) set out below. Scheme Shareholders and Tyman Shareholders are also strongly encouraged to appoint "the Chair of the Meeting" as their proxy.
Scheme Shareholders and Tyman Shareholders are required to cast or amend proxy voting instructions in respect of the relevant Meeting not later than 48 hours before the relevant Meeting (excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a non-business day) (or in the case of any adjournment, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the adjourned meeting).
Tyman Shareholders are entitled to appoint a proxy in respect of some or all of their Tyman Shares and may also appoint more than one proxy, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by such holder. Tyman Shareholders who wish to appoint more than one proxy in respect of their holding of Tyman Shares should contact Link Group for further Forms of Proxy or photocopy the Forms of Proxy as required.
Please complete and sign the Forms of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed on them and return them to Link Group, Tyman's registrars, by post to Link Group at Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL so as to be received as soon as possible and in any event not later than the relevant times set out below:
| Blue Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting | 2:30 p.m. on 10 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Yellow Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting | 2:45 p.m. on 10 July 2024 |
or, if in either case the Meeting is adjourned, the relevant Form of Proxy should be received not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time fixed for the adjourned Meeting.
If the blue Form of Proxy for the Court Meeting is not lodged by the relevant time, it may be handed to Tyman's registrars, Link Group, on behalf of the Chair of the Court Meeting before the start of the Court Meeting. If the yellow Form of Proxy for the General Meeting is not lodged by the relevant time, it will be invalid.
The completion and return of the Forms of Proxy by post (or transmission of a proxy appointment or voting instruction electronically, online, through CREST or by any other procedure described in this document) will not prevent you from attending, speaking and voting at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, if you are entitled to and wish to do so.
As an alternative to completing and returning the printed Forms of Proxy, proxies may be appointed electronically by logging on to the following website: www.signalshares.com, selecting the "Proxy Vote" button, and following the instructions therein. For an electronic proxy appointment to be valid, the appointment must be received by Link Group not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time fixed for the relevant Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Full details of the procedure to be followed to appoint a proxy electronically are given on the website.
If you hold Tyman Shares in uncertificated form through CREST and wish to appoint a proxy or proxies for the Court Meeting or the General Meeting (or any adjourned Meeting) by using the CREST electronic proxy appointment service, you may do so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual (please also refer to the accompanying notes to the notices of the Meetings set out in Part Thirteen (Notice of Court Meeting) and Part Fourteen (Notice of General Meeting) of this document). CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed any 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.
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 the specifications of Euroclear and must contain the information required for such instructions as described in the CREST Manual. The message (regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or an amendment to the instructions given to a previously appointed proxy) must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by Link Group (ID: RA10) not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time fixed for the relevant Meeting or any adjournment thereof. 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 Link Group 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.
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 any voting service provider(s), to procure that his/her 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. For further information on the logistics of submitting messages in CREST, 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.
Tyman may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the CREST Regulations.
The results of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting will be announced through a Regulatory Information Service and also published on Tyman's website at https://www.tymanplc.com/investorrelations once the votes have been counted and verified.
As an alternative to the Main Offer, eligible Scheme Shareholders may elect to receive the Capped All-Share Alternative which, in turn, is an election to receive the consideration in respect of their entire holding of Tyman Shares in Quanex Shares at a ratio of 0.14288 of a New Quanex Share to every 1 Tyman Share held at the Scheme Record Time, subject to the terms and conditions of the Capped All-Share Alternative and subject to the Capped All-Share Alternative Maximum. Further details of the New Quanex Shares are set out in paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) and in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative), Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Eleven (Description of the New Quanex Shares and the Quanex Group) of this document. An eligible Tyman Shareholder may only elect to take up the Capped All-Share Alternative in respect of all (and not part only) of their holding of Tyman Shares (subject to the terms and conditions of the Capped All-Share Alternative set out in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) of this document).
Tyman Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions are not eligible to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in certificated form are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order that their interests in New Quanex Shares may be more readily transferrable and not subject to US withholding taxes otherwise applied in respect of interests in New Quanex Shares held directly by non-US investors. Scheme Shareholders should contact their broker for details of how to arrange such a transfer. Scheme Shareholders holding in certificated form at the Scheme Record Time will receive an account statement of ownership of New Quanex Shares from Equiniti as soon as practicable after the Effective Date. Scheme Shareholders who are resident outside the United States and are holding their Scheme Shares in certificated form should note that US withholding taxes may be applied in respect of any dividends or other distributions made by Quanex, and the Quanex Transfer Agent shall contact such persons regarding their US tax status.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SCHEME SHAREHOLDERS WITH TYMAN SHARES IN UNCERTIFICATED FORM (SHARES HELD IN CREST)
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) and who wish to hold New Quanex Shares directly or through a US brokerage account via DRS rather than hold Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) through CREST are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into certificated form (that is, in materialised form through a Tyman share certificate). Such shareholders should make the appropriate arrangements in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order to avoid incurring cross-border transaction fees which may be incurred after the Scheme Record Time should such shareholders wish to transfer the New Quanex Shares underlying such Quanex CDIs from the depository structure for the Quanex CDIs into a US brokerage account via DRS. Shareholders should read Part Sixteen (Q&A for Holders of Uncertificated Tyman Shares) of this document for further details.
If you are an eligible Scheme Shareholder who holds Scheme Shares in certificated form (that is, not CREST) and you wish to make an election under the Capped All-Share Alternative, please complete the green Form of Election in accordance with the instructions printed on such form and return it by post to Link Group at Link Group, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL so as to reach Link Group by no later than the Election Return Time. A pre-paid envelope, for use in the UK only, has been provided. The instructions printed on, or deemed to be incorporated in, the Form of Election constitute a part of the terms of the Scheme.
If you are an eligible Scheme Shareholder who holds Scheme Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST) and you wish to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative, you should not complete a green Form of Election. Instead you should submit your election electronically by taking (or procuring to be taken) the actions set out in Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) to transfer your Tyman Shares to the relevant escrow account using a TTE Instruction as soon as possible, and in any event so that the TTE Instruction settles no later than the Election Return Time. If you are a CREST personal member or other 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 participation ID and the member account ID under which your Tyman Shares are held. In addition, only your CREST sponsor will be able to send the TTE Instruction to Euroclear in relation to your Tyman Shares.
If you hold your Scheme Shares in both certificated and uncertificated form and you wish to make an election under the Capped All-Share Alternative, you must make separate elections in respect of each holding (and you must make such election in respect of each holding).
If you wish to receive the Main Offer for all the Scheme Shares that you hold at the Scheme Record Time and do not wish to make an election in respect of all the Scheme Shares you hold under the Capped All-Share Alternative, you are not required to return the green Form of Election or make a TTE Instruction electing for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
Restricted Shareholders will, under the Transaction, not have the option of electing to receive the Capped All-Share Alternative. Any purported election for the Capped All-Share Alternative by such Restricted Shareholders will be treated as invalid by Quanex. Overseas Shareholders should inform themselves about and observe any legal or regulatory requirements. If you are in any doubt about your position, you should consult your professional adviser in the relevant territory.
Any indirect Scheme Shareholder who holds Scheme Shares through a nominee, share plan administrator or similar arrangement, either in uncertificated form through CREST or in certificated form, and who wishes to vote at the applicable Court Meeting or General Meeting or elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative should contact such nominee or administrator for further instructions on how to do this. An indirect Scheme Shareholder may need first to arrange with such nominee or administrator for the transfer of such Scheme Shares into, and then make a vote at the applicable Court Meeting or General Meeting or make an election for such Capped All-Share Alternative in, its own name.
Participants in the Tyman Share Plans will be contacted separately on or around the date of this document regarding the effect of the Scheme on their rights under the Tyman Share Plans.
Participants in the Tyman Share Plans should also refer to paragraph 18 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document for information relating to the effect of the Transaction on their rights under the Tyman Share Plans.
If you have any questions about this document, the Court Meeting or the General Meeting or how to complete the Forms of Proxy, Form of Election, or to appoint a proxy through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service, please call Link Group on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls from outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. The helpline is open between 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note that helpline operators cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
The following indicative timetable sets out expected dates for the implementation of the Scheme.
| Event | Time and/or date(1) |
|---|---|
| Publication of the Proxy Statement | 6 June 2024 |
| Publication of this Document | 11 June 2024 |
| Latest time for lodging Forms of Proxy and registering proxy appointments through CREST or electronically for the: |
|
| Court Meeting (blue form) | 2:30 p.m. on 10 July 2024(2) |
| General Meeting (yellow form) | 2:45 p.m. on 10 July 2024(3) |
| Voting Record Time for the Court Meeting | 6:00 p.m. on 10 July 2024(4) |
| Voting Record Time for the General Meeting | 6:00 p.m. on 10 July 2024(4) |
| Court Meeting | 2:30 p.m. on 12 July 2024 |
| General Meeting | 2:45 p.m. on 12 July 2024(5) |
| Quanex Stockholder Meeting | 8:30 a.m. (Central Time) on 12 July 2024 |
| The following dates are indicative only and are subject to change:(6) |
|
| Election Return Time for the Form of Election (green form) and TTE Instruction |
1:00 p.m. on D – 7 calendar days (17 July 2024)(7) |
| Court Hearing to sanction the Scheme | A date expected to be in Q3 2024 subject to regulatory clearances (24 July 2024) ("D") |
| Last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, and disablement in CREST of, Tyman Shares |
D + 5 Business Day (31 July 2024) |
| Scheme Record Time | 6:00 p.m. on D + 5 Business Day (31 July 2024) |
| Suspension of listing of, and dealings in, Tyman Shares | 7:30 a.m. on D + 6 Business Days (1 August 2024) |
| Expected Effective Date of the Scheme | D + 6 Business Days (1 August 2024) |
| Cancellation of admission to trading of Tyman Shares on the Main Market |
7:30 a.m. on D + 7 Business Days (2 August 2024) |
| New Quanex Shares listed and commencement of trading on the NYSE |
By 9:30 a.m. (New York time) on D + 7 Business Days (2 August 2024) |
| New Quanex Shares registered through DRS (in respect of Quanex Shares held by former certificated Tyman Shareholders) |
D + 7 Business Days (2 August 2024) |
| Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) credited to CREST accounts (in respect of Scheme Shares held in uncertificated form only) |
As soon as practicable and in any event within 14 days of the Effective Date (by 15 August 2024) |
| Latest date for despatch of statements of entitlement relating to New Quanex Shares held through DRS (in respect of Scheme Shares held in certificated form only) and despatch of cheques in respect of cash consideration and for settlement of cash consideration through CREST or other form of payment |
As soon as practicable and in any event within 14 days of the Effective Date (by 15 August 2024) |
| Long-Stop Date | 22 January 2025(7) |
| PART ONE LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF TYMAN PLC | 21 |
|---|---|
| PART TWO EXPLANATORY STATEMENT | 37 |
| PART THREE CONDITIONS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME AND TO THE TRANSACTION |
61 |
| PART FOUR THE SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT | 72 |
| PART FIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 83 |
| PART SIX ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS SHAREHOLDERS | 85 |
| PART SEVEN QUANEX PROFIT FORECAST | 87 |
| PART EIGHT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON TYMAN AND QUANEX | 91 |
| PART NINE SUMMARY OF THE CAPPED ALL-SHARE ALTERNATIVE | 113 |
| PART TEN HOW TO MAKE AN ELECTION FOR THE CAPPED ALL-SHARE ALTERNATIVE |
114 |
| PART ELEVEN DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW QUANEX SHARES AND THE QUANEX GROUP |
119 |
| PART TWELVE DEFINITIONS | 136 |
| PART THIRTEEN NOTICE OF COURT MEETING | 145 |
| PART FOURTEEN NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING | 148 |
| PART FIFTEEN QUANTIFIED FINANCIAL BENEFITS STATEMENT | 153 |
| PART SIXTEEN Q&A FOR HOLDERS OF UNCERTIFICATED TYMAN SHARES | 155 |
Incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 02806007
Nicky Hartery (Chairman) Rutger Helbing (Director, Chief Executive Officer) Jason Ashton (Director, Chief Financial Officer) Pamela Bingham (Non-Executive Director) David Randich (Non-Executive Director) Paul Withers (Non-Executive Director) Margaret Amos (Non-Executive Director)
Directors Registered Office 29 Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9BU
11 June 2024
To the holders of Tyman Shares and, for information only, to holders of awards/options under the Tyman Share Plans and persons with information rights:
On 22 April 2024, the boards of Tyman and Quanex announced that they had agreed the terms of a recommended cash and share offer pursuant to which Quanex will acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Tyman (the "Transaction"). It is intended that the Transaction will be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act.
I am writing to you today to set out the background to the Transaction and the reasons why the Tyman Directors consider the terms of the Transaction to be fair and reasonable and are unanimously recommending that you vote in favour of the Transaction as I and the other Tyman Directors, who hold Tyman Shares, have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of our own holdings over which we have control, being in aggregate 446,094 Tyman Shares (representing approximately 0.23 per cent. of the existing issued ordinary share capital of Tyman) as at the date of the Announcement. Further details of these undertakings are set out in paragraph 5 of this letter. I draw your attention to the letter from Greenhill set out in Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document which gives details about the Transaction and to the additional information set out in Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) of this document.
In order to approve the terms of the Transaction, the Scheme will require approval at the Court Meeting and will require Tyman Shareholders to vote in favour of the Special Resolution relating to the Transaction to be proposed at the General Meeting, to be held at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF at 2:30 p.m. (in respect of the Court Meeting) and 2:45 p.m. (in respect of the General Meeting) on 12 July 2024. Details of the actions you are asked to take are set out in paragraph 20 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document. The recommendation of the Tyman Directors is set out in paragraph 18 of this letter.
The Transaction will be implemented by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Tyman and Scheme Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act.
Under the terms of the Transaction, which will be subject to the terms and conditions set out in Part Three (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction) of this document, Scheme Shareholders at the Scheme Record Time will receive:
Based on the closing price of Quanex Shares and the foreign exchange rate of dollars to pounds on 10 June 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date prior to the publication of this document), the Main Offer values each Tyman Share at 376 pence per share. This implies a Transaction value of £740 million on a fully diluted basis as at the Latest Practicable Date.
As at Announcement, and based on the then announced look-through implied offer value of 400.0 pence per Tyman Share, the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative represented a premium of approximately:
Since Announcement, the Quanex Share price has fallen 12.8 cent per share and the foreign exchange rate of dollars to pounds has fallen 2.8 per. cent, resulting in a reduction in the implied value of the Main Offer of approximately 6.1 per. cent as at the Latest Practicable Date prior to the publication of this document as compared to the last practicable date as at Announcement.
Quanex is a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware whose headquarters is at 945 Bunker Hill Rd., Suite 900, Houston, TX 77024.
The purpose of the Transaction is to provide for Quanex to become the owner of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Tyman. This is to be achieved by the transfer by Scheme Shareholders of all the Scheme Shares to Quanex, in consideration for which Scheme Shareholders will receive the consideration pursuant to the Main Offer or Capped All-Share Alternative (as applicable).
The Scheme Shares will be acquired by Quanex fully paid and free from all liens, equitable interests, charges, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and any other third-party rights or interests whatsoever and together with all rights existing at the Effective Date or thereafter attaching thereto, including (without limitation) the right to receive and retain, in full, all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, made or paid or any other return of capital (whether by way of reduction of share capital or share premium account or otherwise) made on or after the Effective Date in respect of the Scheme Shares.
If the Scheme becomes Effective, it will be binding on all Scheme Shareholders irrespective of whether or not they attended or voted and, if they voted, whether they voted for or against the Scheme at the Meetings.
The New Quanex Shares will be issued credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with Quanex Shares in issue at the time that the New Quanex Shares are issued pursuant to the Transaction, including the right to receive and retain dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid by reference to a record date falling on or after the Effective Date.
As an alternative to the Main Offer, eligible Scheme Shareholders may elect in respect of all (but not part only) of their Tyman Shares to receive, in lieu of the Main Offer, the consideration in respect of their entire holding of Tyman Shares in Quanex Shares at a ratio of 0.14288 of a New Quanex Share to every 1 Tyman Share held at the Scheme Record Time. The Capped All-Share Alternative will be made available up to the Capped All-Share Alternative Maximum.
Tyman Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions are not eligible to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
Fractions of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) will not be issued to Scheme Shareholders. Instead, Scheme Shareholders who otherwise would have received a fraction of a New Quanex Share or Quanex CDI will receive an additional amount in cash, rounded down to the nearest cent, based on the amount obtained by multiplying such fraction by the closing sale price of Quanex Shares on the trading day immediately prior to the Effective Date. Any fractional entitlements of a Scheme Shareholder to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs under the Capped All-Share Alternative will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs per Scheme Shareholder. Fractional entitlements to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs will not be allotted or issued to such Scheme Shareholder but will be disregarded. Further details of the New Quanex Shares are set out in paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) and in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative), Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Eleven (Description of the New Quanex Shares and the Quanex Group) of this document. An eligible Scheme Shareholder may only elect to take up the Capped All-Share Alternative in respect of his or her entire holding of Tyman Shares.
Tyman Shareholders were entitled to receive the final dividend of 9.5 pence per Tyman Share announced by Tyman on 7 March 2024 for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 (the "FY23 Dividend"), which was paid on 29 May 2024 to eligible Tyman Shareholders on the register at 26 April 2024. If any other dividend, distribution and/or other return of value is proposed, authorised, declared, made or paid or becomes payable in respect of Tyman Shares on or after the date of the Announcement and before the Effective Date (other than, or in excess of, the FY23 Dividend), Quanex reserves the right to reduce the consideration (and, accordingly, the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative) by the amount of any such dividend, distribution and/or other return of value.
The Transaction is conditional upon, amongst other things, the approval of the Scheme by the Scheme Shareholders and the sanction of the Scheme by the Court. Part Three (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction) of this document sets out the Conditions and further terms to which the Transaction will be subject. The Scheme is expected to become Effective in Q3 2024. An expected timetable of principal events is set out on pages 18 to 19 of this document.
Quanex has agreed to provide an observer right on the Quanex Board to any person who: (i) is beneficially interested in 16 per cent. or more of the fully diluted ordinary share capital of Tyman when the Transaction is Effective; (ii) will, following the issue of the New Quanex Shares to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Transaction, be beneficially interested in 5 per cent. or more of the issued Quanex Shares when such New Quanex Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, taking into account only (x) those New Quanex Shares which are issued to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Transaction (and no other Quanex Shares, howsoever acquired or received by them) as the numerator for such calculation and (y) only the aggregated number of all New Quanex Shares and Quanex Shares (excluding shares held in treasury) in issue as at the date of the Announcement as the denominator for such calculation; and (iii) has obtained any required regulatory or legal approvals necessary for such person to take up such right. Quanex will be entitled to terminate this observer right on the date of Quanex's 2026 annual general meeting.
The form of Board Observer Agreement will be included in the list of documents available on the websites of Tyman and Quanex as detailed in paragraph 18 of Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex).
Quanex has been following Tyman for a number of years and has been impressed with the strategy employed by the Tyman Directors and the Tyman management team in creating a well-balanced and diversified business with a growing global presence.
Tyman's product offering is highly complementary and synergistic to Quanex's existing portfolio, which will enable the Enlarged Group to better serve its customers. Quanex also believes that Tyman's existing business would benefit from the opportunity to market a broader product offering and range of services to existing and new customers.
Critically, based on discussions with Tyman's senior management team, Quanex believes there is a high degree of alignment between the internal Quanex and Tyman cultural identities and a shared understanding of how people work together to execute the business strategies.
Overall, the Quanex Directors believe that the acquisition of Tyman offers compelling industrial logic and strategic rationale, while offering a significant value creation opportunity for stockholders in the Enlarged Group, as it:
The acquisition by Quanex of Tyman offers a unique opportunity to create a leading supplier of components to OEMs in the building products sector globally. The Enlarged Group will:
The Enlarged Group is expected to have an enhanced financial profile with increased scale, greater long-term growth potential, higher profitability, and strong free cash flow generation supported by a healthy balance sheet position. The Enlarged Group will be well-positioned to pursue organic growth and further acquisitions that fit within Quanex's stated "Bold" acquisition framework.
The Quanex Directors believe that the Enlarged Group will generate significant synergies which will provide further value upside to its shareholders. The Quanex management team has a strong track record of successfully integrating businesses from previous M&A activity and delivering synergies, including the acquisitions of Liniar, Woodcraft LMI Custom Mixing, LLC.
The Quanex Directors, having reviewed and analysed the potential cost synergies of the Transaction, and taking into account the factors they can influence, believe that the Enlarged Group can deliver approximately US\$30 million of pre-tax recurring cost synergies on an annual run-rate basis, expected to be realised by the end of the second full year following completion of the Transaction.
The quantified cost synergies, which are expected to originate from the cost bases of both Quanex and Tyman, are expected to be realised primarily from:
The Quanex Directors expect approximately 50 per cent. of these cost synergies to be achieved by the end of the first 12-month period following completion of the Transaction and the full run-rate by the second anniversary of completion of the Transaction.
The Quanex Directors estimate that the realisation of the identified cost synergies will result in oneoff costs to achieve of approximately US\$35 million in aggregate over the first two years post completion of the Transaction.
Potential areas of dis-synergy expected to arise in connection with the Transaction have been considered and were determined by the Quanex Directors to be immaterial for the analysis.
The identified cost synergies will occur as a direct result of the success of the Transaction and would not be achieved on a standalone basis. The identified cost synergies reflect both the beneficial elements and relevant costs.
Further information on the bases of belief supporting the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, including the principal assumptions and sources of information, is set out in Part Fifteen (Quantified Financial Benefits Statement). These estimated synergies have been reported on for the purposes of Rule 28 of the Takeover Code by KPMG. References to estimated cost savings should always be read in conjunction with Part Fifteen (Quantified Financial Benefits Statement).
In addition to the quantified cost synergies set out above, Quanex believes that there are several potential revenue opportunities for the Enlarged Group, including additional revenue growth through capitalising on the cross-selling opportunities arising from Quanex's and Tyman's complementary customer bases. Although the Quanex Directors are confident of realising value via the delivery of revenue synergies, these have not been quantified for public reporting under the Takeover Code at this stage.
Tyman has, through a series of transformational transactions over the past decade, become one of the largest global providers of highly engineered door and window hardware, seals, extrusions and access solutions, with strategic positions across North America, UK and Ireland and Europe. This position is underpinned by its recognised and leading brands, including AmesburyTruth, Lawrence, Bilco, ERA, Zoo, Giesse, Schlegel and others. A combination of organic and inorganic growth combined with a range of operational initiatives have driven revenue and adjusted operating profit to £657.6m and £84.4m for the year ended December 2023.
Tyman Group's "Focus, Define, Grow" strategy has been instrumental in transforming the financial profile, geographic footprint, performance and culture of the Company. Since its inception, Tyman has rationalised its facility network and product portfolio, optimised processes and established the Tyman Excellence System and "One Tyman" culture, which has created a platform capable of delivering growth through new product development, market expansion, enhanced customer experience and targeted M&A. Management has embedded sustainability at the core of this strategy, across products, operations, culture and solutions with 23 per cent. of revenues now generated from products that positively impact one or more of the UN SDG goals, predominantly in energy-saving products.
Whilst market conditions have been challenging, the long-term fundamentals across the business are strong in all of Tyman's main geographies, in particular in North America, where Tyman generated 72 per cent. of its adjusted operating profit (before central costs) during the financial year ended 31 December 2023. Tyman has a leading position in North America and the large undersupply of housing, positive demographic trends and the expected step-up in the proportion of homes reaching prime remodelling age in the coming years will underpin future market growth rates.
Whilst Tyman standalone will benefit from these North American growth opportunities, the timing of achieving them is partially dependent on uncertain macro-economic factors which bring a degree of risk. At this time, the Tyman Directors believe that it may take some years before the benefits of the potential growth opportunities in North America in particular are realised and for their value to be reflected in Tyman's share price and rating.
Furthermore, scale is becoming increasingly important in the fenestration industry as evidenced both by the step-up in the pace of consolidation within our larger North American customers and the acquisitions of some of our competitors by larger multinationals. In the context of this changing market dynamic, Tyman's current scale could limit management's ability to capitalise on market growth opportunities in the future, as well as create challenges in executing our goals with respect to larger acquisition targets in the North American market.
While the Tyman Directors remain confident that Tyman's strategy can deliver attractive returns for Tyman Shareholders as an independent company, they recognise that there are risks, as well as uncertainties, as to the timing and the delivery of these returns.
The Tyman Directors therefore believe that a combination with Quanex strengthens Tyman's strategic positioning in the North America marketplace immediately. The Tyman Directors believe that the Transaction would offer further compelling strategic and operational benefits to all stakeholders, including:
• unlocking substantial value creation for both Tyman and Quanex shareholders, via a significant and tangible cost and potential future revenue synergy opportunity.
The Tyman Directors recognise that the Main Offer provides the opportunity to realise a meaningful proportion of Tyman Shareholders' investment at a compelling valuation in cash, whilst also having the opportunity to benefit in the potential future upside of the Enlarged Group through the New Quanex Share component. Similarly, the Capped All-Share Alternative provides an increased opportunity to benefit in that potential future upside in lieu of the cash consideration.
Based on the closing price of Quanex Shares and the foreign exchange rate of dollars to pounds on 10 June 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date prior to the publication of this document), the Main Offer values each Tyman Share at 376 pence per share. This implies a Transaction value of £740 million on a fully diluted basis as at the Latest Practicable Date.
As at Announcement, and based on the then announced look-through implied offer value of 400.0 pence per Tyman Share, the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative represented a premium of approximately:
Since Announcement, the Quanex Share price has fallen 12.8 cent per share and the foreign exchange rate of dollars to pounds has fallen 2.8 per. cent, resulting in a reduction in the implied value of the Main Offer of approximately 6.1 per. cent as at the Latest Practicable Date prior to the publication of this document as compared to the last practicable date as at Announcement.
For the avoidance of doubt, in addition to the consideration payable in connection with the Transaction, eligible Tyman Shareholders were entitled to receive the FY23 Dividend of 9.5 pence per Tyman Share for the financial year ended 31 December 2023, which was paid on 29 May 2024 to eligible Tyman Shareholders on the register at 26 April 2024.
The Tyman Directors note that the implied value multiple is at an attractive level when compared to other relevant comparable transactions in the building materials sector. The Tyman Board also notes that Quanex reaffirmed its guidance for the financial year ending 31 October 2024 in its quarterly earnings release published on 6 June 2024. The Tyman Board is mindful of fluctuations in Quanex share price and notes that whilst Quanex's share price has fallen since the date of the Announcement consistent with its US listed peers and the dollar has weakened against sterling, reducing the implied value of the Transaction compared with the announcement date, the Tyman Board remains encouraged by the long-term growth opportunities of the Enlarged Group. As set out in paragraph 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement), the Tyman Directors would note that there is a potential for further volatility in Quanex's share price as well as the prevailing currency exchange rates which the Tyman Board will continue to assess during the Transaction.
In addition to the financial terms of the Transaction, in its evaluation of Quanex as a suitable owner of Tyman from the perspective of all stakeholders, the Tyman Directors have also taken into account Quanex's intentions for the business, management and employees and other stakeholders of Tyman, as outlined in paragraph 10 of the Announcement. The Tyman Directors welcome Quanex's intention that, following completion of the Transaction, it intends to safeguard the existing contractual and statutory employment rights of the employees of Tyman in accordance with applicable law upon completion of the Transaction, and does not intend to make any changes to the agreed employer contributions into Tyman's existing defined contribution pension scheme or the admission of new members to such pension scheme following completion of the Transaction other than to harmonise the Tyman employee 401k plans in the United States with the equivalent Quanex plans. The Board of Tyman further welcomes Quanex's intention to maintain the existing Tyman manufacturing sites and the fact that it does not intend to redeploy any of Tyman's material fixed assets or alter its R&D function.
The Tyman Board notes that Quanex has stated that the Enlarged Group is expected to fully realise the pre-tax run-rate cost synergies of approximately US\$30 million by the end of the second year post completion of the Transaction. The Tyman Directors are reassured that Quanex will be adopting a "best of both" approach in several areas, including in operations, and believe that the Enlarged Group will provide existing Tyman management and employees with opportunities to continue their careers and personal development as part of a significantly larger and stronger global business.
Given that detailed information to formulate comprehensive plans or intentions regarding the impact of the Transaction on Tyman is not yet available, the Tyman Directors are unable to express a more detailed opinion on the impact of the Transaction on Tyman management, employees and offices, save for as set out in paragraph 10 of the Announcement.
Accordingly, following careful consideration of the above factors, the Tyman Directors, who have been so advised by Greenhill as to the financial terms of the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative, unanimously consider the terms of the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative to be fair and reasonable. In providing their financial advice to the Tyman Directors, Greenhill has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Tyman Directors. The Tyman Directors note that the implied value of both the Main Offer and of the Capped All-Share Alternative will be subject to volatility due to Quanex stock market price movements and changes in the foreign exchange rate which the Tyman Board will continue to assess during the Transaction. The Tyman Directors also note that the implied value of the Capped All-Share Alternative will be subject to greater volatility than the Main Offer and Tyman Shareholders should consider the disadvantages and advantages outlined in paragraph 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) regarding an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Greenhill is providing independent financial advice to the Tyman Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, following careful consideration of the above factors, the Tyman Directors recommend unanimously that Tyman Shareholders vote or procure votes in favour of the resolutions relating to the Scheme at the Meetings, as the Tyman Directors who held Tyman Shares as at the date of the Announcement have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of Tyman Shares.
The Tyman Directors recommend unanimously that Tyman Shareholders vote or procure votes to approve the Scheme at the Court Meeting and to vote or procure votes in favour of the Resolutions at the General Meeting as the Tyman Directors who held Tyman Shares at the date of the Announcement have irrevocably undertaken to do (or procure to be done) in respect of their own beneficial holdings, totalling 446,094 Tyman Shares, representing approximately 0.23 per cent. of the issued share capital of Tyman as at the date of the Announcement. Further details of the irrevocable undertakings received by Quanex in respect of the Tyman Directors are set out in Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) of this document.
In addition to the irrevocable undertakings from the Tyman Directors who held Tyman Shares at the date of the Announcement, Quanex has received an irrevocable undertaking from Teleios to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative and vote (or procure the votes) to approve the Scheme at the Court Meeting and to vote (or procure the votes) in favour of the Resolutions at the General Meeting in respect of a total of 32,347,981 Tyman Shares representing approximately 16.4 per cent. of the issued share capital of Tyman as at the date of the Announcement.
Quanex has therefore received irrevocable undertakings in respect of a total of 32,794,075 Tyman Shares representing approximately 16.7 per cent. of the issued share capital of Tyman as at the date of the Announcement. Further details of the irrevocable undertakings received by Quanex are set out in Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) of this document.
Under NYSE rules, the issuance of the New Quanex Shares in connection with the Transaction requires the approval of the Quanex Stockholders at the Quanex Stockholder Meeting.
Quanex will be required to obtain approval of the Quanex Share Proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Quanex Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Quanex Stockholder Meeting and entitled to vote on the Quanex Share Proposal. The Quanex Directors intend unanimously to recommend that Quanex Stockholders vote in favour of the Quanex Share Proposal.
On 6 June 2024, Quanex mailed the Proxy Statement to Quanex Stockholders, which included a notice convening the Quanex Stockholder Meeting to be held on 12 July at 8:30 a.m. Central Time, at Hotel Zaza located at 9787 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024. The Transaction is conditional on, amongst other things, the Quanex Share Proposal being approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Quanex Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Quanex Stockholder Meeting and entitled to vote on the Quanex Share Proposal.
Quanex is a global manufacturer of components and a key partner to OEMs for fenestration, cabinetry, solar, refrigeration and outdoor products. Quanex's manufacturing solutions include insulating glass spacers, vinyl profiles, window and door screens, cabinet components, fenestration components, vinyl extrusions, rubber extrusions, kitchen components, bathroom components and millwork.
Quanex, through its "Part of Something BIGGER" strategy is dedicated to:
Quanex serves a primary customer base in North America and the United Kingdom, but also serves customers globally through operating plants in the United Kingdom and Germany as well as through sales and marketing activities in other countries.
Tyman is a leading international supplier of engineered fenestration components and access solutions to the construction industry. The Tyman Group designs and manufactures products that enhance the comfort, sustainability, security, safety and aesthetics of residential homes and commercial buildings. Tyman's portfolio of leading brands serve their markets through three regional divisions (North America, UK and Ireland and Europe) and cover all aspects of the hardware and sealing solutions required for doors and windows, and a full suite of solutions for roof, wall and floor access in residential and commercial buildings.
Tyman published its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2023 on 7 March 2024, which are incorporated by reference into this document and is available on Tyman's website at https:// www.tymanplc.com/investor-relations/document-centre.
The following 2024 outlook was provided as part of the annual results announcement for the year ended 31 December 2023: the structural growth drivers for the Tyman Group remain attractive, although leading indicators for Tyman's major markets are currently signalling a challenging market outlook for 2024. However, given Tyman's self-help measures and a full-year contribution from Lawrence Industries, the Tyman Board expects the Tyman Group to make progress in 2024.
Since the announcement of its full year 2023 results Tyman has provided an update on trading for the period from 1 January 2024 to 30 April 2024 ("the period") that indicated that the Tyman Group continues to perform well against a subdued market backdrop and the Tyman Board continues to expect the Tyman Group to make progress in 2024. Tyman Group revenue for the period decreased by 5 per cent. to £205 million on a reported basis, and by 4 per cent. on a like-for-like ("LFL") basis. The decrease in LFL revenue reflects, as expected, a continuation of the challenging market conditions experienced throughout 2023, during what is a seasonally less important period.
Tyman's financial performance continues to benefit from a contribution from Lawrence Industries, as well as the impact of previously announced self-help measures. The Tyman Group is continuing to progress its strategic initiatives, including activities to grow market share, the roll-out of the new ERP system across North America, and preparation for the consolidation of two sites into one in Owatonna.
On 6 June 2024, Quanex published an earnings press release for the quarterly period ended 30 April 2024. A copy of this document is available on Quanex's website at https:// investors.quanex.com/financials/quarterly-earnings. A Form 10-Q in respect of such earnings was released on 7 June 2024.
Financial information relating to Quanex is set out in Part Five (Financial Information) of this document.
The Enlarged Group will be led by Quanex's Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. George L. Wilson.
The board of directors of the Enlarged Group will comprise the existing non-executive directors of Quanex. All non-executive directors of Tyman will resign as directors of Tyman, with payments to be made in lieu of their contractual notice periods, on the Effective Date.
Quanex attaches great importance to the skill and experience of Tyman's management and recognises their contribution to the success that has been achieved by Tyman to date. Quanex recognises that the active participation and continued commitment of Tyman's management and employees will be key to the success of the Enlarged Group. The Enlarged Group will aim to retain the best talent of Quanex and Tyman across the Enlarged Group and does not intend to change the overall balance of skills and functions of employees and management across the Enlarged Group. Quanex expects that Tyman management and employees will benefit from the greater opportunities and enhanced scale of the Enlarged Group as well as utilising the collective know-how and talents of the enlarged workforce across all geographies.
Quanex's preliminary evaluation work to identify potential synergies arising from the Transaction suggests that there will be some duplication between the two businesses' management, administrative, functional support and other central areas. It has also confirmed the benefits from consolidating operations, including as a result of Tyman ceasing to be a standalone, publicly listed company. Whilst the steps for any restructuring are not yet known, based on the work undertaken to date, Quanex recognises that there will be a reduction in the total number of roles by approximately two per cent. of the Enlarged Group's total number of employees (on a full-time equivalent basis) as a result of the Transaction, some of which will take place via natural attrition. The Enlarged Group will aim to retain the best talent from each of Quanex and Tyman, and any such proposals will be carried out through a fair and transparent process in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Quanex expects that any restructuring referred to above would be phased over 24 months following completion of the Transaction. The detailed steps for such restructuring are subject to further review and would be subject to comprehensive and detailed planning, appropriate engagement and consultation with representatives and other stakeholders, including affected employees and any appropriate employee representative bodies in accordance with the legal obligations of the Enlarged Group. Quanex intends to commence this engagement process long enough before any final decisions are taken so as to ensure that relevant legal obligations are complied with.
Other than as described above, Quanex does not anticipate that there will be any material change to the balance of skills and functions of the management and employees in the Enlarged Group. Furthermore, Quanex intends to safeguard the existing contractual and statutory employment rights of the employees of Quanex and Tyman in accordance with applicable law upon completion of the Transaction. Quanex's plans for Tyman do not involve any material change in the employment of, or in the conditions of employment of, Tyman employees, unless otherwise agreed with the relevant employee.
Following completion of the Transaction and as part of integration planning, Quanex may review the alignment of the remuneration and incentivisation arrangements as between employees and management of the Quanex Group and the Enlarged Group, as well as redundancy and other policies operated within the Enlarged Group, with a view to harmonising the position for employees and management across the Enlarged Group (in particular, those in equivalent positions) over time as is appropriate.
However, at the date of this document, Quanex does not have any detailed plans or intentions in this regard and Quanex has not entered into, and has not discussed, any form of incentivisation arrangements with members of Tyman's management team.
Quanex intends to harmonise the Tyman employee 401k plans in the United States with the equivalent Quanex plans following completion of the Transaction.
Other than as referred to above, Quanex does not intend to make any changes to the agreed employer contributions into Tyman's existing defined contribution pension scheme or the admission of new members to such pension scheme following completion of the Transaction.
The Enlarged Group intends to consolidate the head office functions of Quanex and Tyman so that they can operate from a single location. The Enlarged Group headquarters will be located at Quanex's current head office in Houston, Texas. Subject to further review and appropriate engagement and consultation with affected employees in accordance with the legal obligations of the Enlarged Group, the intention is that the Tyman head office in London will be closed. Following completion of the Transaction, Quanex will review the expanded office and production facility footprint and consider, where the Enlarged Group has co-located offices or production facilities, whether there is scope for consolidation to optimise rental and lease expenses and to enable colleagues to work together more closely and enhance the corporate culture.
Quanex does not intend to close any of Tyman's manufacturing facilities as a result of the Transaction.
Quanex does not intend to redeploy any of Tyman's material fixed assets as a result of the Transaction.
Quanex understands the importance of R&D to Tyman's business. It does not intend to make any changes to the R&D function of either Tyman or Quanex.
Following completion of the Transaction, it is intended that the name of the Enlarged Group will be Quanex Building Products Corporation. Both Quanex and Tyman own a number of recognised and successful brands, and following completion of the Transaction Quanex will perform a review of all brands to identify any potential opportunities for consolidation and simplification of the brand portfolio.
The Tyman Shares are currently admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market, and it is intended that applications will be made to the FCA and the London Stock Exchange to cancel such admissions to listing and trading shortly following the Effective Date. Tyman will be re-registered as a private company following the Effective Date. It is also proposed that, following the Effective Date and after its shares are delisted, Tyman's financial year end is changed to 31 October to align with the financial year end for the Quanex Group.
The Enlarged Group will be listed on the NYSE.
Subject to the Scheme becoming Effective, it is expected that Scheme Shareholders who hold their Tyman Shares in uncertificated form will be issued with Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares). Should Scheme Shareholders wish to sell their Quanex CDIs, they should contact their broker who will instruct CREST to cancel the Quanex CDI holding and make the appropriate arrangements for the relevant number of Quanex Shares underlying the Quanex CDIs to be sold, with the proceeds (net of any brokerage fees) remitted to the Scheme Shareholder. Scheme Shareholders should read Part Sixteen (Q&A for Holders of Uncertificated Tyman Shares) of this document for further details.
None of the statements in this paragraph 11 of Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman PLC) are "post-offer undertakings" for the purposes of Rule 19.5 of the Takeover Code.
The effect of the Scheme in relation to options and awards outstanding under the Tyman Share Plans is described in paragraph 18 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document.
Tyman Shareholders were entitled to receive the FY23 Dividend. If any other dividend, distribution and/or other return of value is proposed, authorised, declared, made or paid or becomes payable in respect of Tyman Shares on or after the date of the Announcement and before the Effective Date (other than, or in excess of, the FY23 Dividend), Quanex reserves the right to reduce the consideration (and, accordingly, the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative) by the amount of any such dividend, distribution and/or other return of value.
Quanex will make a normal course dividend payment equal to US\$0.08 per share on 28 June 2024, to shareholders of record as of 14 June 2024, consistent with its usual practice. This dividend payment was approved by the Quanex Directors on 21 May 2024.
As an alternative to the Main Offer, an eligible Scheme Shareholder may elect in respect of all (but not part only) of the Tyman Shares they hold to receive New Quanex Shares in exchange for each Tyman Share, subject to the terms and conditions of the Capped All-Share Alternative.
Tyman Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions are not eligible to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
The Capped All-Share Alternative will be made available up to the Capped All-Share Alternative Maximum. To the extent that valid elections for the Capped All-Share Alternative received cannot be satisfied in full, they will be scaled back as nearly as possible on a pro-rata basis with the remaining consideration payable in cash and New Quanex Shares in the proportions applicable to the Main Offer with any fractions of New Quanex Shares resulting from such scaling to be dealt with as set out in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative).
The Tyman Directors' views on the Capped All-Share Alternative and further details are set out in paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) and in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative).
Eligible Scheme Shareholders should review the information on the Capped All-Share Alternative and New Quanex Shares set out in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) as well as the information on Quanex in Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) and Part Eleven (Description of the New Quanex Shares and the Quanex Group) of this document.
The cash consideration payable to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Transaction will be funded by a combination of Quanex's existing cash resources as well as third-party debt incurred by Quanex. Such third-party debt is financed, inter alia, by a US\$750 million term loan interim facility (the "Interim Facility") provided pursuant to an interim facilities agreement entered into between, among others, Quanex (as the company), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as interim facility agent and interim security agent, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and TD Bank, N.A., as arrangers, and the interim lender parties thereto.
Further information on the financing of the Transaction as well as the Interim Facility is set out in paragraph 12 of Part Eight (Additional Information of Tyman and Quanex) of this document.
In accordance with Rule 24.8 of the Takeover Code, UBS, in its capacity as the sole financial adviser to Quanex, is satisfied that sufficient resources are available to Quanex to enable it to satisfy in full the cash consideration payable to Tyman Shareholders under the terms of the Transaction.
Details of the approvals being sought at the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and the actions to be taken by Tyman Shareholders in respect of the Transaction are set out in paragraphs 5 and 20 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document.
Details relating to the cancellation of admission to trading of the Tyman Shares are included in paragraph 16 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document.
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in certificated form are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order that their interests in New Quanex Shares may be more readily transferrable and not subject to US withholding taxes otherwise applied in respect of interests in New Quanex Shares held directly by non-US investors. Scheme Shareholders should contact their broker for details of how to arrange such a transfer. Scheme Shareholders holding in certificated form at the Scheme Record Time will receive an account statement of ownership of New Quanex Shares from Equiniti as soon as practicable after the Effective Date. Scheme Shareholders who are resident outside the United States and are holding their Scheme Shares in certificated form should note that US withholding taxes may be applied in respect of any dividends or other distributions made by Quanex, and the Quanex Transfer Agent shall contact such persons regarding their US tax status.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SCHEME SHAREHOLDERS WITH TYMAN SHARES IN UNCERTIFICATED FORM (SHARES HELD IN CREST)
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) and who wish to hold New Quanex Shares directly or through a US brokerage account via DRS rather than hold Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) through CREST are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into certificated form (that is, in materialised form through a Tyman share certificate). Such shareholders should make the appropriate arrangements in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order to avoid incurring cross-border transaction fees which may be incurred after the Scheme Record Time should such shareholders wish to transfer the New Quanex Shares underlying such Quanex CDIs from the depository structure for the Quanex CDIs into a US brokerage account via DRS. Shareholders should read Part Sixteen (Q&A for Holders of Uncertificated Tyman Shares) of this document for further details.
Overseas holders of Tyman Shares should refer to Part Six (Additional Information for Overseas Shareholders) of this document, which contains important information relevant to such holders.
The Transaction is being implemented by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Tyman and the Scheme Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act, although Quanex reserves the right to elect to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer (in accordance with the Co-operation Agreement and subject to Takeover Panel consent, where necessary). The procedure involves an application by Tyman to the Court to sanction the Scheme, which will involve the Scheme Shares being transferred to Quanex, in consideration for which Scheme Shareholders will receive a combination of cash and New Quanex Shares (on the basis described in paragraph 2 above), unless and to the extent that the Capped All-Share Alternative is elected for.
To become effective, the Scheme requires, among other things, the approval of a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled to vote), either in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting, representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shares held by such Scheme Shareholders present and voting at the Court Meeting (or any adjournment of the Court Meeting) and the passing of the Special Resolution necessary to implement the Scheme at the General Meeting. Following the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the other Conditions, the Scheme must also be sanctioned by the Court. The Scheme will only become effective upon a copy of the Court Order being delivered to the Registrar of Companies for registration. Upon the Scheme becoming effective, it will be binding on all Scheme Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended or voted at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting (and, if they attended and voted, whether or not they voted in favour of the Resolutions at such Meetings).
It is important that, for the Court Meeting, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair and reasonable representation of the Scheme Shareholders' opinion. You are therefore strongly urged to complete, sign and return your Forms of Proxy and Form of Election or to appoint a proxy electronically or through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service (as appropriate) as soon as possible.
Further details of the Scheme and the Meetings are set out in paragraphs 5 and 6 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document.
Your attention is drawn to paragraph 17 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document headed, "United Kingdom taxation" which contains a summary of certain United Kingdom taxation consequences of the implementation of the Scheme for certain UK-resident Tyman Shareholders. Although this document contains certain tax-related information, the summary in paragraph 17 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) does not constitute tax advice and is not a full analysis of all potential United Kingdom taxation consequences of the Transaction. If you are in any doubt about your own tax position or you may be subject to taxation in any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, you should consult an appropriately qualified independent professional adviser immediately.
The Tyman Directors, who have been so advised by Greenhill as to the financial terms of the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative, consider the terms of the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Tyman Directors, Greenhill has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Tyman Directors. The Tyman Directors note that the implied value of both the Main Offer and of the Capped All-Share Alternative will be subject to volatility due to Quanex stock market price movements and changes in the foreign exchange rate which the Tyman Board will continue to assess during the Transaction. The Tyman Directors also note that the implied value of the Capped All-Share Alternative will be subject to greater volatility than the Main Offer and Tyman Shareholders should consider the disadvantages and advantages outlined in paragraph 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) regarding an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Greenhill is providing independent financial advice to the Tyman Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the Tyman Directors unanimously recommend that Tyman Shareholders vote or procure votes in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting (and, if the Transaction is subsequently structured as a Takeover Offer, to accept any Takeover Offer made by Quanex) as the Tyman Directors who held Tyman Shares at the date of the Announcement have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their own holdings of Tyman Shares (representing approximately 0.23 per cent. of Tyman's existing issued ordinary share capital on the date of the Announcement).
In my capacity as a Tyman Shareholder, I intend to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative in respect of my entire holding of Tyman Shares. The remaining Tyman Directors who hold Tyman Shares do not intend to make an election and will, therefore, receive the Main Offer in respect of their entire holdings of Tyman Shares.
In considering the terms of the Capped All-Share Alternative, Greenhill and the Tyman Directors have considered the details of the Capped All-Share Alternative and the New Quanex Shares set out in paragraphs 12 and 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) and in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative).
Greenhill also notes the risks of the Capped All-Share Alternative for individual Tyman Shareholders as set out in Part Two (Explanatory Statement) and in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative), Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Eleven (Description of the New Quanex Shares and the Quanex Group).
However, Tyman Directors are not able to and do not give any advice to eligible Scheme Shareholders as to whether they should elect to receive the Capped All-Share Alternative. Eligible Scheme Shareholders are encouraged to take into account the key investment considerations and certain disadvantages and advantages regarding electing for the Capped All-Share Alternative as highlighted in paragraph 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) and their particular circumstances when deciding whether to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Eligible Scheme Shareholders should also ascertain whether acquiring or holding New Quanex Shares is affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they reside and consider whether New Quanex Shares are a suitable investment in light of their own personal circumstances. Accordingly, eligible Scheme Shareholders are strongly recommended to seek their own independent financial, tax and legal advice in light of their own particular circumstances and investment objectives before deciding whether to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Any decision to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative should be based on independent financial, tax and legal advice and full consideration of the Announcement and this document.
Your attention is drawn to the further information contained in Part Two (Explanatory Statement), Part Three (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction), Part Four (The Scheme of Arrangement) and Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) and the notices of the Meetings set out in Part Thirteen (Notice of Court Meeting) and Part Fourteen (Notice of General Meeting) of this document which provides further details concerning the Scheme.
You are advised to read the whole of this document and not just rely on the summary information contained in this letter.
Yours faithfully,
Nicky Hartery Chairman of the Tyman Board
For and on behalf of Tyman plc
(In compliance with section 897 of the Companies Act)
Greenhill & Co. International LLP Berkeley Square House London, W1J 6BY with registered number OC332045
11 June 2024
To the holders of Tyman Shares and, for information only, to holders of awards/options under the Tyman Share Plans and persons with information rights:
Dear Shareholder
On 22 April 2024, the boards of Tyman and Quanex announced that they had agreed the terms of a recommended offer by Quanex to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Tyman. The Transaction is to be implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act. The Scheme requires, amongst other things, the approval of the Scheme Shareholders and the sanction of the Court.
Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Chairman of Tyman set out in Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc) of this document, which forms part of this Explanatory Statement. The letter contains, among other things: (a) a summary of the terms of the Transaction; and (b) the background to and reasons for the unanimous recommendation by the Tyman Directors to Tyman Shareholders to vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the Court Meeting and the General Meeting.
The Tyman Directors, who have been so advised by Greenhill as to the financial terms of the Main Offer and Capped All-Share Alternative, consider the terms of the Main Offer and Capped All-Share Alternative to be fair and reasonable. In providing their advice to the Tyman Directors, Greenhill has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Tyman Directors. The Tyman Directors note that the implied value of both the Main Offer and of the Capped All-Share Alternative will be subject to volatility due to Quanex stock market price movements and changes in the foreign exchange rate which the Tyman Board will continue to assess during the Transaction. The Tyman Directors also note that the implied value of the Capped All-Share Alternative will be subject to greater volatility than the Main Offer and Tyman Shareholders should consider the disadvantages and advantages outlined in paragraph 13 of this Part Two (Explanatory Statement) regarding an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Greenhill is providing independent financial advice to the Tyman Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, the Tyman Directors recommend unanimously that Tyman Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolution relating to the Transaction at the General Meeting, as the Tyman Directors who held Tyman Shares as at the date of the Announcement have irrevocably undertaken to do so in respect of their own Tyman Shares (representing approximately 0.23 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of Tyman on the date of the Announcement).
Scheme Shareholders are encouraged to take into account their individual circumstances and the principal risks and uncertainties of Quanex set out in Quanex's filings with the SEC, when deciding whether or not to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative in respect of all of their holding of Scheme Shares.
Greenhill has been authorised by the Tyman Directors to write to you to explain the terms of the Transaction and the Scheme and to provide you with other relevant information. In giving their advice, Greenhill are advising the Tyman Directors in relation to the Transaction and are not acting for any Tyman Director in their personal capacity nor for any Tyman Shareholder in relation to the Transaction. Greenhill will not be responsible to any such person for providing the protections afforded to their clients or for advising any such person in relation to the Transaction. In particular, Greenhill will not owe any duties or responsibilities to any particular Tyman Shareholder concerning the Transaction. Please note that dates and timings set out in this document are indicative only and may be subject to change.
This Explanatory Statement contains a summary of the provisions of the Scheme. The terms of the Scheme are set out in full in Part Four (The Scheme of Arrangement) of this document. Scheme Shareholders are encouraged to take into account the key investment considerations and certain disadvantages and advantages regarding electing for the Capped All-Share Alternative as highlighted in paragraph 13 of this Part Two. Your attention is also drawn to the other parts of this document, which are deemed to form part of this Explanatory Statement, including Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc), the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Part Three (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction) and the additional information set out in Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) of this document. For overseas holders of Tyman Shares, your attention is drawn to Part Six (Additional Information for Overseas Shareholders), which forms part of this Explanatory Statement.
The Transaction is being effected by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement between Tyman and the Scheme Shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act (although Quanex reserves the right (in accordance with the Co-operation Agreement and with the prior consent of the Takeover Panel) to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer). Following the Scheme becoming effective, the entire issued share capital of Tyman will be held by Quanex.
Under the terms of the Transaction, Scheme Shareholders will receive:
Based on the closing price of Quanex Shares and the foreign exchange rate of dollars to pounds on 10 June 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date prior to the publication of this document), the Main Offer values each Tyman Share at 376 pence per share. This implies a Transaction value of £740 million on a fully diluted basis as at the Latest Practicable Date.
As at Announcement, and based on the then announced look-through implied offer value of 400.0 pence per Tyman Share, the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative represented a premium of approximately:
Since Announcement, the Quanex Share price has fallen 12.8 cent per share and the foreign exchange rate of dollars to pounds has fallen 2.8 per. cent, resulting in a reduction in the implied value of the Main Offer of approximately 6.1 per. cent as at the Latest Practicable Date prior to the publication of this document as compared to the last practicable date as at Announcement.
As an alternative to the Main Offer, eligible Scheme Shareholders may elect in respect of all (but not part only) of their Tyman Shares to receive, in lieu of the Main Offer, the consideration in respect of their entire holding of Tyman Shares in Quanex Shares at a ratio of 0.14288 of a New Quanex Share to every 1 Tyman Share held at the Scheme Record Time.
Tyman Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions are not eligible to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
Fractions of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) will not be issued to Scheme Shareholders under either the Main Offer or Capped All-Share Alternative. Instead, Scheme Shareholders who otherwise would have received a fraction of a New Quanex Share or Quanex CDI will receive an additional amount in cash, rounded down to the nearest cent, based on the amount obtained by multiplying such fraction by the closing sale price of Quanex Shares on the trading day immediately prior to the Effective Date. Any fractional entitlements of a Scheme Shareholder to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs under the Capped All-Share Alternative will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs per Scheme Shareholder. Fractional entitlements to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs will not be allotted or issued to such Scheme Shareholder but will be disregarded. Further details of the New Quanex Shares are set out in paragraphs 12 and 13 of this Part Two (Explanatory Statement) and in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) of this document. An eligible Scheme Shareholder may only elect to take up the Capped All-Share Alternative in respect of their entire holding of Tyman Shares.
Tyman Shareholders were entitled to receive the FY23 Dividend. If any other dividend, distribution and/or other return of value is proposed, authorised, declared, made or paid or becomes payable in respect of Tyman Shares on or after the date of the Announcement and before the Effective Date (other than, or in excess of, the FY23 Dividend), Quanex reserves the right to reduce the consideration (and, accordingly, the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative) by the amount of any such dividend, distribution and/or other return of value.
Quanex will make an ordinary course dividend payment equal to US\$0.08 per share on 28 June 2024, to shareholders on record as of 14 June 2024, consistent with its usual practice. This dividend payment was approved by the Quanex Directors on 21 May 2024.
Implementation of the Transaction is subject to, amongst other things, the approval of the Scheme by a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders present and voting in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting, representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shares held by such Scheme Shareholders, passing of the Special Resolution necessary to implement the Scheme at the General Meeting and the sanction of the Scheme by the Court. The Scheme can only become Effective in accordance with its terms if all the Conditions have been satisfied or, where relevant, waived. It is expected that the Scheme will become Effective in the third calendar quarter of 2024, subject to the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Part Three (Conditions to and Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction) of this document. This date is indicative only and will depend on, among other things, the date upon which the Court sanctions the Scheme.
The Meetings and the nature of the approvals required to be given at them are described in more detail in paragraph 5 below. The Scheme will require approval at a meeting of Scheme Shareholders convened with the permission of the Court to be held at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF, at 2:30 p.m. on 12 July 2024. Implementation of the Scheme will also require approval of the Special Resolution relating to the Transaction to be proposed at the General Meeting. The General Meeting will be held at the same place as the Court Meeting on 12 July 2024 at 2:45 p.m. (or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting concludes or is adjourned).
The Scheme can only become effective if all Conditions to the Scheme, including shareholder approvals and the sanction of the Court, have been satisfied (unless, where applicable, the relevant Condition is waived). The Scheme will become effective upon a copy of the Court Order being delivered to the Registrar of Companies for registration. Subject to the sanction of the Scheme by the Court, this is expected to occur in the third calendar quarter of 2024. If the Scheme does not become effective by the Long-Stop Date, the Scheme will not become effective and the Transaction will not proceed (unless the Long Stop Date is extended with the agreement of Quanex, Tyman and the Takeover Panel and, if required, the approval of the Court).
Quanex has agreed to provide an observer right on the Quanex Board to any person who: (i) is beneficially interested in 16 per cent. or more of the fully diluted ordinary share capital of Tyman when the Transaction is Effective; (ii) will, following the issue of the New Quanex Shares to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Transaction, be beneficially interested in 5 per cent. or more of the issued Quanex Shares when such New Quanex Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, taking into account only (x) those New Quanex Shares which are issued to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Transaction (and no other Quanex Shares, howsoever acquired or received by them) as the numerator for such calculation and (y) only the aggregated number of all New Quanex Shares and Quanex Shares (excluding shares held in treasury) in issue as at the date of the Announcement as the denominator for such calculation; and (iii) has obtained any required regulatory or legal approvals necessary for such person to take up such right. Quanex will be entitled to terminate this observer right on the date of Quanex's 2026 annual general meeting.
The form of Board Observer Agreement will be included in the list of documents available on the websites of Tyman and Quanex as detailed in paragraph 18 of Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex).
It is proposed that, under the Scheme, the Scheme Shares will be transferred to Quanex (or its nominee(s)) so that the entire issued share capital of Tyman is held by Quanex (or its nominee(s)). Once the Scheme becomes Effective, it will be binding on all Scheme Shareholders, whether or not they voted in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting.
It is proposed, as part of the Special Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting relating to the Scheme, to amend the Tyman Articles to ensure that any Tyman Shares issued (other than to Quanex, its nominees or any member of the Quanex Group) (i) between the Voting Record Time and the Scheme Record Time will be subject to the Scheme; and (ii) after the Scheme Record Time will automatically be acquired by Quanex on the same terms as under the Scheme (other than terms as to timings, formalities and the availability of the Capped All-Share Alternative). These provisions will avoid any person (other than a member of the Quanex Group) holding and retaining Tyman Shares after dealings in such shares have ceased on the London Stock Exchange.
The notice of General Meeting in Part Fourteen (Notice of General Meeting) of this document seeks the approval of Tyman Shareholders for such amendments.
If the Scheme lapses or is withdrawn, or a Scheme Shareholder withdraws its Form of Election, all documents of title and other documents lodged with any Form of Proxy and Form of Election (as applicable) shall be returned to such Scheme Shareholder as soon as practicable (and in any event within 14 days of such lapsing or withdrawal) and to the extent that any securities of Tyman are held in escrow by Link Group in connection with the Scheme, instructions shall be given immediately for the release of such securities.
Quanex and Tyman entered into a confidentiality agreement on 18 March 2024 (the "Quanex Confidentiality Agreement") pursuant to which each of Quanex and Tyman has undertaken to keep, and to procure that certain of their respective authorised representatives keep, confidential information relating to the other party and/or to the Transaction confidential, to use such information solely in connection with the Transaction, and not to disclose such information to any third party (with certain exceptions). These confidentiality obligations will remain in force until 18 March 2026, save for: (i) any confidential information retained by either party (and/or their respective authorised recipient(s)) in accordance the terms of the Quanex Confidentiality Agreement; and (ii) any information relating specifically to the Transaction, in respect of which the parties' obligations shall remain in full force and effect without limit in time.
The Confidentiality Agreement also contains undertakings from each of Quanex and Tyman that, for a period of 18 months from the date of the Quanex Confidentiality Agreement, they shall not, and they shall procure that certain of their respective authorised representatives shall not, solicit, engage or employ any of the other party's key employees, save where a person contacts Quanex or Tyman (as applicable) on their own initiative or responds, without any approach or solicitation, to a general public advertisements made in the ordinary course of business and which was not specifically targeted at such person.
Quanex had also agreed to standstill arrangements pursuant to which Quanex had agreed, amongst other things, that, without the prior written consent of Tyman, Quanex would not, and would procure that certain connected persons of it shall not, acquire Tyman Shares or any interest in Tyman Shares. These restrictions fell away immediately following the making of the Announcement.
Teleios Capital Partners LLC, Quanex and Tyman entered into a confidentiality agreement on 19 March 2024 (the "Teleios Confidentiality Agreement") pursuant to which each of Teleios Capital Partners LLC, Quanex and Tyman has undertaken to keep, and to procure that certain of their respective authorised representatives keep, confidential information relating to the other parties and/or to the Transaction confidential, to use such information solely in connection with discussions relating to the Transaction, and not to disclose such information to any third party (with certain exceptions). These confidentiality obligations will remain in force until 19 March 2025.
Quanex and Tyman entered into a co-operation agreement on 22 April 2024 (the "Co-operation Agreement") pursuant to which:
The Co-operation Agreement also contains provisions relating to the Tyman Share Plans and other employee-related matters (and proposals to be implemented by Quanex) and directors' and officers' liability insurance.
The Co-operation Agreement will terminate with immediate effect:
whole or in part by the Tyman Directors, or (y) becomes effective or is declared or becomes unconditional; (iii) the Transaction is implemented by way of a Scheme and (x) the Court Meeting and General Meeting are not held on or before the 22nd day after the expected date of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting (as applicable) set out in this document (or subsequent announcement of the timetable) (or such later date as may be agreed in writing between the parties with the consent of the Panel and the approval of the Court (if such approval(s) are required)), or (y) the Court Hearing is not held on or before the later of (A) the 22nd day after the expected day of the Court Hearing as set out in this document (or subsequent announcement of the timetable); and (B) thirty days after all the Conditions have been satisfied or waived (or such later date as may be agreed in writing between the parties with the consent of the Panel and the approval of the Court (if such approval(s) are required));
Quanex, Tyman and certain of their respective external regulatory counsel entered into a clean team and joint defence agreement on 27 March 2024, to ensure that the exchange and/or disclosure of certain materials relating to the parties only takes place between their respective external regulatory counsel and external experts, and does not diminish in any way the confidentiality of such materials and does not result in a waiver of privilege, right or immunity that might otherwise be available.
Please refer to paragraphs 7 and 8 of Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc) of this document.
The cash consideration payable to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Transaction will be funded by a combination of Quanex's existing cash resources as well as third-party debt incurred by Quanex. Such third-party debt is financed, inter alia, by a US\$750 million term loan interim facility (the "Interim Facility") provided pursuant to an interim facilities agreement entered into between, among others, Quanex (as the company), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as interim facility agent and interim security agent, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and TD Bank, N.A., as arrangers, and the interim lender parties thereto.
Further information on the financing of the Transaction as well as the Interim Facility is set out in paragraph 12 of Part Eight (Additional Information of Tyman and Quanex) of this document.
In accordance with Rule 24.8 of the Takeover Code, UBS, in its capacity as the sole financial adviser to Quanex, is satisfied that sufficient resources are available to Quanex to enable it to satisfy in full the cash consideration payable to Tyman Shareholders under the terms of the Transaction.
The Scheme will require the approval of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and Tyman Shareholders at the separate General Meeting, both of which will be held at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF, at 2:30 p.m. (in respect of the Court Meeting) and 2:45 p.m. (in respect of the General Meeting) on 12 July 2024. The Court Meeting is being held with the permission of the Court to seek the approval of Scheme Shareholders for the Scheme. The General Meeting is being convened to seek the approval of Tyman Shareholders to enable the Tyman Directors to implement the Scheme and to amend the articles of association of Tyman as described in paragraph 2 of this Part Two (Explanatory Statement) above. The Scheme is set out in full at Part Four (The Scheme of Arrangement) of this document.
Notices of both the Court Meeting and the General Meeting are set out at Part Thirteen (Notice of Court Meeting) and Part Fourteen (Notice of General Meeting) of this document. Entitlement to attend and vote at the Meetings and the number of votes which may be cast at them will be determined by reference to the register of members of Tyman at the Voting Record Time (expected to be 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the Court Meeting) and 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the General Meeting) on 10 July 2024) or, if any such Meeting is adjourned, on the register of members at 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the Court Meeting) and 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the General Meeting) on the date which is two Business Days before the date set for such adjourned Meeting. In the event that any member or members of the Quanex Group become beneficially interested in any Tyman Shares before the Voting Record Time, such Tyman Shares shall become Excluded Shares and as a result, such members of the Quanex Group shall not be entitled to vote at the Court Meeting in respect of any Tyman Shares acquired by them. Such members of the Quanex Group shall, however, be able to exercise the voting rights attaching to any such Tyman Shares at the General Meeting.
If the Scheme becomes effective, it will be binding on all Scheme Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended or voted at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting (and irrespective of whether or not they voted in favour of the Resolutions, or abstained from voting on the Resolutions, at such Meetings).
Any Tyman Shares which Quanex or any other member of the Wider Quanex Group (or their respective nominees) may acquire before the Court Meeting are not Scheme Shares and therefore none of Quanex or any other member of the Wider Quanex Group (or their respective nominees) is entitled to vote at the Court Meeting in respect of the Tyman Shares held or acquired by it and will not exercise the voting rights attaching to such Tyman Shares at the General Meeting.
The Court Meeting has been convened for 2:30 p.m. on 12 July 2024 at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF to enable the Scheme Shareholders to consider and, if thought fit, approve the Scheme. At the Court Meeting, voting will be by poll and each member present or by proxy will be entitled to one vote for each Scheme Share held at the Voting Record Time. The approval required at the Court Meeting is a simple majority in number of Scheme Shareholders present (and entitled to vote) and voting (either in person or by proxy), representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shares held by those Scheme Shareholders present and voting in person or by proxy.
It is important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair representation of opinion of Scheme Shareholders. Whether or not you intend to attend and/or vote at the Meetings, you are therefore strongly advised to sign and return your blue Form of Proxy by post or transmit a proxy appointment and voting instruction (electronically, online or through CREST) for the Court Meeting as soon as possible. The completion and return of the Forms of Proxy by post (or transmission of a proxy appointment or voting instruction electronically, online, through CREST or by any other procedure described in this document) will not prevent you from attending, speaking and voting at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, if you are entitled and wish to do so.
You will find the notice of the Court Meeting in Part Thirteen (Notice of Court Meeting) of this document.
In addition, the General Meeting has been convened for the same date (to be held immediately after the Court Meeting) to consider and, if thought fit, pass a Special Resolution to approve:
The Special Resolution will require votes in favour representing at least 75 per cent. of the votes cast on such resolution. Voting at the General Meeting will be held by way of a poll. Each holder of Tyman Shares who is entered on the register of members of Tyman at the Voting Record Time and is present either in person (including by corporate representative) or by proxy will be entitled to one vote for each Tyman Share so held.
You will find the notice of the General Meeting in Part Fourteen (Notice of General Meeting) of this document.
Under the Companies Act, the Scheme requires the sanction of the Court. The hearing by the Court to sanction the Scheme is currently expected to be held on 24 July, subject to the prior satisfaction or waiver of the other Conditions set out in Part Three (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction) of this document.
The Court Hearing is expected to be held in person at The Royal Courts of Justice, The Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1NL but the Court is entitled to hold the Court Hearing remotely. If the Court Hearing is to be held remotely, Tyman will give notice of the same as soon as practicable once known, by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, with such announcement being made available on Tyman's website at https://www.tymanplc.com/news/ rns-announcements. Scheme Shareholders are entitled to attend the Court Hearing, should they wish to do so, in person or through counsel.
Following sanction of the Scheme by the Court, the Scheme will become Effective in accordance with its terms upon a copy of the Court Order being delivered to the Registrar of Companies. This is presently expected to occur six Business Days after the date of the Court Hearing, subject to satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the Conditions.
Tyman will make an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service as soon as practicable following the Scheme becoming Effective.
Upon the Scheme becoming Effective, it will be binding on all Scheme Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended or voted in favour of, or against, the Scheme at the Court Meeting or in favour of, or against, or abstained from voting on the Special Resolution at the General Meeting.
Each Scheme Shareholder (in respect of the Court Meeting) and Tyman Shareholder (in respect of the General Meeting) who is entered in Tyman's register of members at the Voting Record Time (expected to be 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the Court Meeting) and 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the General Meeting) on 10 July 2024) will be entitled to attend and vote (either in person or by proxy) on all Resolutions to be considered at the Meetings. If either Meeting is adjourned, only those Scheme Shareholders or Tyman Shareholders (as applicable) on the register of members at the close of business on the day which is two Business Days before the adjourned meeting will be entitled to attend and vote (either in person or by proxy). Each eligible Scheme Shareholder or Tyman Shareholder (as applicable) is entitled to appoint a proxy or proxies to attend and, on a poll, to vote instead of him or her. A proxy need not be a Tyman Shareholder.
The completion and return of the Forms of Proxy by post (or transmission of a proxy appointment or voting instruction electronically, online, through CREST or by any other procedure described in this document) will not prevent you from attending, speaking and voting at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, if you are entitled to and wish to do so.
If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are permitted to vote at the Meetings (or by appointing a proxy), please call Link Group, on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. 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. The helpline is open between 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Link Group cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
Further information on the actions to be taken is set out in paragraph 20 of this Part Two (Explanatory Statement).
The Scheme contains a provision for Tyman and Quanex jointly to consent (on behalf of all persons concerned) to any modification of, or addition to, the Scheme or to any condition which the Court may approve or impose (with the consent of the Takeover Panel, if required under the Takeover Code). The Court would be unlikely to approve or impose any modification of, or addition or condition to, the Scheme which might be material to the interests of Scheme Shareholders unless Scheme Shareholders were informed of any such modification, addition or condition. It would be for the Court to decide, in its discretion, whether or not a further meeting of Scheme Shareholders should be held in those circumstances.
In accordance with the Takeover Code, except with the consent of the Takeover Panel, modifications or revisions to the Scheme may only be made: (i) no less than 14 days prior to the date of the Meetings (or any later date to which such meetings are adjourned); or (ii) at a later date, with the consent of the Takeover Panel. The implementation of the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the Scheme is not a modification or revision for the purposes of this paragraph 7 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement).
Quanex reserves the right, subject to the prior consent of the Takeover Panel and in accordance with the Co-operation Agreement, to elect to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer. In such event, such Takeover Offer will be implemented in accordance with the terms as the Cooperation Agreement.
If the Transaction is effected by way of a Takeover Offer and such Takeover Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects and sufficient acceptances are received, Quanex intends to: (i) make a request to the London Stock Exchange to cancel trading in Tyman Shares on Official List of the Main Market; and (ii) exercise its rights to apply the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act to acquire compulsorily the remaining Tyman Shares in respect of which the Takeover Offer has not been accepted.
Information relating to the background to and reasons for the Tyman Directors' unanimous recommendation of the Transaction is set out in paragraph 4 of Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc) of this document and information relating to Quanex's intentions as regards the management, employees and locations of the Tyman Group are set out in paragraph 11 of Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc) of this document.
Information relating to the irrevocable undertakings which have been received by Quanex in respect of Tyman Shares is set out in paragraph 5 of Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc) of this document and in paragraph 10 of Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) of this document.
In accordance with Rule 24.8 of the Takeover Code, UBS, as financial adviser to Quanex, is satisfied that sufficient resources are available to Quanex to enable it to satisfy, in full, the cash consideration payable to Tyman Shareholders under the terms of the Transaction.
Under the Capped All-Share Alternative, eligible Scheme Shareholders may elect, in respect of all (but not part only) of their Tyman Shares, to receive in lieu of the Main Offer to which they are otherwise entitled:
Tyman Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions are not eligible to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
Fractions of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) will not be issued to Scheme Shareholders. Instead, Scheme Shareholders who otherwise would have received a fraction of a New Quanex Share or Quanex CDI will receive an additional amount in cash, rounded down to the nearest cent, based on the amount obtained by multiplying such fraction by the closing sale price of Quanex Shares on the trading day immediately prior to the Effective Date. Any fractional entitlements of a Scheme Shareholder to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs under the Capped All-Share Alternative will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of New Quanex Shares per Scheme Shareholder. Fractional entitlements to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs will not be allotted or issued to such Scheme Shareholder but will be disregarded.
The Capped All-Share Alternative is not being offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into any Restricted Jurisdiction and individual acceptances of the Capped All-Share Alternative and the transmission of New Quanex Shares under the Main Offer will only be valid if all regulatory approvals and consents required by a Tyman Shareholder to acquire the New Quanex Shares have been obtained.
If the Scheme becomes Effective, Scheme Shareholders who do not validly elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative will automatically receive the Main Offer for their entire holding of Tyman Shares.
The maximum number of New Quanex Shares available to the Scheme Shareholders under the Capped All-Share Alternative will be limited to the equivalent of 25.0 per cent. of the Tyman Shares outstanding on the Effective Date. To the extent that valid elections for the Capped All-Share Alternative received cannot be satisfied in full, they will be scaled back as nearly as possible on a pro-rata basis with the remaining consideration payable in cash and New Quanex Shares in the proportions applicable to the Main Offer. Certain further information relating to Quanex and the New Quanex Shares is contained at Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) below.
Scheme Shareholders should ascertain whether acquiring or holding New Quanex Shares is affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they reside and consider whether New Quanex Shares are a suitable investment in light of their own personal circumstances and are, therefore, strongly recommended to seek their own independent financial, tax and legal advice in light of their own particular circumstances and investment objectives before deciding whether to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Any decision to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative should be based on independent financial, tax and legal advice and full consideration of this document, including, but not limited to, the information set out in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative).
A summary of the key rights and restrictions attaching to the Quanex Shares is set out in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Eleven (Description of the New Quanex Shares and the Quanex Group).
The attention of the eligible Scheme Shareholders who may consider electing to receive their consideration by means of the Capped All-Share Alternative is drawn to certain risk factors, disadvantages and advantages and other investment considerations relevant to such an election. In considering the terms of the Capped All-Share Alternative, the Tyman Directors and Greenhill have considered these certain key factors and certain disadvantages and advantages of an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative outlined below.
These include, inter alia, the following:
Disadvantages of electing for the Capped All-Share Alternative:
Tyman Shareholders are encouraged to take into account both the key factors, and certain advantages and disadvantages outlined above in relation to the Capped All-Share Alternative and the risk factors and other investment considerations summarised in this Part Two (Explanatory Statement), as well as their particular circumstances, when deciding whether to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative in respect of all of their holding in Tyman Shares (subject to satisfaction of the eligibility criteria set out in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) of this document). Tyman Shareholders should also ascertain whether acquiring or holding New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) is affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they reside and consider whether Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs are a suitable investment in light of their own personal circumstances. Accordingly, Tyman Shareholders are strongly recommended to seek their own independent financial, tax and legal advice in light of their own particular circumstances and investment objectives before deciding whether to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Any decision to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative should be based on any such independent financial, tax and legal advice and full consideration of the information in this document.
The names of the Tyman Directors and details of their interests are set out in Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) of this document.
Save as set out in this document, the effect of the Scheme on the interests of Tyman Directors does not differ from its effect on the like interests of any other Scheme Shareholder.
Under NYSE rules, the issuance of the New Quanex Shares in connection with the Transaction requires the approval of the Quanex Stockholders at the Quanex Stockholder Meeting.
Quanex will be required to obtain approval of the Quanex Share Proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Quanex Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Quanex Stockholder Meeting and entitled to vote on the Quanex Share Proposal. The Quanex Directors intend unanimously to recommend that Quanex Stockholders vote in favour of the Quanex Share Proposal.
On 6 June 2024, Quanex mailed the Proxy Statement to Quanex Stockholders, which included a notice convening the Quanex Stockholder Meeting to be held on 12 July at 8:30 a.m. at Central Time, at Hotel Zaza located at 9787 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77024. The Transaction is conditional on, amongst other things, the Quanex Share Proposal being approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Quanex Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Quanex Stockholder Meeting and entitled to vote on the Quanex Share Proposal.
Shortly before the Scheme becomes Effective, Tyman will make an application for the cancellation of the listing of Tyman Shares on the premium listing segment of the Official List and for the cancellation of trading of the Tyman Shares on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities, in each case with effect shortly following the Effective Date. No transfers of Tyman Shares will be registered after the date on which dealings in Tyman Shares on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange cease other than to Quanex (or as Quanex may otherwise direct) pursuant to the Tyman Articles, as proposed to be amended by the Special Resolution at the General Meeting as described in paragraph 2 of this Part Two (Explanatory Statement).
With effect from or shortly following the Effective Date, share certificates in respect of Tyman Shares shall cease to be valid and entitlements to Tyman Shares held within the CREST system shall be cancelled. Tyman Shareholders shall be required to return share certificates to Tyman or destroy them following the Effective Date.
A supplemental listing application will be made by or on behalf of Quanex to the NYSE for the listing of New Quanex Shares on the NYSE. It is expected that, subject to the Scheme becoming Effective, the New Quanex Shares will commence trading on the NYSE by 9.30 a.m. New York time on the first Business Day following the Effective Date and once issued and fully paid, will be capable of being held and transferred through DTC.
Subject to the Scheme becoming Effective (and except as provided in Part Six (Additional Information for Overseas Shareholders) of this document in relation to certain overseas Tyman Shareholders), settlement of the cash consideration to which any Scheme Shareholder is entitled under the Scheme will be effected in the following manner:
(A) Scheme Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST)
Where, at the Scheme Record Time, a Scheme Shareholder holds Scheme Shares in uncertificated form, except with the consent of the Panel, settlement of cash consideration to which such Scheme Shareholder is entitled will be paid by Quanex procuring that the Receiving Agent is instructed to create an assured payment obligation in favour of the Scheme Shareholder's payment bank in respect of the cash consideration due to them as soon as practicable after the Effective Date (and in any event within 14 calendar days or within such other time period as may be approved by the Panel).
As from the Scheme Record Time, each holding of Scheme Shares credited to any stock account in CREST will be disabled and all Scheme Shares will be removed from CREST in due course.
Quanex reserves the right to pay any cash consideration to all or any Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in uncertificated form at the Scheme Record Time in the manner referred to in the paragraph below if, for any reason, it wishes to do so or, for reasons outside its reasonable control, it is not able to effect settlement in accordance with this paragraph (A).
Where, at the Scheme Record Time, a Scheme Shareholder holds Scheme Shares in certificated form, except with the consent of the Panel, settlement of cash consideration to which the Scheme Shareholder is entitled will be settled by Quanex by cheque.
Cheques in respect of cash consideration will be dispatched by the Receiving Agent by first class post (or by such other method as may be approved by the Panel) at the risk of the person entitled thereto as soon as practicable (and in any event within 14 calendar days or within such other time period as may be approved by the Panel) after the Effective Date. Cheques will be sent to Scheme Shareholders at the address appearing first in Tyman's register of members at the Scheme Record Time.
On or shortly following the Effective Date, each certificate representing a holding of Tyman Shares subject to the Scheme will cease to be valid. Following settlement of the consideration to which a Scheme Shareholder is entitled under the Scheme, Scheme Shareholders will be bound on the request of Tyman either: (i) to destroy such Tyman Share certificates; or (ii) to return such Tyman Share certificates to Tyman, or to any person appointed by Tyman, for cancellation.
Subject to the Scheme becoming effective (and except as provided in Part Six (Additional Information for Overseas Shareholders) of this document in relation to certain overseas Tyman Shareholders), settlement of the New Quanex Shares to which any Scheme Shareholder is entitled under the Scheme will be effected in the following manner:
(A) Scheme Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST)
Unlike Tyman Shares, the Quanex Shares are not capable of being held, transferred or settled through the CREST settlement systems. For this reason, Scheme Shareholders who hold their Tyman Shares in uncertificated form through CREST ("Tyman CREST Shareholders") (directly or through a broker or other nominee with a CREST account) immediately prior to the Scheme Record Time will not be issued New Quanex Shares directly, but will instead be issued Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) through an existing CDI programme administered through CREST in respect of Quanex Shares. Under the arrangements, one Quanex CDI will represent one Quanex Share and Quanex will procure that the appropriate CREST stock account is credited with Quanex CDIs in respect of such Scheme Shareholder's entitlement to New Quanex Shares.
The Quanex CDIs will reflect the same economic rights as are attached to the New Quanex Shares. However, whilst the holders of Quanex CDIs will have an interest in the underlying New Quanex Shares, they will not be registered holders of the New Quanex Shares.
The Quanex CDIs to which such Scheme Shareholders will be entitled under the Scheme will be delivered, held and settled in CREST and linked to the underlying New Quanex Shares by means of the CREST International Settlement Links Service and, in particular, CREST's established link with DTC. This link operates via the services of CREST International Nominees Limited, which is a participant in DTC.
Under the CREST International Settlement Links Services, CREST Depository Limited, a subsidiary of Euroclear, issues dematerialised depository interests representing entitlements to non-UK securities (such as the New Quanex Shares) called CREST Depository Interests or CDIs, which may be held, transferred and settled exclusively through CREST.
The terms on which CDIs are issued and held in CREST are set out in the CREST Manual (and, in particular, the deed poll set out in the CREST International Manual) and the CREST Terms and Conditions issued by Euroclear.
On settlement, the Quanex Transfer Agent will cause the credit of the New Quanex Shares through DTC to the securities deposit account of CREST International Nominees Limited, as nominee for CREST Depository Limited in DTC. CREST Depository Limited will then issue the Quanex CDIs through CREST to the Receiving Agent, as receiving agent for delivery to the securities deposit account in CREST in which each such uncertificated Scheme Shareholder previously held Scheme Shares. A custody fee, as determined by CREST from time to time, is charged at the user level (i.e. to the holder of Quanex CDIs) for the CREST International Settlement Links Service.
Quanex and Tyman will enter into arrangements with the Receiving Agent pursuant to which the Receiving Agent and Euroclear will make arrangements to credit the appropriate stock account in CREST of the relevant Scheme Shareholder with such relevant Scheme Shareholder's entitlement to Quanex CDIs as soon as practicable after the Effective Date and in any event within 14 days thereof.
Notwithstanding the above, Quanex reserves the right to settle all or part of such consideration in accordance with paragraph (B) below of this Part Two (Explanatory Statement) if, for reasons outside Quanex's reasonable control, it is not able to effect settlement in accordance with this paragraph.
With effect from close of trading on the last day of dealings in Tyman Shares prior to the Effective Date, each holding of Scheme Shares credited to any stock account in CREST will be disabled and all Scheme Shares will be removed from CREST in due course. Euroclear will be instructed to credit the appropriate stock account in CREST of the CREST shareholder concerned with such CREST shareholder's entitlement to Quanex CDIs representing New Quanex Shares. The stock account concerned will be an account under the same participant ID and member account ID under which the relevant CREST shareholder holds the relevant Scheme Shares.
Should holders of Quanex CDIs choose to hold Quanex Shares via DRS instead of holding Quanex CDIs, they should direct their broker to make arrangements for the Quanex CDIs to be cancelled and for the Quanex Shares underlying the Quanex CDIs to be deposited into the holder's nominated US brokerage account. Such transfer may result in cross-border transaction fees.
If Tyman or Quanex reasonably believes or is advised that a Tyman Shareholder is a Restricted Shareholder, Quanex may at its discretion determine that any such New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs shall not be allotted and issued to such Scheme Shareholder but instead the New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs shall be allotted and issued to a nominee, appointed by Quanex, for such Scheme Shareholder, on terms that the nominee shall be authorised on behalf of such Scheme Shareholder to procure that such New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs shall, as soon as practicable following the Effective Date, be sold on behalf of such Scheme Shareholder. Any sale under this paragraph shall be carried out at the best price which can reasonably be obtained at the time of sale and the net proceeds of such sale (after the deduction of all expenses and commissions incurred in connection with such sale, including any value added tax payable on the proceeds of sale) shall be paid to such Scheme Shareholder by making a payment to such Scheme Shareholder as appropriate.
The registered holder of the New Quanex Shares represented by Quanex CDIs will be Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC. The custodian of those New Quanex Shares will be CREST International Nominees Limited, who will hold them, either directly or indirectly through a subcustodian, through book entry interests within the DTC system as nominee for CREST Depository Limited. CREST Depository Limited will hold those New Quanex Shares on trust (as bare trustee under English law) for the holders of Scheme Shares in uncertificated form to whom it will issue Quanex CDIs through CREST.
Euroclear offer a general meeting and proxy voting service for relevant CDIs representing US securities in partnership with Broadridge. Holders of Quanex CDIs who wish to participate in Quanex shareholder meetings will need to ensure that they have established connectivity with the Broadridge proxy voting service to receive meeting announcements and to send their voting instructions. Full details for CREST members can be found on the following webpage: https://my.euroclear.com/eui/en/reference/services/asset-servicing-basics/general-meetings-and-
proxy-voting-basics.html. Shareholders who are not direct CREST participants should refer to their broker for further information regarding Quanex shareholder voting. Holders of Quanex CDIs will otherwise be treated in the same manner as if they were registered holders of the New Quanex Shares underlying the Quanex CDIs, in each case in accordance with applicable law and, so far as is possible, in accordance with the CREST arrangements.
Persons holding or entitled to hold Quanex CDIs as a result of the Transaction who wish to elect to hold Quanex Shares via DRS may do so by directing their broker to make arrangements for the Quanex CDIs to be cancelled and for the Quanex Shares underlying the Quanex CDIs to be deposited into the person's nominated US brokerage account. Such transfer may result in cross-border transaction fees. Shareholders should read Part Sixteen (Q&A for Holders of Uncertificated Tyman Shares) of this document for further details regarding Quanex CDIs.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SCHEME SHAREHOLDERS WITH TYMAN SHARES IN UNCERTIFICATED FORM (SHARES HELD IN CREST)
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) and who wish to hold New Quanex Shares directly or through a US brokerage account via DRS rather than hold Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) through CREST are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into certificated form (that is, in materialised form through a Tyman share certificate). Such shareholders should make the appropriate arrangements in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order to avoid incurring cross-border transaction fees which may be incurred after the Scheme Record Time should such shareholders wish to transfer the New Quanex Shares underlying such Quanex CDIs from the depository structure for the Quanex CDIs into a US brokerage account via DRS.
Scheme Shareholders who hold their Scheme Shares in certificated form will be issued New Quanex Shares to which they are entitled under the Scheme directly, such that the name of each such Scheme Shareholder will be entered as the registered owner of the relevant number of New Quanex Shares through the Direct Registration System ("DRS").
The DRS is a method of recording entitlement to Quanex Shares in book-entry form which enables the Quanex Transfer Agent to maintain those shares electronically in Quanex's records on behalf of the relevant Scheme Shareholder without the need for a physical share certificate. The DRS method of share recording is commonly used in North America. Shares held in the DRS have all the traditional rights and privileges of shares held in certificated form.
Scheme Shareholders who receive their New Quanex Shares through DRS will be sent a book-entry account statement of ownership evidencing such Scheme Shareholder's ownership of New Quanex Shares by Equiniti shortly after, and in any event within 14 days of, the Effective Date. Along with the statement of ownership, such Scheme Shareholders will also be sent information about DRS, including further details on how the New Quanex Shares can be held, transferred or otherwise traded through DRS. Proxy materials, annual reports and other shareholder communications will be mailed from Quanex and/or its voting agent directly to the Scheme Shareholders who hold their New Quanex Shares through DRS.
Persons holding New Quanex Shares through DRS who wish to dispose of any of their New Quanex Shares may do so by contacting Equiniti, or any broker or custodian that is a DTC participant. The dealing services provided by and fees chargeable by different brokers may change from time to time and will vary between each broker and custodian. Any dividends paid on the New Quanex Shares held through DRS will be paid to holders of New Quanex Shares by cheque, provided that a holder of New Quanex Shares may, if such holder so wishes and subject to certain limitations, contact Equiniti requesting that payment in respect of dividends or other distributions (if any) on such New Quanex Shares be made directly to such holder's bank account (assuming, in each case, that such person remains a holder of New Quanex Shares as of any relevant dividend record date). Further information will be sent together with the statement of ownership. Scheme Shareholders who receive New Quanex Shares through DRS, but subsequently wish to hold the New Quanex Shares through a DTC participant, may instruct their DTC broker to transfer their New Quanex Shares into such DTC participant's account. Details of the manner in which such instructions may be given to brokers from Equiniti upon request.
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in certificated form are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order that their interests in New Quanex Shares may be more readily transferrable and not subject to US withholding taxes otherwise applied in respect of interests in New Quanex Shares held directly by non-US investors. Scheme Shareholders should contact their broker for details of how to arrange such a transfer. Scheme Shareholders holding in certificated form at the Scheme Record Time will receive an account statement of ownership of New Quanex Shares from Equiniti as soon as practicable after the Effective Date. Scheme Shareholders who are resident outside the United States and are holding their Scheme Shares in certificated form should note that US withholding taxes may be applied in respect of any dividends or other distributions made by Quanex, and the Quanex Transfer Agent shall contact such persons regarding their US tax status.
(C) Right to withdraw or amend a Capped All-Share Alternative Election
The Capped All-Share Alternative will be made available in respect of up to 25 per cent. of the Tyman Shares outstanding on the Effective Date. To the extent that valid elections for the Capped All-Share Alternative received cannot be satisfied in full, they will be scaled back as nearly as possible on a pro-rata basis with the remaining consideration payable in cash and New Quanex Shares in the proportions applicable to the Main Offer.
Shareholders should read Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) of this document which contains further details of the Capped All-Share Alternative and how to make an election under it.
A Scheme Shareholder who has returned a Form of Election and subsequently wishes to withdraw such election must notify Tyman's registrars, Link Group, on +44 (0) 371 664 0321 in writing by no later than the Election Return Time. Such notice must contain an original signature and clearly specify whether the election is to be withdrawn. Any notices of this nature should be sent to Link Group, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL. If the election was made through a TTE Instruction, Link Group should be contacted as soon as possible to arrange electronic withdrawal or amendment in sufficient time to permit the withdrawal to be completed by the Election Return Time.
(D) Tyman Shares acquired by current or former employees or directors under the Tyman Share Plans In the case of Scheme Shares acquired by current or former directors or employees of the Tyman Group on or around the same time as the Scheme becomes Effective pursuant to the vesting of awards and/or exercise of options under the Tyman Share Plans, settlement of the cash consideration shall be made to Tyman and/or Tyman's employee benefit trust on behalf of the relevant director or employee by such method as may be agreed between the parties within 14 calendar days of the Effective Date (or within such other time period as may be approved by the Panel) to enable payment directly into the applicable bank account through payroll as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter in accordance with the letters to be sent to them under Rule 15 of the Takeover Code or otherwise made available to participants in the Tyman Share Plans on or around the date of this document, subject to the deduction of any applicable income taxes and social security contributions which any member of the Tyman Group is required to account for to any relevant tax authority. For the avoidance of doubt, any payments made by Tyman and/or Tyman's employee benefit trust to the relevant Scheme Shareholders pursuant to these arrangements shall be effected reasonably promptly following receipt of the cash consideration by Tyman and/or Tyman's employee benefit trust but are not required to be effected within 14 days calendar days after the Effective Date.
All documents and remittances sent to Tyman Shareholders will be sent at their own risk.
By 7:00 a.m. on the Business Day following the Effective Date, each certificate representing a holding of Scheme Shares will cease to be a valid document of title and should be destroyed or, at the request of Tyman, delivered to Tyman, or to any person appointed by Tyman to receive the same. By 7:00 a.m. on the Business Day following the Effective Date, entitlements to Scheme Shares that had been held within CREST will be cancelled.
Except with the consent of the Takeover Panel and subject to the provisions of subparagraph (F) below, settlement of the consideration to which any Tyman Shareholder is entitled under the Scheme will be implemented in full in accordance with the terms of the Scheme free of any lien, right of set-off, counterclaim or other analogous right to which Quanex might otherwise be, or claim to be, entitled against such Tyman Shareholder.
(F) Dividends
Tyman Shareholders were entitled to receive the FY23 Dividend. If any other dividend, distribution and/or other return of value is proposed, authorised, declared, made or paid or becomes payable in respect of Tyman Shares on or after the date of the Announcement and before the Effective Date (other than, or in excess of, the FY23 Dividend), Quanex reserves the right to reduce the consideration (and, accordingly, the Main Offer and the Capped All-Share Alternative) by the amount of any such dividend, distribution and/or other return of value.
The comments set out below, which are intended as a general guide only, summarise certain limited aspects of the UK taxation treatment of Scheme Shareholders under the Scheme and do not purport to be a complete analysis of all tax considerations relating to the Scheme (and, without limitation, do not include analysis of tax considerations relating to participation in the Tyman Share Plans). They are based on current UK legislation and published HM Revenue and Customs ("HMRC") practice (which may not be binding on HMRC) applying at the date of this document, both of which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect. They do not constitute legal or tax advice and do not purport to be a complete analysis of all UK tax considerations relating to the Scheme.
The comments apply only to certain categories of person and, in particular, may not apply to such persons as market makers, brokers, charities, dealers in securities, intermediaries, insurance companies, persons who have or could be treated for tax purposes as having acquired their Scheme Shares by reason of their employment or as holding their Scheme Shares as carried interest, collective investment schemes, persons subject to UK tax on the remittance basis, and persons connected with depositary arrangements or clearance services, to whom special rules apply.
References below to "UK holders" are to Scheme Shareholders who: are resident in the UK; in the case of individuals, are domiciled or deemed domiciled for the relevant period solely in the UK for UK tax purposes and to whom "split year" treatment does not apply; do not have a permanent establishment, branch or agency in any jurisdiction with which the holding of the Tyman Shares is connected; hold their Scheme Shares as an investment (other than under a pension arrangement or an individual savings account); and are the absolute beneficial owners of their Scheme Shares.
The comments below relate to UK holders only except in relation to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax.
A UK Holder's liability to UK tax on chargeable gains will depend on the individual circumstances of that UK Holder and the form of consideration received.
To the extent that a UK Holder of Scheme Shares receives cash as consideration for the transfer of their Scheme Shares as part of the Main Offer, the transfer of the Scheme Shares will be treated as a disposal of the UK Holder's Scheme Shares for the purposes of UK capital gains tax ("CGT") or UK corporation tax on chargeable gains (as applicable) and therefore may, depending on the UK holder's particular circumstances (including the UK holder's base cost in their holding of the Scheme Shares and the availability of exemptions, reliefs and/or allowable losses), give rise to a liability to CGT or UK corporation tax on chargeable gains or, alternatively, an allowable capital loss.
Subject to available exemptions, reliefs or allowances, gains arising on a disposal of Scheme Shares by an individual UK holder will be subject to CGT at the rate of 10 per cent. except to the extent that the gain, when it is added to the UK holder's other taxable income and gains in the relevant tax year, takes the individual UK holder's aggregate income and gains over the upper limit of the income tax basic rate band (£50,270 for the 2024/25 tax year assuming an income tax personal allowance of £12,570), in which case it will be taxed at the rate of 20 per cent. The CGT annual exemption (£3,000 for the 2024/25 tax year) may be available to individual UK holders to offset against chargeable gains realised on the disposal of their Scheme Shares.
Subject to available exemptions, reliefs or allowances, gains arising on a disposal of Scheme Shares by a UK holder within the charge to UK corporation tax will be subject to UK corporation tax at the main rate of 25 per cent. for the 2024/25 tax year for companies with profits in excess of £250,000, or the small profits rate of 19 per cent. for the 2024/25 tax year for companies with profits of £50,000 or less, with marginal relief from the main rate available to companies with profits between £50,000 and £250,000, subject to meeting certain criteria. For UK holders within the charge to UK corporation tax (but which do not qualify for the substantial shareholding exemption in respect of their Scheme Shares), indexation allowance may be available to reduce any chargeable gain arising on the disposal of their Scheme Shares. However, indexation cannot create or increase an allowable loss for corporation tax purposes. Indexation allowance is not available for any period of ownership from 1 January 2018.
In relation to the receipt by a UK Holder of New Quanex Shares (or Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares)) in exchange for his or her (or its) Scheme Shares, and where such UK Holder does not hold (either alone or together with persons connected with him or her (or it)) more than 5 per cent. of, or of any class of, the shares in, or debentures of, Tyman, that Scheme Shareholder should not be treated as having made a disposal of Scheme Shares. Instead, the New Quanex Shares should be treated as the same asset as the Scheme Shares, and as acquired at the same time and for the same consideration as the Scheme Shares. Any gain or loss which would have arisen on a disposal of the Scheme Shares will be "rolled over" into the New Quanex Shares that they receive.
Pursuant to section 137 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, the treatment described in the preceding paragraph will not apply to the receipt of New Quanex Shares by Scheme Shareholders who, alone or together with connected persons, hold more than 5 per cent. of, or of any class of, the shares in, or debentures of, Tyman unless the transaction is effected for bona fide commercial reasons and not for tax avoidance purposes.
UK holders are advised that no application for clearance has been made or is expected to be made to HMRC under section 138 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 for confirmation that HMRC is satisfied that the exchanges mentioned above will be effected for bona fide commercial reasons and will not form part of any scheme or arrangements of which the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, is an avoidance of liability to CGT or UK corporation tax.
UK holders who elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative should consult their own professional advisers as to their tax position resulting from the making of such an election and the holding of New Quanex Shares.
Individual UK holders will not (for the 2024/25 tax year) be liable for UK income tax on the first £500 of dividend income received by that UK holder in a tax year (the "Nil Rate Amount"). For these purposes, "dividend income" includes UK and non-UK source dividends and certain other distributions in respect of shares. The rates of tax on dividend income received by such an individual UK holder in excess of the Nil Rate Amount are (for the 2024/25 tax year):
Dividend income that is within the Nil Rate Amount counts towards an individual's basic or higher rate limits, and will therefore potentially affect the level of savings allowance to which they are entitled, and the rate of tax that is due on any dividend income in excess of the Nil Rate Amount. In calculating into which tax band any dividend income over the Nil Rate Amount falls, savings and dividend income are treated as the highest part of an individual's income. Where an individual has both savings and dividend income, the dividend income is treated as the top slice.
UK Holders within the charge to UK corporation tax which are "small companies" (for the purposes of UK taxation of dividends) will not generally be subject to UK corporation tax on the FY23 Dividend, provided certain conditions are met.
For other UK Holders within the charge to UK corporation tax, the FY23 Dividend should generally fall within one or more of the classes of dividend qualifying for exemption from UK corporation tax. However, the exemptions are not comprehensive and are subject to anti-avoidance rules. Each UK Holder's position will depend on its own individual circumstances and appropriate professional advice should be sought where necessary.
No UK tax was required to be withheld from payments of the FY23 Dividend (if any).
No UK stamp duty or SDRT should be payable by Scheme Shareholders on the transfer of their Scheme Shares under the Scheme. Quanex will be responsible for paying any stamp duty or SDRT payable in connection with the transfer of the Scheme Shares to it under the Scheme.
No UK stamp duty or SDRT should be payable by Scheme Shareholders on the issue of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares).
No stamp duty should be payable in the United Kingdom upon a paperless transfer of Quanex CDIs.
No UK SDRT should generally be payable on an agreement to transfer Quanex CDIs provided a number of conditions are satisfied. These include that Quanex is not managed or controlled in the United Kingdom, and that the Quanex Shares represented by the Quanex CDIs are of the same class as Quanex Shares that are listed on a recognised stock exchange and are not registered in a register in the UK.
Participants in the Tyman Share Plans will receive a separate communication explaining the effect of the Scheme on their rights under the Tyman Share Plans and containing the appropriate proposals which will be made to them by Quanex (the "Share Plan Letters").
In the event of any conflict between the summary below and the rules of the Tyman Share Plans and/or the Share Plan Letters, the rules of the Tyman Share Plans or the terms of the Share Plan Letters (as the case may be) will prevail.
A summary of the effect of the Scheme on awards/options under the Tyman Share Plans is set out below. The Scheme will not extend to any Tyman Shares issued after the Scheme Record Time. However, as part of the Special Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting, it is proposed that the Tyman Articles be amended to provide that if the Scheme becomes effective, any Tyman Shares issued after the Scheme Record Time (including to participants in the Tyman Share Plans whose awards vest or who exercise options after the Scheme Record Time) will be transferred automatically to Quanex (or such person as Quanex directs) on the same terms as under the Scheme (other than terms as to timings, formalities and availability of the Capped All-Share Alternative).
Awards/options are either granted under the Tyman LTIP conditional upon performance conditions being met and continued employment during the normal vesting period ("Performance Share Awards") or without performance conditions and solely based on continued employment during the normal vesting period ("Restricted Share Awards").
Options granted under the Tyman LTIP granted in 2020 and 2021, which have already vested as at the date of this document, will remain vested and exercisable during their normal exercise window under the rules of the Tyman LTIP.
Awards/options granted under the Tyman LTIP in 2022 and 2023, which are still unvested on the Court Sanction Date will vest earlier on that date, compared to their normal vesting date (in consequence of the Scheme and in accordance with participants' contractual rights under the Tyman LTIP). The Tyman Remuneration Committee will, at its discretion, determine on or shortly before the Court Sanction Date the extent to which such awards under the Tyman LTIP vest. The extent to which any unvested 2022 and 2023 Performance Share Awards vest on the Court Sanction Date shall be determined by the Tyman Remuneration Committee in accordance with the rules of the Tyman LTIP, subject to its discretion under the rules of the Tyman LTIP to: (i) assess the achievement of performance conditions; and (ii) disapply time pro-rating.
However, the maximum vesting levels for the 2022 and 2023 Performance Share Awards granted under the Tyman LTIP, will not exceed 50 per cent. vesting for the 2022 Performance Share Awards and 91 per cent. vesting for the 2023 Performance Share Awards in total.
It is the intention of the Tyman Remuneration Committee to disapply time pro-rating for all awards granted under the Tyman LTIP granted in 2022 and 2023.
The Performance Share Awards and Restricted Share Awards granted under the Tyman LTIP in 2024 ("2024 LTIP Awards") will not vest early on the Court Sanction Date. Instead, the 2024 LTIP Awards will automatically lapse on the Effective Date if the Effective Date occurs prior to the Normal Vesting Date (as defined in the Tyman LTIP rules) of such 2024 LTIP Awards.
On the lapsing of the 2024 LTIP Awards, Quanex has agreed that, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Date, Quanex will grant to all individuals who:
(each a "Replacement Award Participant") an award under the Quanex Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "Replacement Awards") granted on the following terms:
$$\left(\frac{(\mathsf{A}\times\mathsf{B})}{\mathcal{C}}\right)\times\mathsf{s}\mathsf{o}\mathsf{o}\mathsf{e}\mathsf{e}$$
where:
A is the number of Tyman Shares subject to the 2024 LTIP Award on the date of grant;
B is the value of the consideration that the individual would have received for the Tyman Shares that are subject to that 2024 LTIP Award under the Main Offer, being 240.0 pence in cash and 0.05715 of a New Quanex Share, save that for this purpose the value of the Quanex Shares shall be £28.00 per Quanex Share (being the closing price for a Quanex Share on the 19th April 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date as defined in the Announcement), converted into pounds sterling using the exchange rate on Bloomberg at the time that trading closed on the New York Stock Exchange on the 19 April 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date as defined in the Announcement); and
C is £29.10 (being the average closing price of a Quanex Share on the ten trading days immediately before (and including) the 19 April 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date as defined in the Announcement), and converted into pounds sterling using the exchange rate at the time that trading closed on the New York Stock Exchange on the 19 April 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date as defined in the Announcement).
Awards/options granted under the Tyman LTIP will be able to receive dividend equivalent amounts, to be received in Tyman Shares save that where any Tyman LTIP awards/options under the LTIP become eligible to receive dividend equivalents in respect of dividends due for payment after the Announcement, such dividend equivalents will be paid in cash.
Any holding period applying to Tyman LTIP awards/options will cease to apply on the Court Sanction Date.
Quanex and Tyman have agreed, in relation to an employee of the Italian subsidiary of Tyman, that Tyman may grant to such employee a 2024 LTIP Award over 11,479 Tyman Shares in order to correct a prior clerical error. Such award will be subject to the same vesting and automatic lapsing terms as the other 2024 LTIP Awards and, provided the relevant conditions to receive a Replacement Award are met, Quanex will grant the participant a Replacement Award on the terms set out above.
Awards granted under the Tyman DSBP which would not otherwise vest prior to the Court Sanction Date will (in consequence of the Scheme and in accordance with participants' contractual rights under the Tyman DSBP) vest in full on the Court Sanction Date.
Options granted under the Tyman Sharesave Plans which would not otherwise have been exercisable prior to the Court Sanction Date will (in consequence of the Scheme and in accordance with participants' contractual rights under the rules of the relevant plan) be exercisable in accordance with the rules of the relevant Tyman Sharesave Plan to the extent of the relevant participant's savings at the time of exercise and, to the extent not exercised within six months of the Court Sanction Date, will lapse unless they lapse earlier in accordance with their terms.
Quanex has agreed that, as soon as practicable following the Effective Date, it will make (or procure payment of) a one-off cash payment to those participants in the Tyman Sharesave Plans who exercise their options during the 20 day period ending on the Court Sanction Date of an amount equal to the additional profit which the participants would have received if they had continued making their monthly savings contributions after the Effective Date and exercised their options at the end of eight months following the Effective Date (or, if earlier, the maturity date of the relevant savings contract), and had those Tyman Shares been acquired on the terms of the Scheme (subject to the deduction of any applicable income taxes and social security contributions which any member of the Tyman Group is required to account for to any relevant tax authority) provided that no such cash payment will be made in respect of options granted under such plans after the date of the Co-operation Agreement.
Tyman will request that the trustee of the EBT use the Tyman Shares that it holds to satisfy outstanding awards under the Tyman Share Plans as and when required. Tyman will also use any Tyman Shares in treasury to satisfy outstanding awards. To the extent that there are insufficient Tyman Shares held in the EBT and in treasury to satisfy such awards, Tyman will request that the trustee of the EBT use any cash held in the EBT to subscribe for new Tyman Shares or purchase existing Tyman Shares in the market to satisfy such awards.
The availability of the Scheme and the Transaction to Restricted Shareholders may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction. Tyman Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions are not eligible to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Restricted Shareholders should inform themselves about and should observe any applicable legal requirements. It is the responsibility of all Restricted Shareholders to satisfy themselves as to the full compliance of the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in connection therewith, including the obtaining of any governmental, exchange control or other consents which may be required, or the compliance with other necessary formalities which are required to be observed and the payment of any issue, transfer or other taxes due in such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Transaction disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.
Overseas holders of Tyman Shares should refer to Part Six (Additional Information for Overseas Shareholders) of this document which contains important information relevant to such holders.
The Scheme will require approval at a meeting of Scheme Shareholders convened by order of the Court to be held at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF at 2:30 p.m. on 12 July 2024. The approval required at this meeting is that those present and voting (and entitled to vote) either in person or by proxy to approve the Scheme must:
The Scheme requires the sanction of the Court at the Court Hearing. The Court Hearing is expected to be held at The Royal Courts of Justice, The Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1NL. Scheme Shareholders are entitled to attend the Court Hearing, should they wish to do so, in person or represented by counsel.
Implementation of the Scheme will also require approval by Special Resolution at the General Meeting to be held immediately after the Court Meeting, as described in paragraph 5 above. The approval required for this Special Resolution to be passed is a vote in favour of not less than 75 per cent. of the votes cast.
If the Scheme becomes effective it will be binding on all holders of Scheme Shares irrespective of whether or not they attended or voted at the Court Meeting or the General
Tyman Shareholders will find enclosed a blue Form of Proxy for the Court Meeting and a yellow Form of Proxy for the General Meeting. Please complete and sign the Forms of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed on them and return them to Link Group, Tyman's registrars, by post to Link Group at Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL so as to be received as soon as possible and in any event not later than the relevant times set out below:
| Blue Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting | 2:30 p.m. on 10 July 2024 |
|---|---|
| Yellow Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting | 2:45 p.m. on 10 July 2024 |
or, if in either case the Meeting is adjourned, the relevant Form of Proxy should be received not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time fixed for the adjourned Meeting.
If the blue Form of Proxy for the Court Meeting is not lodged by the relevant time, you may complete the blue Form of Proxy and hand it to a representative of Tyman's registrars, Link Group, on behalf of the Chair of the Court Meeting, or to the Chair of the Court Meeting, before the start of the Court Meeting and it will be valid. If the yellow Form of Proxy for the General Meeting is not lodged by the relevant time, it will be invalid.
The completion and return of the Forms of Proxy by post (or transmission of a proxy appointment or voting instruction electronically, online, through CREST or by any other procedure described in this document) will not prevent you from attending, speaking and voting at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, if you are entitled to and wish to do so.
As an alternative to completing and returning the printed Forms of Proxy, proxies may be appointed electronically by logging on to the following website: www.signalshares.com, selecting the "Proxy Vote" button and following the instructions therein. For an electronic proxy appointment to be valid, the appointment must be received by Link Group not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time fixed for the relevant Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Full details of the procedure to be followed to appoint a proxy electronically are given on the website.
If you hold Tyman Shares in uncertificated form through CREST and wish to appoint a proxy or proxies for the Court Meeting or the General Meeting (or any adjourned Meeting) by using the CREST electronic proxy appointment service, you may do so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual (please also refer to the accompanying notes to the notices of the Meetings set out in Part Thirteen (Notice of Court Meeting) and Part Fourteen (Notice of General Meeting) of this document). CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed any 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.
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 the specifications of Euroclear and must contain the information required for such instructions as described in the CREST Manual. The message (regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or an amendment to the instructions given to a previously appointed proxy) must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by Link Group (ID: RA10) not later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time fixed for the relevant Meeting or any adjournment thereof. 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 Link Group are 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.
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 any voting service provider(s), to procure that his/her 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. For further information on the logistics of submitting messages in CREST, 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.
Tyman may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the CREST Regulations.
At the Court Meeting, it is particularly important that as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair and reasonable representation of Scheme Shareholders' opinion. You are therefore strongly urged to complete, sign and return your blue Form of Proxy or to appoint a proxy electronically or through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service (as appropriate) as soon as possible.
The terms of the Scheme are set out in full in Part Four (The Scheme of Arrangement) of this document. Your attention is also drawn to the further information contained in this document, including the Conditions to the implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction in Part Three (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction) of this document. Further information regarding Tyman and Quanex is set out in Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) of this document. Documents published and available for inspection are listed in paragraph 18 of Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex) of this document.
Yours faithfully,
Greenhill & Co. International LLP
..........................................................................
(b)
(c)
In addition, subject as stated in Part B below, and to the requirements of the Panel, Quanex and Tyman have agreed that the Transaction will be conditional upon the following Conditions and, accordingly, the Court Order will not be delivered to the Registrar of Companies unless such Conditions below (as amended, if appropriate) have been satisfied (and continue to be satisfied pending the commencement of the Court Hearing) or, where relevant, waived:
the approval of the Quanex Share Proposal by a majority of Quanex Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Quanex Stockholder Meeting and entitled to vote on the Quanex Share Proposal;
the NYSE having approved, and not withdrawn such approval, the listing of the New Quanex Shares to be issued, subject to official notice of issuance;
and all applicable waiting and other time periods (including any extensions of them) during which any such antitrust regulator or Third Party could decide to take, institute, implement or threaten any such action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference or take any other step under the laws of any jurisdiction in respect of the Transaction or the acquisition of any Tyman Shares or otherwise intervene having expired, lapsed or been terminated;
(h) the creation or acceleration of any material liability (actual or contingent) by any member of the Wider Tyman Group other than trade creditors or other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business,
and, except as Disclosed, no event having occurred which, under any provision of any arrangement, agreement, licence, permit, franchise, lease or other instrument to which any member of the Wider Tyman Group is a party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets are bound, entitled or subject, would or might result in any of the events or circumstances as are referred to in Conditions 10(a) to (h);
(c) any agreement regarding the use of any intellectual property licensed to or by any member of the Wider Tyman Group being terminated or varied, which is material in the context of the Wider Tyman Group taken as a whole; and
the deadline in relation to the relevant Condition. In all other respects, Conditions 1 and 2 of Part A above cannot be waived; and
Quanex reserves the right to elect to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer, subject to the Panel's consent and (where relevant) to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement. In such event, such Takeover Offer will be implemented on the same terms and conditions, so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme (subject to appropriate amendments to reflect the change in method of effecting the Transaction, including an acceptance condition). Further, if sufficient acceptances of the Takeover Offer are received and/or sufficient Tyman Shares are otherwise acquired, it is the intention of Quanex to apply the provisions of the Companies Act to compulsorily acquire any outstanding Tyman shares to which such Takeover Offer relates.
or paid is: (i) transferred pursuant to the Transaction on a basis which entitles Quanex to receive the dividend or distribution and to retain it; or (ii) cancelled, the consideration will not be subject to change in accordance with this paragraph 2. Any exercise by Quanex of its rights referred to in this paragraph 2 shall be the subject of an announcement and the consent of the Panel and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be regarded as constituting any revision or variation of the Transaction.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES COMPANIES COURT (CH D)
CR-2024-002491
and
(under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006)
between
and
(as defined below)
(A) In this Scheme, unless inconsistent with the subject or context, the following expressions bear the following meanings:
| Capped All-Share Alternative |
the alternative to the Main Offer whereby Scheme Shareholders (other than Scheme Shareholders resident or located in a Restricted Jurisdiction) may elect to receive the consideration applicable to their entire holding of Tyman Shares in New Quanex Shares at a ratio of 0.14288 of a New Quanex Share to every 1 Tyman Share held as at the Scheme Record Time |
|---|---|
| Capped All-Share Alternative Election |
an election whereby Scheme Shareholders (other than Restricted Shareholders) may elect to accept the Capped All-Share Alternative up to the Capped All-Share Alternative Maximum pursuant to a Form of Election or a TTE Instruction |
| Capped All-Share Alternative Maximum |
the maximum number of New Quanex Shares available to eligible Scheme Shareholders under the Capped All-Share Alternative, which is limited to a number which represents 25.0 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of Tyman at completion of the Transaction |
| CDI | a CREST depository interest representing an entitlement to a share |
| Cede & Co. | the nominee name for the DTC |
| certificated or in certificated form |
a share or other security which is not in uncertificated form (that is, not in CREST) |
| Companies Act | the UK Companies Act 2006, as amended from time to time |
| Conditions | the conditions to the implementation of the Transaction as set out in Part Three (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction) of the Scheme Document, and "Condition" means any one of them |
| Co-operation Agreement | the co-operation agreement entered into between Quanex and Tyman dated 22 April 2024 relating to the Transaction |
| Court | the High Court of Justice in England and Wales |
| Court Meeting | the meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) of the Scheme Shareholders to be convened with the permission of the Court pursuant to Part 26 of the Companies Act to consider and, if thought fit, approve the Scheme (with or without modification) |
|---|---|
| Court Order | the order of the Court sanctioning the Scheme under Part 26 of the Companies Act |
| Court Sanction Date | means the date on which the Court sanctions the Scheme under section 899 of the Companies Act |
| CREST | the relevant system (as defined in the CREST Regulations) in respect of which Euroclear is the operator (as defined in the CREST Regulations) in accordance with which securities may be held and transferred in uncertificated form |
| CREST Manual | the CREST manual referred to in agreements entered into by Euroclear |
| DRS or the Direct Registration System |
a system that allows electronic direct registration of securities in an investor's name on the books for the transfer agent or issuer, and allows shares to be transferred between a transfer agent and broker electronically |
| DTC | The Depository Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation |
| Effective | this Scheme, having become effective pursuant to its terms, upon delivery of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies |
| Effective Date | the date upon which this Scheme becomes effective in accordance with its terms |
| Election Return Time | the later of: |
| (a) 1:00 p.m. on the date that is seven calendar days before the Court Hearing; and |
|
| (b) such other date and time as Quanex and Tyman may agree (and announce via a Regulatory Information Service) |
|
| Equiniti | Equiniti Trust Company, LLC |
| Euroclear | Euroclear UK & International Limited |
| Excluded Shares | any Tyman Shares at the Scheme Record Time which (if any): |
| (a) are owned or controlled by the Quanex Group; |
|
| (b) are held by Tyman as treasury shares (within the meaning of the Companies Act); and |
|
| (c) any other Tyman Shares which Quanex and Tyman agree will not be subject to the Scheme |
|
| Form of Election | the green form of election for use in respect of the Capped All Share Alternative by Scheme Shareholders (other than Restricted Shareholders) who hold Tyman Shares in certificated form |
| FY23 Dividend | the final dividend of 9.5 pence per Tyman Share announced by Tyman on 7 March 2024 and paid on 29 May 2024 to eligible Tyman Shareholders on the register at 26 April 2024 |
| General Meeting | the general meeting of Tyman (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) to be convened in connection with the Scheme, expected to be held as soon as the preceding Court Meeting shall have been concluded or adjourned |
| holder | a registered holder and includes any person(s) entitled by transmission |
| Latest Practicable Date | 10 June 2024 (being the latest practicable date before the publication of the Scheme Document) |
|---|---|
| Link Group | Link Group, a trading name of Link Market Services Limited, who act for Tyman as registrar and receiving agent |
| Main Offer | the main offer being made by Quanex to Tyman Shareholders in connection with the Transaction, being: |
| • 240.0 pence in cash; and |
|
| • 0.05715 of a New Quanex Share, |
|
| for every 1 Tyman Share held as at the Scheme Record Time | |
| Meetings | "Meeting" the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, and means either of them |
| New Quanex Shares | shares of Quanex common stock with a par value of US\$0.01 per share proposed to be issued in connection with the Transaction |
| Quanex | Quanex Building Products Corporation, a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware |
| Quanex CDI | a CDI representing an entitlement to a New Quanex Share |
| Quanex Group | Quanex and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time and, where the context so requires or admits, each of them which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include the Tyman Group following the Effective Date |
| Quanex Shares | shares of Quanex common stock with a par value of US\$0.01 per share |
| Quanex Transfer Agent | Equiniti |
| Receiving Agent | Link Group |
| Registrar of Companies | the registrar of companies in England and Wales |
| Restricted Jurisdiction | any jurisdiction where local laws or regulations may result in a significant risk of civil, regulatory or criminal exposure if information concerning the Transaction were made available in that jurisdiction, or if the Transaction (including details regarding any election that may be made for the Capped All-Share Alternative) is or were extended or made available in that jurisdiction, or where to do so would result in a requirement to comply with any governmental or other consent or any registration, filing or other formality which Quanex or Tyman regards as unduly onerous |
| Restricted Shareholder | a person (including, without limitation, an individual partnership, unincorporated syndicate, limited liability company, unincorporated organisation, trust, trustee, executor, administrator or other legal representative) in, or resident in, or any person whom Quanex reasonably believes to be in, any jurisdiction (whether or not a Restricted Jurisdiction) whom Quanex is advised to treat as restricted overseas persons in order to observe the laws of such jurisdiction or to avoid the requirement to comply with any governmental or other consent or any registration, filing or other formality which Quanex regards as unduly onerous |
| Scheme | to Court |
this scheme of arrangement in its present form or with or subject any modification, addition or condition which Tyman and Quanex each agree and which is approved or imposed by the |
|---|---|---|
| Scheme Document | the | circular dated 11 June 2024 sent by Tyman to Tyman Shareholders and persons with information rights, of which this Scheme forms part |
| Scheme Record Time | agree | close of business on the Business Day immediately before the Effective Date, or such later time as Quanex and Tyman may |
| Scheme Shareholders | holders of Scheme Shares at any relevant date or time | |
| Scheme Shares | the Tyman Shares: | |
| (a) | in issue at the date of this Scheme; | |
| (b) | (if any) issued after the date of this Scheme and prior to the Voting Record Time; and |
|
| (c) | (if any) issued at or after the Voting Record Time and before the Scheme Record Time in respect of which the original or any subsequent holder thereof is bound by the Scheme or shall by such time have agreed in writing to be bound by the Scheme, |
|
| and, in each case, remaining in issue at the Scheme Record Time but excluding any Excluded Shares |
||
| Takeover Code | the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers | |
| Takeover Offer | offer | subject to the consent of the Panel and the terms of the Co operation Agreement, should the Transaction be implemented by way of a takeover offer as defined in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act, the offer to be made by or on behalf of Quanex to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Tyman, other than any Excluded Shares and, where the context admits, any subsequent revision, variation, extension or renewal of such |
| Takeover Panel or Panel | the UK Panel on Takeovers and Mergers | |
| Transaction | the proposed acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Tyman by Quanex to be implemented by means of this Scheme (or, if Quanex so elects, subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement, a Takeover Offer) |
|
| TTE Instruction | a transfer to escrow instruction (as defined in the CREST Manual) | |
| Tyman or the Company | Tyman plc, a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 02806007 |
|
| Tyman Directors | the directors of Tyman as at the date of this document or, where the context so requires, the directors of Tyman from time to time |
|
| Tyman DSBP | 2020 | Tyman deferred share bonus plan 2020, approved by Tyman Shareholders and adopted by the Tyman Directors on 20 May |
| Tyman Group | Tyman and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time and, where the context so requires or admits, each of them |
|
| Tyman International Sharesave Plan |
Tyman international sharesave plan (established as a sub-plan of the Tyman UK Sharesave Plan without prior Tyman Shareholder approval), adopted by the Tyman Directors on 21 July 2017 and amended by the Tyman Directors on 23 July 2018 |
| Tyman LTIP | Tyman long term incentive plan 2020, approved by the Tyman Shareholders and adopted by the Tyman Directors on 20 May 2020 |
|---|---|
| Tyman Share Plans | (a) the Tyman DSBP |
| (b) the Tyman LTIP |
|
| (c) the Tyman Sharesave Plans |
|
| Tyman Shareholders | the holders of Tyman Shares from time to time |
| Tyman Sharesave Plans | (a) the Tyman International Sharesave Plan |
| (b) the Tyman UK Sharesave Plan |
|
| (c) the Tyman US Sharesave Plan |
|
| Tyman Shares | the ordinary shares of five pence each in the capital of Tyman from time to time |
| Tyman UK Sharesave Plan | Tyman sharesave plan, approved by the Tyman Shareholders on 15 May 2015, approved by the Tyman Directors on 28 July 2015 and amended by the Tyman Directors on 23 July 2018 |
| Tyman US Sharesave Plan | Tyman US sharesave plan, approved by the Tyman Shareholders on 15 May 2015 and approved by the directors of Tyman on 28 July 2015 |
| UK or United Kingdom | the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| uncertificated or in uncertificated form |
a share or other security recorded on the relevant register as being held in uncertificated form in CREST |
| US or United States or USA or United States of America |
the United States of America, its territories and possessions, all areas subject to its jurisdiction or any subdivision thereof, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia |
| US Securities Act | the US Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder |
| Voting Record Time | 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the Court Meeting) and 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the General Meeting) on the day which is two days before the date of the Court Meeting or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the Court Meeting) and 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the General Meeting) on the day which is two days before the date of such adjourned meeting, in each case excluding any day that is not a Business Day |
and done, all such documents, acts and things as may be necessary or desirable to be executed or done by it to give effect to this Scheme.
pursuant to the Transaction on a basis which entitles Quanex alone to receive the dividend and/or distribution and/or return of capital, but if that reduction in price has not been effected, the person to whom the consideration is paid in respect of that Tyman Share will be obliged to account to Quanex for the amount of such dividend and/or distribution and/or return of capital.
(C) If Quanex reduces the cash consideration in accordance with clause 2(B) above, the exercise of such right shall be the subject of an announcement and shall not constitute a revision or variation of the terms of this Scheme.
respect of their Scheme Shares, in the case of an inconsistency between such Forms of Election or TTE Instructions, the last Form of Election or TTE Instruction which is delivered by the Election Return Time shall prevail over any earlier Form of Election or TTE Instruction. The delivery time for a Form of Election or TTE Instruction shall be determined on the basis of which Form of Election or TTE Instruction is last sent or, if Link Group is unable to determine which is last sent, is last received. Forms of Election which are sent in the same envelope shall be treated for these purposes as having been sent and received at the same time and, in the case of an inconsistency between such Forms of Election, none of them shall be treated as valid (unless Tyman and Quanex otherwise determine in their absolute discretion).
Fractions of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) will not be issued to Scheme Shareholders. Instead, Scheme Shareholders who otherwise would have received a fraction of a New Quanex Share or Quanex CDI will receive an additional amount in cash, rounded to the nearest cent, based on the amount obtained by multiplying such fraction by the closing sale price of Quanex Shares on the trading day immediately prior to the Effective Date. Any fractional entitlements of a Scheme Shareholder to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs under the Capped All-Share Alternative will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs per Scheme Shareholder. Fractional entitlements to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs will not be allotted or issued to such Scheme Shareholder but will be disregarded. The transmission of New Quanex Shares by the Quanex Transfer Agent shall be subject to any applicable legal or regulatory conditions required in connection with such transmission.
With effect from or shortly following the Effective Date:
address of that joint holder whose name stands first in the register in respect of such joint holding).
Quanex, for such Scheme Shareholder, on terms that the nominee shall be authorised on behalf of such Scheme Shareholder to procure that such New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs shall, as soon as practicable following the Effective Date, be sold on behalf of such Scheme Shareholder. Any sale under this clause 7(C) shall be carried out at the best price which can reasonably be obtained at the time of sale and the net proceeds of such sale (after the deduction of all expenses and commissions incurred in connection with such sale, including any value added tax payable on the proceeds of sale) shall be paid to such Scheme Shareholder by making a payment to such Scheme Shareholder in accordance with clause 6 as appropriate. In the absence of bad faith and/or wilful default, none of Tyman or Quanex, nor any broker or agent of either of them shall have any liability for any loss arising as a result of the timing or terms of any such sale.
Other than in respect of the FY23 Dividend, each mandate relating to the payment of dividends on any Scheme Shares and other instructions given to Tyman by Scheme Shareholders in force at the Scheme Record Time shall, as from the Effective Date, cease to be valid.
Tyman and Quanex may jointly consent on behalf of all persons concerned to any modification of or addition to this Scheme or to any condition which the Court may approve or impose. Any such modification or addition shall require the consent of the Takeover Panel where such consent is required under the Takeover Code. Unless otherwise consented to by the Takeover Panel, any modification or revision to the Scheme will be made no later than the date which is 14 days prior to the Court Meeting (or any later date to which such meeting is adjourned).
This Scheme and all rights and obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law. Any dispute of any kind whatsoever arising out of or in connection with this Scheme, irrespective of the cause of action, including when based on contract or tort, shall be exclusively submitted to the English courts. The rules of the Takeover Code will apply to this Scheme on the basis provided in the Takeover Code.
Dated: 11 June 2024
The following sets out the financial information in respect of Quanex as required by Rule 24.3 of the Takeover Code. The following documents, the contents of which have previously been made available through EDGAR, are incorporated into this document by reference pursuant to Rule 24.15 of the Takeover Code. They are available in "read-only" format for printing, reviewing and downloading and, for the avoidance of doubt, only those sections of the sources specifically referred to below are incorporated by reference into this document.
| reference | Hyperlinks | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended 30 April 2024 |
https://investors.quanex.com/node/22786/html | 1-42 |
| Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended 31 January 2024 |
https://investors.quanex.com/node/22646/html | 1-32 |
| Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 31 October 2023 |
https://investors.quanex.com/static-files/ 84305a85-93a2-4373-82d5-b1bef3966904 |
30-72 |
| Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 31 October 2022 |
https://investors.quanex.com/static-files/ 796bf19a-5fb4-4ca7-b4f9-7fcf7dbb585b |
30-73 |
With effect from the Effective Date, the earnings, assets and liabilities of Quanex will include the consolidated earnings, assets and liabilities of the Tyman Group on the Effective Date. The Transaction is expected to result in significantly enhanced scale and reach for the Enlarged Group with combined 2023 fiscal year revenues of approximately US\$2 billion.
At the end of fiscal year 2024 (assuming completion of the Transaction has occurred), the Enlarged Group is expected to have a net leverage ratio (being net debt to pro-forma adjusted EBITDA) of approximately 2.1x.
The Quanex Board believes that the Enlarged Group can deliver approximately US\$30 million of pre- tax recurring cost synergies on an annual run-rate basis, expected to be realised by the end of the second full year following completion of the Transaction. The Quanex Board expects approximately 50 per cent. of these cost synergies to be achieved by the end of the first 12-month period following completion of the Transaction and the full run-rate by the second anniversary of completion of the Transaction. The Quanex Board estimates that the realisation of the identified cost synergies will result in one-off costs of approximately US\$35 million in aggregate over the first two years following completion of the Transaction.
Given its prudent capital structure, the Enlarged Group would be expected to retain a strong balance sheet with financial flexibility and be well-positioned to accelerate future growth both organically and through a joint strategy of value accretive acquisitions.
The following sets out the financial information in respect of Tyman as required by Rule 24.3 of the Takeover Code. The following documents, the contents of which have previously been announced through a Regulatory Information Service, are incorporated by reference into this document pursuant to Rule 24.15 of the Takeover Code. They are available in "read-only" format for printing, reviewing and downloading.
| Information incorporated by reference Annual results for the year ended 31 December 2023 |
Hyperlinks https://ir.design-portfolio.co.uk/viewer/66/61828 |
|---|---|
| Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 |
https://www.tymanplc.com/application/files/ 8017/1154/6196/31768-Tyman-PLC-Annual Report-2023-interactive_260324.pdf |
| Annual Report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022 |
https://www.tymanplc.com/application/files/ 5116/9814/4154/31364_- Tyman_PLC_AR2022-_interactive.pdf |
A person who has received this document may request a hard copy of any documents or information incorporated by reference into this document.
Recipients of this document may request hard copies of the above-referenced financial information by contacting Tyman on +44(0)207 976 8000 or at [email protected]..
Save as expressly referred to in this document, hard copies of the above-referenced financial information will not be sent to recipients of this document unless specifically requested.
Save as expressly referred to in this document, neither the content of Tyman's website or Quanex's website, nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on Tyman's website or Quanex's website, is incorporated into, or forms part of, this document.
This document has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law, the Takeover Code, the rules of the London Stock Exchange and the Listing Rules, and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this document had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions other than England.
It is the responsibility of any person into whose possession this document comes to satisfy themselves as to the full observance of the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in connection with the Transaction including the obtaining of any governmental, exchange control or other consents which may be required and/or compliance with other necessary formalities which are required to be observed and the payment of any issue, transfer or other taxes or levies due in such jurisdiction.
This document does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.
The Transaction relates to the shares of an English company and is being effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under the laws of England and Wales. The scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Transaction is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the disclosure requirements of US tender offer or proxy solicitation rules.
Quanex reserves the right, subject to the prior consent of the Takeover Panel and in accordance with the Co-operation Agreement, to elect to implement the Transaction by means of a Takeover Offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Tyman as an alternative to the Scheme. If Quanex were to elect to implement the Transaction by means of a Takeover Offer, it would be made in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. If such a Takeover Offer is required to be made in the United States, it will be done in compliance with the applicable tender offer rules under the US Exchange Act, including Section 14(e) of the US Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder. In addition to any such Takeover Offer, Quanex, certain affiliated companies or their nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may, in accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) under the US Exchange Act, make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Tyman Shares other than pursuant to the Transaction, until the date on which the Transaction and/or the Scheme becomes Effective, lapses or is withdrawn. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made, they would be made outside the United States and would comply with applicable law, including the US Exchange Act. Such purchases or arrangements to purchase may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported to the Regulatory News Service of the London Stock Exchange and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at https://www.londonstockexchange.com/stock/ TYMN/tyman-plc/company-page.
The Tyman financial information included in this document has been or will be prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom that may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. US GAAP differs in certain respects from IFRS used in the United Kingdom. None of the Tyman financial information in this document has been audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States or the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
The New Quanex Shares to be issued pursuant to the Transaction have not been registered under the US Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act. The New Quanex Shares to be issued pursuant to the Transaction will be issued in reliance upon an exemption from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) under the US Securities Act. If, in the future, Quanex exercises its right to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act, such issuance of New Quanex Shares will be made in compliance with applicable US laws and regulations. In this event, Tyman Shareholders are urged to read these documents and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information. Such documents will be available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Quanex's Investor Relations team identified above.
New Quanex Shares issued to persons other than "affiliates" of Quanex (defined as certain control persons, within the meaning of Rule 144 under the US Securities Act) will be freely transferable under US federal securities laws and regulations following the Transaction. Persons (whether or not US persons) who are or will be "affiliates" of Quanex within 90 days prior to, or after, the Effective Date will be subject to certain transfer restrictions relating to the New Quanex Shares under US federal securities laws and regulations. The information contained in this document has neither been approved nor disapproved by the SEC or any US state securities commission. Neither the SEC, nor any state securities commission, has passed upon the fairness or merits of the proposal described in, nor upon the accuracy or adequacy of the information contained in, this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Transaction by a direct or indirect US Scheme Shareholder as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme Shares pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each Tyman Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Transaction applicable to them.
It may be difficult for US holders of Tyman Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal laws, since Tyman is located in a non-US jurisdiction, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of a non-US jurisdiction, and a substantial part of the assets of Tyman are located outside of the US. US holders of Tyman Shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgement.
Subject to the paragraph below (dealing with temporary non-residents), Scheme Shareholders who are not resident in the UK for UK tax purposes will not be subject to UK tax on chargeable gains upon the transfer of their Scheme Shares in return for cash, unless they carry on:
However, Scheme Shareholders who are not resident in the UK may be subject to charges to foreign taxation depending upon their personal circumstances.
A Scheme Shareholder who is an individual and who is only temporarily resident outside the UK for tax purposes at the date of the disposal (for a period of five years or less) may, in certain circumstances, on becoming resident in the UK again, be subject to tax on any chargeable gains in respect of disposals made while temporarily resident outside the UK.
On 7 March 2024, Quanex released its results for the first financial quarter of fiscal year 2024 which, in the results conference call presentation (the "Q1 Earnings Conference Call Script") and in the press release covering the results (the "Q1 Release"), were supplemented by the following statements relating to Quanex's anticipated financial performance for the fiscal year ending 31 October 2024:
In the Q1 Earnings Conference Call Script:
"As referenced in the earnings release, based on conversations with our customers, recent demand trends and the latest macro data, we are now comfortable providing official guidance for fiscal 2024, which is as follows:
In the Q1 Release:
"As mentioned on our December call, we entered this year with a somewhat cautious outlook for the first half due to the ongoing macroeconomic challenges, but we remain optimistic that demand for our products will improve in the second half as consumer confidence is restored over time. Based on conversations with our customers, recent demand trends, and the latest macro data, we are now comfortable providing guidance for fiscal 2024. Overall, on a consolidated basis, we estimate we will generate net sales of approximately US\$1.1 billion, which we expect will yield approximately US\$145 million to US\$150 million in Adjusted EBITDA* in fiscal 2024. While the near-term outlook for our business remains somewhat cautious, our long-term view has not changed, and we believe the underlying fundamentals for the residential housing market remain positive.
*When Quanex provides expectations for Adjusted EBITDA on a forward-looking basis, a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP expectations and corresponding GAAP measures is generally not available without unreasonable effort. Certain items required for such a reconciliation are outside of the Company's control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted or estimated, such as the provision for income taxes."
On 6 June 2024, Quanex released its results for the second financial quarter of fiscal year 2024 which, in the results conference call presentation (the "Q2 Earnings Conference Call Script" and in the press release covering the results (the "Q2 Release"), were supplemented by the following statements reaffirming Quanex's anticipated financial performance for the fiscal year ending 31 October 2024:
In the Q2 Release:
"As expected, we are starting to see a seasonal uptick in the demand for our products in North America. Market dynamics in Europe continue to be challenging and volumes are soft; however, we are performing well, and our business is resilient. Based on results to date, conversations with our customers, recent demand trends, and the latest macro data, we are reaffirming our prior guidance for fiscal 2024. On a consolidated basis, we continue to estimate net sales of approximately US\$1.1 billion, which should result in approximately US\$145 million to US\$150 million of Adjusted EBITDA* in fiscal 2024.
*When Quanex provides expectations for Adjusted EBITDA on a forward-looking basis, a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP expectations and corresponding GAAP measures is generally not available without unreasonable effort. Certain items required for such a reconciliation are outside of the Company's control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted or estimated, such as the provision for income taxes."
In the Q2 Earnings Conference Call Script:
"Considering these factors, along with the feedback that we have received from our customers and our proven ability to manage controllable variables, we feel confident in reaffirming our full-year guidance, and we continue to expect another year of strong results from Quanex performance.
As referenced in the earnings release, based on year-to-date results, conversations with our customers, recent demand trends and the latest macro data, we are reaffirming Net Sales guidance of approximately US\$1.1 billion and Adjusted EBITDA guidance of US\$145 to US\$150 million for fiscal 2024.
From a cadence perspective, for the third quarter of this year versus the second quarter of this year, we expect revenue to be up 4-6% on a consolidated basis. By segment for the third quarter of this year compared to the second quarter of this year, we expect revenue to be up 6-8% in our North American Fenestration segment, up 4-6% in our European Fenestration segment and down 1-3% in our North American Cabinet Component segment. On a consolidated basis, the Adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to be flat to down 25 basis points in the third quarter of 2024, again compared to the second quarter of this year."
Each of the above statements (together, the "Quanex Profit Forecast") constitutes an ordinary course profit forecast for the purposes of Note 2 on Rule 28.1 of the Takeover Code, and accordingly, the requirements of Rule 28.1(c) of the Takeover Code apply in relation to the Quanex Profit Forecast.
References to "GAAP" in the Quanex Profit Forecast are to U.S. GAAP.
The Q1 Release contains the statements set out below, and the Q1 Earnings Conference Call Script (which refers to the equivalent Q1 Release wording) contains similar statements. References to "GAAP" in the Quanex Profit Forecast are to U.S. GAAP, being the accounting policies applied in the preparation of the Quanex Group's annual results for the year ended 31 October 2023.
Adjusted Net Income (defined as net income further adjusted to exclude purchase price accounting inventory step-ups, transaction costs, certain severance charges, gain/loss on the sale of certain fixed assets, restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, other net adjustments related to foreign currency transaction gain/loss and effective tax rates reflecting impacts of adjustments on a with and without basis) and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that Quanex believes provide a consistent basis for comparison between periods and more accurately reflects operational performance, as they are not influenced by certain income or expense items not affecting ongoing operations. EBITDA (defined as net income or loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and other, net), Adjusted EBITDA and LTM Adjusted EBITDA (defined as EBITDA further adjusted to exclude purchase price accounting inventory step-ups, transaction costs, certain severance charges, gain/loss on the sale of certain fixed assets, restructuring charges and asset impairment charges) are non-GAAP financial measures that the Company uses to measure operational performance and assist with financial decision-making. Net Debt is defined as total debt (outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility plus financial lease obligations) less cash and cash equivalents. The leverage ratio of Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure that the Company believes is useful to investors and financial analysts in evaluating Quanex's leverage. In addition, with certain limited adjustments, this leverage ratio is the basis for a key covenant in the Company's credit agreement.
Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure calculated using cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. Quanex uses the Free Cash Flow metric to measure operational and cash management performance and assist with financial decision-making. Free Cash Flow is measured before application of certain contractual commitments (including capital lease obligations), and accordingly is not a true measure of the Company's residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Quanex believes Free Cash Flow is useful to investors in understanding and evaluating the Company's financial and cash management performance.
Quanex believes that the presented non-GAAP measures provide a consistent basis for comparison between periods and will assist investors in understanding the Company's financial performance when comparing results to other investment opportunities. The presented non-GAAP measures may not be the same as those used by other companies. Quanex does not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Statements that use the words "estimated," "expect," "could," "should," "believe," "will," "might," or similar words reflecting future expectations or beliefs are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: impacts from public health issues (including pandemics, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic) on the economy and the demand for Quanex's products, timing estimates or any other expectations related to the Acquisition, the Company's future operating results, future financial condition, future uses of cash and other expenditures, expenses and tax rates, expectations relating to Quanex's industry, and the Company's future growth, including any guidance discussed in this press release. The statements and guidance set forth in this release are based on current expectations. Actual results or events may differ materially from this release. For a complete discussion of factors that may affect Quanex's future performance, please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the sections entitled "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors". Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and Quanex undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events."
Note: underlined text in the Notes above appears only in the Q2 Release.
The Quanex Profit Forecast has been prepared on a basis consistent with Quanex's accounting policies, as set out in the notes above.
The Quanex Profit Forecast excludes any transaction costs applicable to the Transaction or any other associated accounting impacts as a direct result of the Transaction.
The Quanex Profit Forecast is based on the assumptions listed below, any of which could turn out to be incorrect and therefore affect the validity of the Quanex Profit Forecast.
Other important factors and information are contained in Quanex's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risks summarised in the section entitled "Risk Factors", Quanex's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and Quanex's other periodic filings with the SEC and available at https://investors.quanex.com/.
The Panel has granted a dispensation from the Takeover Code requirement for Quanex's reporting accountants and financial advisers to prepare reports in respect of the Quanex Profit Forecast (including, in respect of the Q2 Release and the Q2 Earnings Conference Call Script, with the consent of Tyman).
The Quanex Directors have considered the Quanex Profit Forecast and confirm that it remains valid as at the date of this document, and has been properly compiled on the basis of the assumptions set out in this Part Seven and that the basis of the accounting used is consistent with Quanex's accounting policies.
2.1 The Tyman Directors and their respective positions are:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Nicky Hartery | Director, Chairman |
| Rutger Helbing | Director, Chief Executive Officer |
| Jason Ashton | Director, Chief Financial Officer |
| Pamela Bingham | Non-Executive Director |
| David Randich | Non-Executive Director |
| Paul Withers | Non-Executive Director |
| Margaret Amos | Non-Executive Director |
The business address of each of the Tyman Directors is 29 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9BU.
The company secretary of Tyman is Peter Ho.
2.2 The Quanex Directors and their respective positions are:
| Name | Position | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| George L. Wilson | Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Susan F. Davis | Director | ||
| Bradley E. Hughes | Director | ||
| Curtis M. Stevens | Director | ||
| Donald R. Maier | Director | ||
| Jason D. Lippert | Director | ||
| William E. Waltz | Director |
The company secretary of Quanex is Paul Cornett.
The headquarters of Quanex and the correspondence address of each of the directors is 945 Bunker Hill Road, Suite 900, Houston, TX 77024.
3.2 As at the Latest Practicable Date, the Tyman Directors, their close relatives and related trusts and connected persons held the following interests in, or rights to subscribe in respect of, relevant Tyman securities:
Issued share capital
| Number of | Percentage of existing issued share |
|
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial Holder1 | Tyman Shares | capital |
| Jason Ashton | 124,526 | 0.06% |
| Pamela Bingham | 11,718 | 0.01% |
| Nicky Hartery (registered holder Cape May Limited) | 159,797 | 0.08% |
| David Randich | 50,000 | 0.03% |
| Paul Withers | 115,000 | 0.06% |
| Rutger Helbing | n/a | n/a |
| Margaret Amos | n/a | n/a |
1 The Tyman Directors hold their shares via nominee accounts operated by their brokers as follows: Jason Ashton (interactive investor), Pamela Bingham (Hargreaves Lansdown), Nicky Hartery (Julius Baer), David Randich (UBS Group AG) and Paul Withers (Hargreaves Lansdown).
Shares held by the Tyman employee benefit trust established pursuant to a deed dated 6 December 2010 and of which Sanne Trustee Company Limited is the trustee:
| Number of Tyman Shares | Percentage of existing issued share capital |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,454,089 | 0.74% |
Options and other awards
| Name | Description | Grant Date | Number of Tyman Shares in respect of which options or awards granted |
Exercise Price |
Earliest Vesting Date |
Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutger Helbing |
Tyman LTIP | 24/04/2024 | 314,575 | n/a | 14/03/2027 | 23/04/2034 |
| Jason Ashton |
Tyman LTIP | 14/04/2022 | 137,755 | n/a | 27/03/2025 | 13/04/2032 |
| Tyman LTIP | 10/03/2023 | 183,705 | n/a | 10/03/2026 | 09/03/2033 | |
| Tyman LTIP | 24/04/2024 | 214,959 | n/a | 14/03/2027 | 23/04/2034 | |
| Tyman DSBP | 14/04/2022 | 48,493 | n/a | 27/03/2025 | 13/04/2032 | |
| Tyman DSBP | 10/03/2023 | 19,245 | n/a | 10/03/2026 | 09/03/2033 | |
| Tyman DSBP | 24/04/2024 | 82,908 | n/a | 14/03/2027 | 23/04/2034 | |
| Tyman Sharesave Plans |
30/09/2023 | 7,697 | £2.4157 | 01/11/2026 | 29/09/2033 |
3.3 As at the Latest Practicable Date, other than as disclosed in paragraph 3.2 above, no person acting in concert with Tyman held any interests in, or rights to subscribe in respect of, relevant Tyman securities.
3.4 Save as disclosed above, as at the close of business on the Latest Practicable Date, neither Tyman, nor any Tyman Director, nor, so far as Tyman is aware, any person acting in concert (within the meaning of the Takeover Code) with it, nor any person with whom Tyman or any person acting in concert with Tyman has an arrangement, has: (i) any interest in or right to subscribe for any relevant Tyman securities; (ii) any short positions in respect of relevant Tyman securities (whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise), including any short position under a derivative, any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery; or (iii) borrowed or lent any relevant Tyman securities (including, for these purposes, any financial collateral arrangements of the kind referred to in Note 4 on Rule 4.6 of the Takeover Code).
3.5 During the offer period, the following dealings in relevant Tyman securities by Tyman Directors, their close relatives, related trusts and their connected persons have taken place:
| Name | Date(s) | Nature of Dealings | Number of Tyman Shares |
Price (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutger Helbing | 24/04/2024 | Grant of awards under Long Term Incentive Plan |
314,575 | N/A |
| Jason Ashton | 24/04/2024 | Grant of awards under Long Term Incentive Plan |
214,959 | N/A |
| 29/05/2024 | Exercise of options under Long Term Incentive Plan, satisfied using Tyman Shares transferred from the EBT |
28,265 | Nil cost per Tyman Share |
|
| 29/05/2024 | Sale of Tyman Shares to satisfy the tax liability and fees arising from exercise of options under Long Term Incentive Plan |
13,318 | 3.66 per Tyman Share |
| Name | Date(s) | Nature of Dealings |
Number of Quanex Shares |
Price (US\$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBX Advisors LLC |
21/05/2024 | Sale – Common Stock |
65 | 32.7800 |
3.14 Save as disclosed above, during the offer period, no dealings in relevant Quanex securities by persons acting in concert with Tyman have taken place.
3.15 As at the Latest Practicable Date, the Quanex Directors, their close relatives, related trusts and connected persons held the following interests in, or rights to subscribe in respect of, relevant Quanex securities:
| Name | Number of Quanex Shares |
Percentage of existing issued share capital |
Percentage of issued share capital immediately following the Effective Date2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| George L. Wilson | 233,154(1) | 0.704% | 0.480% |
| Susan F. Davis | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bradley E. Hughes | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Curtis M. Stevens | 5,009 | 0.015% | 0.010% |
| Donald R. Maier | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Jason D. Lippert | 20,450 | 0.062% | 0.042% |
| William E. Waltz | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Issued share capital
(1) This figure includes 92,800 unvested restricted stock awards, of which 29,200 were granted on 7 December 2023, 34,100 were granted on 7 December 2022 and 29,500 were granted on 9 December 2021. Such stock is issued (with all rights attaching) to the holder on the date of grant on a conditional basis. Such unvested restricted stock awards are not transferrable prior to the vesting date, which in each case is the date which is 3 years from the date of grant (the "Restricted Period"). Pro rata early vesting occurs upon retirement, and full early vesting occurs on change in control, death, or disability. During the Restricted Period, the holder has voting rights but does not receive dividends. Dividends are accrued during the Restricted Period and are paid only when the shares vest.
2 Assuming Tyman Shareholders elect for and Quanex accepts the maximum amount of the Capped All-Share Alternative.
| Name | Description | Exercise Price (US\$) |
Grant Date | Exercise Period / Expiration Date |
No. of Outstanding Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George L. Wilson |
Exercisable but unexercised options |
19.45 | 30/11/2016 | 30/11/2026 | 17,100 |
| 19.31 | 02/12/2015 | 02/12/2025 | 14,400 | ||
| 20.28 | 03/12/2014 | 03/12/2024 | 6,300 |
Other Awards
| Name | Description | Grant Date | Vesting Date(s) |
No. of Outstanding Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George L. Wilson |
Unvested performance restricted stock awards |
07/12/2023 | 07/12/2026 | 25,700 |
| 07/12/2022 | 07/12/2025 | 30,400 | ||
| 09/12/2021 | 09/12/2024 | 29,200 |
3.16 Save as disclosed above, as at the close of business on the Latest Practicable Date, neither Quanex nor any Quanex Director, nor, so far as Quanex is aware, any person acting in concert (within the meaning of the Takeover Code) with it nor any person with whom it or any person acting in concert with it has an arrangement has: (i) any interest in or right to subscribe for any relevant Quanex securities; (ii) any short positions in respect of relevant Quanex securities (whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise), including any short position under a derivative, any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery; or (iii) borrowed or lent any relevant Quanex securities (including, for these purposes, any financial collateral arrangements of the kind referred to in Note 4 on Rule 4.6 of the Takeover Code).
3.17 During the disclosure period, the following dealings in relevant Quanex securities by Quanex Directors, their close relatives, related trusts and their connected persons have taken place:
| Name | Date(s) | Nature of Dealings | Number of Quanex Shares |
Price (US\$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George L. Wilson |
30/06/2023 | Adjustment due to dividend 6.867 reinvestment for employee stock purchase plan – Common Stock |
26.833 | |
| 29/09/2023 | Adjustment due to dividend reinvestment for employee stock purchase plan – Common Stock |
6.506 | 28.3876 | |
| 02/12/2023 | Sale to cover withholding tax on vesting of restricted stock – Common Stock |
6,210 | 31.68 | |
| 07/12/2023 | Grant / Award – Common Stock |
29,200 | — | |
| 18/12/2023 | Grant / Award resulting from vesting of performance restricted stock units – Common Stock |
33,281 | — | |
| 18/12/2023 | Sale to cover withholding tax on vesting of performance restricted stock units – Common Stock |
13,097 | 30.85 | |
| 29/12/2023 | Adjustment due to dividend reinvestment for employee stock purchase plan – Common Stock |
6.007 | 30.81 | |
| 29/03/2024 | Adjustment due to dividend reinvestment for employee stock purchase plan – Common Stock |
4.917 | 37.715 | |
| Susan F. Davis | 12/09/2023 | Exercise of options (Rule 16b-3 exempt) – Common Stock |
5,009 | 17.78 |
| 12/09/2023 | Exercise of options (Rule 16b-3 exempt) – Common Stock |
4,880 | 20.02 | |
| 27/12/2023 | Sale – Common Stock | 9,889 | 30.7551 | |
| Curtis M. Stevens |
05/09/23 | Exercise of options (Rule 16b-3 exempt) – Common Stock |
5,009 | 17.78 |
| 04/01/2024 | Exercise of options (Rule 16b-3 exempt) – Common Stock |
4,880 | 20.02 | |
| 04/01/2024 | Sale – Common Stock | 4,880 | 30.4642 |
3.18 Save as disclosed above, during the disclosure period, no dealings in relevant Quanex securities by Quanex or Quanex Directors, their close relatives, related trusts and their connected persons have taken place.
3.19 During the disclosure period, no dealings in relevant Quanex securities by persons acting in concert with Quanex have taken place.
The Executive Directors have entered into service agreements with Tyman as summarised below.
| Name of Executive Director |
Date of service contract |
Effective date of appointment Notice period |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutger Helbing | 24 November 2023 | 2 January 2024 | 12 months from either party |
| Jason Ashton | 24 April 2019 | 29 April 2019 | 12 months from either party |
Rutger Helbing's appointment as Chief Executive Director commenced on 2 January 2024 and he is currently engaged under a service agreement with Tyman dated 24 November 2023. His current annual base salary is £600,000. Jason Ashton's appointment as Chief Financial Officer commenced on 29 April 2019 and he is currently engaged under a service contract with Tyman dated 24 April 2019. His current annual base salary is £410,000. Each Executive Director's base salary is reviewed (but not necessarily increased) annually. Benefits available to the Executive Directors include critical illness cover, professional tax and financial advice, a permanent health insurance scheme, private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, directors' and officers' insurance, and a car allowance (of £17,000 for Rutger Helbing and £17,500 for Jason Ashton). The Chief Executive Officer also has access to Tyman's death in service scheme. The Executive Directors receive pension allowances equal to seven per cent. of their annual base salary.
The Executive Directors are eligible to participate in the Tyman Share Plans (as may be offered from time to time) and to receive an annual bonus, subject to the approval of the Tyman Board. All bonuses for Executive Directors will be subject to Tyman's Director's Remuneration Policy and the rules of the Tyman DSBP; with the Chief Financial Officer's bonus also being subject to Tyman's annual bonus terms, as specified from time to time. The maximum potential annual bonus for the Chief Executive Officer is 150 per cent. of base salary and 125 per cent. of salary for the Chief Financial Officer, based on testing of financial performance metrics. Any bonus earned will be payable 50 per cent. in cash and 50 per cent. in shares deferred for three years.
The Executive Directors are eligible to receive share awards under the Tyman LTIP, with a maximum LTIP award at grant valued at 150 per cent. of base salary. LTIP awards comprise grants of nil-cost options, vesting three years after grant, subject to performance over a threeyear period against performance measures, as set by the Tyman Remuneration Committee. Vested Tyman LTIP awards ordinarily have a two-year post-vesting holding period.
As each Executive Director's service agreement is for an indefinite period, their service agreements have no fixed expiry date. The appointment of the Executive Directors is terminable: (i) on 12 months' notice by either Tyman or the Executive Director; or (ii) with immediate effect in specified circumstances, including in the event of the Executive Director's gross misconduct, in which case they will not be entitled to any payment other than amounts accrued but unpaid as at termination. In addition, at any point after notice is given, Tyman may terminate each Executive Director's appointment with immediate effect and make a payment in lieu of the base salary (less any tax and national insurance), to which the Executive Director would have been entitled during the unexpired period of notice, which may be paid in monthly instalments, unless Tyman determines otherwise.
Each Executive Director is subject to post-termination restrictions for a period of up to twelve months after termination.
The Non-executive Directors have entered into letters of appointment with Tyman as summarised below.
The appointment of each Non-executive Director is subject to their continued satisfactory performance and re-election at annual general meetings of Tyman.
Each Non-executive Director's letter of appointment is terminable by either party on one month's written notice. They may also cease to hold office as a director in accordance with the Tyman Articles. In the event that a Non-executive Director is not re-elected, their appointment will terminate immediately without compensation. Each Non-executive Director's letter of appointment is also terminable by Tyman with immediate effect in certain circumstances, which may include if the Non-executive Director: (i) commits a material, serious or repeated breach or non-observance of their obligations to Tyman, including a breach of their statutory, fiduciary, contractual or common-law duties; (ii) is guilty of any fraud or dishonesty or has acted in a manner which, in the opinion of Tyman, brings or is likely to bring the Non-executive Director or Tyman into disrepute; (iii) is convicted of an arrestable criminal offence (other than a road traffic offence); (iv) is declared bankrupt; and (v) is disqualified from acting as a director.
Under the letters of appointment, the Non-executive Directors are typically appointed for an initial three-year term, which may be extended subject to the Tyman Board's review and reelection by Tyman Shareholders.
| Name of Director | Date appointed Director |
Original letter of appointment date |
Fees (per annum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Amos(1) | 19 June 2023 | 7 June 2023 | £66,408 |
| Pamela Bingham | 18 January 2018 | 17 January 2018 | £62,408 |
| Nicky Hartery(2) | 1 October 2020 | 16 September 2020 |
£222,525 |
| David Randich(3) | 15 December 2021 |
15 December 2021 |
£72,008 |
| Paul Withers(4) | 1 February 2020 | 9 December 2019 | £74,908 |
(1) Includes a fee of £10,000 in respect of her role as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee.
(2) Includes a fee of £140,750 in respect of his role as non-executive chairperson.
(3) Includes a discretionary annual fee of £15,000 for him to travel to all Tyman Board and committee meetings.
(4) Includes a fee of £15,500 for chairing the Tyman Remuneration Committee and being Senior Independent Director.
Save as disclosed above, there are no service contracts between any director of the Tyman Group or proposed director of the Tyman Group and any member of the Tyman Group, and no such contract has been entered into or amended within the six months preceding the date of this document.
The emoluments of the Quanex directors will not be affected by the Transaction or any other associated transaction.
7.1 The following table shows the Closing Price for Tyman Shares for the first dealing day of each month from January 2024 to June 2024 inclusive, for 19 April 2024 (being the last Business Day prior to the commencement of the offer period) and for 10 June 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date)3 :
| Date | Tyman Share price (pence) |
|---|---|
| 2 January 2024 | 317.5 |
| 1 February 2024 | 302.5 |
| 1 March 2024 | 300.0 |
| 1 April 2024 | 289.5 |
| 1 May 2024 | 375.5 |
| 1 June 2024 | 364.0 |
| 19 April 2024 | 296.0 |
| 10 June 2024 | 359.5 |
7.2 The following table shows the closing middle market price for Quanex Shares for the first dealing day of each month from January 2024 to June 2024 inclusive, for 19 April 2024 (being the last Business Day prior to the commencement of the offer period) and for 10 June 2024 (being the Latest Practicable Date)4 :
| Date | Quanex Share price (US\$) |
|---|---|
| 2 January 2024 | 31.20 |
| 1 February 2024 | 31.81 |
| 1 March 2024 | 35.17 |
| 1 April 2024 | 37.08 |
| 1 May 2024 | 33.09 |
| 1 June 2024 | 32.96 |
| 19 April 2024 | 34.64 |
| 10 June 2024 | 30.21 |
Other than the Offer-related arrangements set out in paragraph 9 below, no member of the Tyman Group has entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business in the period beginning on 22 April 2022 and ending on the Latest Practicable Date are set out below.
Other than the Offer-related arrangements set out in paragraph 9 below, summaries of the principal contents of each material contract, not being a contract entered into in the ordinary course of business, that has been entered into by members of the Quanex Group in the period beginning on 22 April 2022 and ending on the Latest Practicable Date are set out below.
On 1 November 2022, Quanex IG Systems, Inc. ("IG Systems"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quanex, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the "LMI Asset Purchase Agreement") with LMI Custom Mixing, LLC ("LMI") and the equity owners of LMI, Lauren International, Ltd. and Meteor-US-Beteiligungs GMBH.
Under the LMI Asset Purchase Agreement, IG Systems acquired, and LMI sold to IG Systems, substantially all of the operating assets comprising LMI's polymer mixing and rubber compound production business (collectively, the "Purchased Assets") and IG Systems also agreed to assume certain liabilities relating to the Purchased Assets (collectively, the "Acquisition"). As consideration
3 Source: FactSet as of 10 June 2024.
4 Source: FactSet as of 10 June 2024.
for the Purchased Assets, IG Systems agreed to pay LMI US\$92 million in cash, with US\$7.1 million of this amount funded by IG Systems into escrow substantially as security for the seller parties' indemnification obligations. The purchase price was subject to certain adjustments including a post-closing working capital true-up. The completion of the Acquisition occurred concurrently with the execution of the LMI Asset Purchase Agreement by the parties on 1 November 2022.
The LMI Asset Purchase Agreement contains representations, warranties and indemnification obligations of the parties customary for transactions similar to those contemplated by the LMI Asset Purchase Agreement. The LMI Asset Purchase Agreement also contains non-compete and nonsolicitation obligations binding on LMI and its owners and certain obligations of the parties, including in respect of transition services. To fund the amounts paid in connection with the Acquisition, IG Systems used a combination of cash on hand and funds borrowed under an existing credit facility of Quanex.
On 6 July 2022, Quanex entered into a second amended and restated credit agreement among Quanex, the lenders party thereto (the "Lenders") and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ("Wells Fargo"), as agent (in such capacity, the "Agent") for the Lenders (the "Credit Agreement"), for the purpose of amending and restating its existing credit facility.
The second amended and restated credit facility (the "New Credit Facility") is secured, in whole or in part, by substantially all of the non-real estate property and assets of Quanex and its domestic subsidiaries and by 65 per cent. of the voting equity interests in Quanex's first tier foreign subsidiaries, and is guaranteed, in whole or in part, by substantially all of Quanex's domestic subsidiaries.
All amounts outstanding under Quanex's existing credit facility, totalling US\$58 million, were converted to secured overnight financing borrowings under the New Credit Facility.
The Credit Agreement evidencing the New Credit Facility is a five-year revolving credit facility of up to an aggregate principal amount of US\$325 million. Consistent with the existing credit facility, the New Credit Facility includes customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, negative covenants, and provisions governing an event of default (including acceleration of payment in connection with Quanex's failure to pay all or any portion of any obligations, principal, or any amount payable under a letter of credit) and mandatory prepayment provisions customary for revolving credit facilities, and subject to certain conditions, customary optional prepayment provisions available without premium or penalty. With certain limited exceptions, subsequently acquired or formed direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries will be required to join in the New Credit Facility as guarantors and pledge substantially all of their non-real estate assets to secure all or a specified portion of the New Credit Facility obligations.
On 22 April 2024, in connection with the Transaction, Quanex delivered a copy of the Board Observer Agreement signed on behalf of and to be delivered by Quanex and held in escrow by Tyman pending completion of the Transaction. The Board Observer Agreement provides certain rights to a shareholder of Tyman who (i) is beneficially interested in more than 16 per cent. of the fully diluted ordinary share capital of Tyman as at the Effective Date; (ii) as a result of the New Quanex Shares issued to Scheme Shareholders in connection with the Transaction, will be beneficially interested in more than 5 per cent. of the issued Quanex Shares when such New Quanex Shares are listed on the NYSE taking into account only (x) those New Quanex Shares which are issued to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Transaction (and no other Quanex Shares, howsoever acquired or received by them) as the numerator for such calculation and (y) only the aggregated number of all New Quanex Shares and Quanex Shares (excluding shares held in treasury) in issue as at the date of the Rule 2.7 Announcement as the denominator for such calculation; and (iii) has obtained any required regulatory or legal approvals necessary for such person to take up such right.
Such Tyman Shareholder will be entitled to appoint an individual from a pre-approved list of persons to serve as an observer, through to the 2026 annual meeting of shareholders, to the Quanex Board and to the nominating and governance committee, and to receive information provided to the Quanex Board. Quanex will pay travel and other expenses for the observer consistent with its expense policies for directors of the Quanex Board. The observer and any Tyman Shareholder appointing the observer agree to be subject to confidentiality restrictions and to abide by Quanex's policies on insider trading and treatment of material non-public information. The Board Observer Agreement may be terminated early by Quanex in certain situations, including the failure of the Tyman Shareholder appointing the observer continuing to hold at least 70 per cent. of the Quanex Shares held by such Tyman Shareholder following completion of the Transaction, the failure of such Tyman Shareholder to comply with all reporting requirements under the US Exchange Act, such Tyman Shareholder's joining the board of directors of a competitor to Quanex or one of Quanex's material customers or suppliers, or if such Tyman Shareholder solicits proxies concerning voting the Quanex Shares. Certain termination conditions have a limited cure right. As Tyman's current largest shareholder, it is expected that Teleios will be entitled to enter into the Board Observer Agreement on completion of the Transaction.
The form of Board Observer Agreement will be included in the list of documents available on the websites of Tyman and Quanex as detailed in paragraph 18 of Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex).
On 21 October 2022, Liniar Limited ("Liniar"), a subsidiary of Quanex, entered into a new lease agreement (the "Lease") with Garner Holdings Limited (as landlord) and Ryefields Close Management Company Limited (as management company) which renewed and replaced Liniar's previous lease of an extrusion hall, offices, mixing plant, and lamination facility in Derbyshire and extended to the lease of a new mixing plant in the same location.
The Lease is for a fixed 20-year term expiring on 20 October 2042. The Lease does not convey any contractual renewal rights or purchase options to Liniar. However, the Lease is within the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 which gives Liniar a statutory right (with very limited exceptions) to renew the Lease at the end of the 20-year term.
The initial rent is £1,117,826 per annum, subject to annual adjustment in line with the UK rental price index with a cap at 1 per cent. and a collar at 4 per cent. In addition, an upwards-only rent review to the open market rent will take place every five years during the term of the Lease.
Liniar is obliged to bear the costs of any insurance related to the leased properties, along with a service charge. In addition, Liniar is obliged to bear additional costs associated with property taxes and common area maintenance.
The Lease contains other customary rights and obligations for a UK lease, including but not limited to provisions related to encumbrances and encroachments; payment of costs; assignments and subletting; fixtures and alterations; and compliance with laws. In addition, the Lease includes customary representations, warranties and covenants and provides for certain customary indemnities.
Quanex and Tyman entered into the Confidentiality Agreement on 18 March 2024, pursuant to which each of Quanex and Tyman has undertaken to keep, and to procure that certain of their respective authorised representatives keep, confidential information relating to the other party and/or to the Transaction confidential, to use such information solely in connection with the Transaction, and not to disclose such information to any third party (with certain exceptions). These confidentiality obligations will remain in force until 18 March 2026, save for: (i) any confidential information retained by either party (and/or their respective authorised recipient(s)) in accordance with the terms of the Quanex Confidentiality Agreement and (ii) any information relating specifically to the Transaction, in respect of which the parties' obligations shall remain in full force and effect without limit in time.
The Confidentiality Agreement also contains undertakings from each of Quanex and Tyman that, for a period of 18 months from the date of the Quanex Confidentiality Agreement, they shall not, and they shall procure that certain of their respective authorised representatives shall not, solicit, engage or employ any of the other party's key employees, save where a person contacts Quanex or Tyman (as applicable) on their own initiative or responds, without any approach or solicitation, to a general public advertisement made in the ordinary course of business and which was not specifically targeted at such person.
Quanex had also agreed to standstill arrangements pursuant to which Quanex had agreed, amongst other things, that, without the prior written consent of Tyman, Quanex would not, and would procure that certain connected persons of it shall not, acquire Tyman Shares or any interest in Tyman Shares. These restrictions fell away immediately following the making of the Announcement.
Quanex and Tyman entered into the Co-operation Agreement on 22 April 2024 pursuant to which:
The Co-operation Agreement also contains provisions relating to the Tyman Share Plans and other employee-related matters (and proposals to be implemented by Quanex) and directors' and officers' liability insurance.
The Co-operation Agreement will terminate with immediate effect:
Teleios Capital Partners LLC, Quanex and Tyman entered into the Teleios Confidentiality Agreement on 19 March 2024 pursuant to which each of Teleios Capital Partners LLC, Quanex and Tyman has undertaken to keep, and to procure that certain of their respective authorised representatives keep, confidential information relating to the other parties and/or to the Transaction confidential, to use such information solely in connection with discussions relating to the Transaction, and not to disclose such information to any third party (with certain exceptions). These confidentiality obligations will remain in force until 19 March 2025.
Quanex, Tyman and certain of their respective external regulatory counsel entered into the Clean Team and Joint Defence Agreement on 27 March 2024, to ensure that the exchange and/or disclosure of certain materials relating to the parties only takes place between their respective external regulatory counsel and external experts, and does not diminish in any way the confidentiality of such materials and does not result in a waiver of privilege, right or immunity that might otherwise be available.
Quanex has received irrevocable undertakings in respect of a total of 32,794,075 Tyman Shares representing approximately 16.7 per cent. of the issued share capital of Tyman as at the date of the Announcement.
The following Tyman Directors have given irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting and, if Quanex exercises its right to implement the Transaction by way of a Takeover Offer (subject to the consent of the Panel and the terms of the Co-operation Agreement), to accept or procure acceptance of such Takeover Offer, in each case in respect of their own legal and/ or beneficial holdings (or those Tyman Shares over which they have control and are held by their close relatives and related trusts) of Tyman Shares, as well as any further Tyman Shares of which they may become the legal and/or beneficial holder (whether as a result of the vesting of awards under the Tyman Share Plans or otherwise):
| Name | Number of Tyman Shares as at the date of the Announcement |
Percentage of Tyman existing issued share capital as at the date of the Announcement |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Ashton | 109,579 | 0.06% |
| Pamela Bingham | 11,718 | 0.01% |
| Nicky Hartery | 159,797 | 0.08% |
| David Randich | 50,000 | 0.03% |
| Paul Withers | 115,000 | 0.06% |
| Total | 446,094 | 0.23% |
The aggregate fees and expenses expected to be incurred by the Quanex Group in connection with the Transaction (excluding any applicable VAT) are expected to be:
| Category | Amount(3) (excluding applicable VAT) (£m) |
|---|---|
| Financing arrangements(1) | 10.68 |
| Financial and corporate broking advice(1) | 6.28 |
| Legal advice(2) | 4.01 |
| Accounting advice(2) | 2.59 |
| Public relations advice | 0.47 |
| Other professional services | 4.16 |
| Other costs and expenses (e.g. printing and data room costs)(4) | 0.63 |
| TOTAL | 28.83 |
(1) The total amount payable depends on the Transaction becoming Effective. The total does not include disbursements.
In addition, stamp duty of 0.5 per cent. on the purchase price of Tyman Shares acquired pursuant to the Transaction will be payable by Quanex.
(2) The fees for these services are uncapped and the final level of fees will be calculated by reference to the time costs incurred. The amount included here reflects the time costs incurred up to the Latest Practicable Date and an estimate of the further time required, based on a mid-case set of assumptions. The total does not include disbursements.
(3) Certain fees and expenses have been and will be incurred in US\$ and have been converted from US\$ to GBP at an exchange rate of 0.7855 GBP to 1 US\$ as at the Latest Practicable Date. The actual amount of the fees and expenses incurred on a sterling basis may vary depending on foreign exchange movements during the course of the offer period.
(4) Includes document charge payable to the Panel.
The aggregate fees and expenses expected to be incurred by Tyman in connection with the Transaction (excluding any applicable VAT) are expected to be approximately:
| Category | Amount (excluding applicable VAT) (£m) |
|---|---|
| Financial and corporate broking advice | 13.00 |
| Legal advice | 3.50 |
| Accounting advice | 0.25 |
| Public relations advice | 0.20 |
| Other professional services | 0.28 |
| Other costs and expenses (e.g. printing and data room costs) | — |
| TOTAL | 17.23 |
The cash consideration payable by Quanex is expected to be funded entirely from existing bank facilities referred to below:
On 21 April 2024, Quanex and certain other parties including Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Interim Facility Agent (the "Interim Facility Agent") and as Interim Security Agent (the "Interim Security Agent"), and the interim lender parties thereto (the "Interim Lenders"), entered into the Interim Facilities Agreement, pursuant to which the Interim Lenders agreed to provide Quanex with a US\$ 750 million term loan interim facility in order to, amongst other things, finance the cash consideration payable by Quanex in connection with the Transaction. Quanex has also entered into a foreign exchange forward currency contract to manage its exposure to GBP:US\$ exchange rate fluctuations for part of such consideration. Loans under the Interim Facilities Agreement will bear interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to a margin of 2.50 per cent. plus Term SOFR (as defined in the Interim Facilities Agreement) plus 0.10 per cent. per annum. Quanex granted security in favour of the Interim Security Agent under a general security agreement over its assets and a patent security agreement, a copyright security agreement and a trademark security agreement over certain of its intellectual property rights to secure the repayment and discharge of its obligations under the Interim Facilities Agreement. Quanex also agreed that if it borrows loans under the Interim Facilities Agreement it will procure that certain of its principal subsidiaries will guarantee, and enter into joinders to such security agreements to secure, the repayment and discharge of such obligations within 10 Business Days of borrowing such loans.
To the extent any borrowings are made under the Interim Facilities Agreement, such loans will, on or before the Final Repayment Date (as defined in the Interim Facilities Agreement), be repaid/ replaced in full by the loans to be made under definitive financing documentation in respect of longterm financing to be put in place by Quanex.
The availability of the borrowings under the Interim Facilities Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary documentary and evidential conditions for financings of this nature, in respect of which the Interim Facility Agent has delivered (on behalf of the Interim Lenders) a customary conditions precedent satisfaction letter.
The Interim Facilities Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, events of default and covenants for transactions of this type. Borrowings under the Interim Facilities Agreement will be subject to customary "certain funds" provisions consistent with the Takeover Code. Such provisions apply until the end of a customary "certain funds period" which includes, amongst other customary triggers, a long stop date of 18 March 2025, consistent with the requirements of the Takeover Code.
To the extent any borrowings are made under the Interim Facilities Agreement such loans will mature on the date falling 90 days after the date of first drawdown under the Interim Facilities Agreement. If not repaid by such date the Interim Facility Agent may serve a demand on Quanex requiring it to repay all unpaid amounts under the Interim Facilities Agreement and may exercise, or direct the Interim Security Agent to exercise, all of their rights, remedies, powers and discretions arising in connection with the Interim Facilities Agreement, including enforcing the security described above.
14.1 In accordance with Rule 24.8 of the Takeover Code, UBS, as financial adviser to Quanex, is satisfied that sufficient cash resources are available to Quanex to enable it to satisfy, in full, the cash consideration payable to Tyman Shareholders under the terms of the Transaction.
15.1 In addition to Quanex, the Quanex Directors (together with their close relatives and related trusts) and the members of the Quanex Group, the persons who, for the purposes of the Takeover Code, are acting in concert with Quanex in respect of the Transaction and who are required to be disclosed are:
| Name | Type | Registered Office | Relationship with Quanex |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBS AG London Branch |
Financial services | 5 Broadgate, London, EC2M 2QS |
Connected Adviser |
15.2 In addition to the Tyman Directors (together with their close relatives and related trusts) and the members of the Tyman Group (including Tyman's holding companies and their subsidiaries), the persons who, for the purposes of the Takeover Code, are acting in concert with Tyman in respect of the Transaction and who are required to be disclosed are:
| Name | Type | Registered Office | Relationship with Tyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhill & Co. International LLP |
Limited liability partnership |
Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London, England, W1J 6BY |
Lead Financial Adviser |
| Numis Securities Limited (trading as Deutsche Numis) |
Private limited company |
45 Gresham Street London EC2V 7BF |
Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker |
Save to the extent disclosed in this document, there has been no significant change in the financial or trading position of Tyman since 31 December 2023, being the date to which the 2023 Annual Report and Accounts were prepared.
Copies of the following documents are available for view on Tyman's website at https://www.tymanplc.com/investor-relations and Quanex's website at https://www.roadto2b.com/ (subject to, in each case, any applicable restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions) up to and including the Effective Date or the date the Scheme lapses or is withdrawn, whichever is earlier:
Neither the contents of Tyman's or Quanex's website, nor those of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on Tyman's or Quanex's website, are incorporated into or form part of this document.
19.1 The value attributed to the existing issued and to be issued share capital of Tyman is based upon 196,762,059 Tyman Shares in issue on the Latest Practicable Date and the 2,158,308 Tyman Shares which are the subject to awards/options granted under the Tyman Share Plans based on the proposals set out in the Co-operation Agreement and based on the expected Court Sanction Date of 24 July 2024.
Under the Capped All-Share Alternative, eligible Scheme Shareholders may elect, in respect of all (but not part only) of their Tyman Shares, to receive, in lieu of the Main Offer to which they are otherwise entitled:
Tyman Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions are not eligible to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
Fractions of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) will not be issued to Scheme Shareholders. Instead, Scheme Shareholders who otherwise would have received a fraction of a New Quanex Share or Quanex CDI will receive an additional amount in cash, rounded down to the nearest cent, based on the amount obtained by multiplying such fraction by the closing sale price of Quanex Shares on the trading day immediately prior to the Effective Date. Any fractional entitlements of a Scheme Shareholder to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs under the Capped All-Share Alternative will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs per Scheme Shareholder. Fractional entitlements to New Quanex Shares or Quanex CDIs will not be allotted or issued to such Scheme Shareholder but will be disregarded.
The Capped All-Share Alternative is not being offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into any Restricted Jurisdiction, and individual acceptances of the Capped All-Share Alternative will only be valid if all regulatory approvals required by a Scheme Shareholder to acquire the New Quanex Shares have been obtained. Scheme Shareholders who do not validly elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative will automatically receive the consideration pursuant to the terms of the Main Offer for their entire holding of Tyman Shares.
The Capped All-Share Alternative will be made available in respect of up to 25 per cent. of the Tyman Shares outstanding on the Effective Date. To the extent that valid elections for the Capped All-Share Alternative received cannot be satisfied in full, they will be scaled back as nearly as possible on a pro-rata basis with the remaining consideration payable in cash and New Quanex Shares in the proportions applicable to the Main Offer.
Certain further information relating to Quanex and the New Quanex Shares is contained in Part Eleven (Description of the New Quanex Shares and the Quanex Group) of this document.
Scheme Shareholders should ascertain whether acquiring or holding New Quanex Shares is affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they reside and consider whether New Quanex Shares are a suitable investment in light of their own personal circumstances and are, therefore, strongly recommended to seek their own independent financial, tax and legal advice in light of their own particular circumstances and investment objectives before deciding whether to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative. Any decision to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative should be based on independent financial, tax and legal advice and full consideration of this document, including, but not limited to, the key investment considerations and certain disadvantages and advantages regarding electing for the Capped All-Share Alternative as highlighted in paragraph 13 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement), the information set out in Part Nine (Summary of the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) and Part Eleven (Description of the New Quanex Shares and the Quanex Group) of this document.
You should note that if you hold Scheme Shares in certificated form (and are not a Restricted Shareholder) and you wish to make an election under the Capped All-Share Alternative, you must complete and sign the Form of Election in accordance with the instructions printed thereon and return it to Link Group at Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL, so as to be received by no later than the Election Return Time. A pre-paid envelope, for use in the UK only, has been provided. The instructions printed on, or deemed to be incorporated in, the Form of Election constitute part of the terms of the Scheme.
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in certificated form are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order that their interests in New Quanex Shares may be more readily transferrable and not subject to US withholding taxes otherwise applied in respect of interests in New Quanex Shares held directly by non-US investors. Scheme Shareholders should contact their broker for details of how to arrange such a transfer. Scheme Shareholders holding in certificated form at the Scheme Record Time will receive an account statement of ownership of New Quanex Shares from Equiniti as soon as practicable after the Effective Date. Scheme Shareholders who are resident outside the United States and are holding their Scheme Shares in certificated form should note that US withholding taxes may be applied in respect of any dividends or other distributions made by Quanex, and the Quanex Transfer Agent shall contact such persons regarding their US tax status.
If you wish to receive the Main Offer for all the Scheme Shares that you hold at the Scheme Record Time and do not wish to make an election under the Capped All-Share Alternative, do not return the green Form of Election.
Overseas shareholders of Tyman Shares should inform themselves about and observe any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. If you are in any doubt about your position, you should consult your professional adviser in the relevant territory.
If you have more than one designation in Tyman's register of members in respect of Scheme Shares in respect of which you wish to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative, you are required to complete a separate Form of Election for each designation of such Scheme Shares.
If you need further copies of the Form of Election, please call Link Group on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. 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. The helpline is open between 9 am – 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note that Link Group cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
You should note that if you hold Scheme Shares in uncertificated form and you wish to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative and are not a Restricted Shareholder, you should not complete a Form of Election but instead take (or procure to be taken) the actions set out below to transfer the Scheme Shares in respect of which you wish to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative to the relevant escrow account using a transfer to escrow instruction ("TTE Instruction") specifying Link Group (in its capacity as a CREST participant under the participant ID referred to below) as the escrow agent ("Escrow Agent"), as soon as possible and in any event so that the TTE Instruction settles no later than the Election Return Time.
Eligible Scheme Shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in electronic form within the CREST settlement system) and who wish to hold New Quanex Shares directly or through a US brokerage account via DRS rather than hold Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) through CREST are encouraged to transfer their Scheme Shares into certificated form (that is, in materialised form through a Tyman share certificate). Such shareholders should make the appropriate arrangements in good time prior to the Scheme Record Time in order to avoid incurring cross-border transaction fees which may be incurred after the Scheme Record Time should such shareholders wish to transfer the New Quanex Shares underlying such Quanex CDIs from the depository structure for the Quanex CDIs into a US brokerage account via DRS. Shareholders should read Part Sixteen (Q&A for Holders of Uncertificated Tyman Shares) of this document for further details.
If you are a CREST personal member or other 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 participation ID and the member account ID under which your Scheme Shares are held. In addition, only your CREST sponsor will be able to send the TTE Instruction to Euroclear in relation to your Scheme Shares. You should send (or, if you are a CREST personal member or other CREST sponsored member, procure that your CREST sponsor sends) a TTE Instruction to Euroclear which must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear's specifications and which must contain, in addition to the other information that is required for a TTE Instruction to settle in CREST, the following details:
After settlement of the TTE Instruction, save as set out below, you will not be able to access the Scheme Shares in CREST for any transaction or for charging purposes. If the Scheme becomes effective, the Escrow Agent will immediately transfer the Scheme Shares to Quanex or its nominees. You are recommended to refer to the CREST Manual published by Euroclear for further information on the CREST procedure outlined above.
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 Scheme Shares to settle prior to the Election Return Time. In this regard, you are referred in particular to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.
Please note that, if: (i) you elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative in respect of Scheme Shares which are held in CREST; and (ii) you fail to give the TTE Instructions to settle prior to the Election Return Time in accordance with the instructions set out above, your election for the Capped All-Share Alternative will to that extent be invalid, and you will receive the Main Offer as if you had not elected for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
An election for the Capped All-Share Alternative is revocable until the Election Return Time. If you have submitted a TTE Instruction, you may withdraw your TTE Instruction through CREST by sending (or, if you are a CREST-sponsored member, procuring that your CREST sponsor sends) an escrow adjustment instruction to settle in CREST by no later than the Election Return Time. Each escrow adjustment instruction must, in order for it to be valid and to settle, include the following details:
Any such withdrawal will be conditional upon Link Group verifying that the withdrawal request is validly made. Accordingly, Link Group will, on behalf of Tyman and Quanex, reject or accept the withdrawal by transmitting in CREST a receiving agent reject or receiving agent accept message.
Alternatively, you may revoke an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative by notice in writing in accordance with this document.
Nominee and similar holders of Scheme Shares are responsible for ensuring that elections made by them for the Capped All-Share Alternative are consistent with the instructions they have received from the relevant underlying indirect owner and are validly completed. None of Tyman, Quanex or Link Group shall have any obligation to verify that: (a) an election made by a nominee or similar Scheme Shareholder for the Capped All-Share Alternative is consistent with the instructions given by the underlying indirect owner or is validly completed by the nominee or similar holder; (b) that the underlying indirect owner is not located in any Restricted Jurisdiction; or (c) have any liability to nominee or similar holders of Scheme Shares or any underlying indirect owner in the event that an election by any such nominee or similar holder for the Capped All-Share Alternative is rejected or treated as invalid, or is not made in accordance with the instructions received from the relevant underlying indirect owner.
For CREST nominees that operate pooled accounts, partial elections for the Capped All-Share Alternative will be permitted. However, any indirect Scheme Shareholder held through a nominee or similar arrangement, either in uncertificated form through CREST or in certificated form, who wishes to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative may need first to arrange with such nominee for the transfer of such Scheme Shares into, and then make an election for such Capped All-Share Alternative in, its own name.
If you have any questions relating to this procedure, please contact Link Group on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. 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. The helpline is open between 9 am – 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note that Link Group cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
Persons who have made valid elections under the Capped All-Share Alternative will not be entitled to transfer the relevant Scheme Shares after the Scheme Record Time.
No election under the Capped All-Share Alternative will be valid unless, in the case of certificated shares, a Form of Election is completed in all respects and submitted, or, in the case of uncertificated shares, an appropriate TTE Instruction is settled, in each case, by the Election Return Time.
If any Form of Election, in the case of certificated shares, or TTE Instruction, in the case of uncertificated shares, to make an election under the Capped All-Share Alternative is either received after the Election Return Time or is received before such time and date but is not valid or complete in all respects at such time and date, such election shall, for all purposes, be void, and the Scheme Shareholder purporting to make such election shall not, for any purpose, be entitled to receive any variation of consideration under the Capped All-Share Alternative, and the relevant Scheme Shareholder will, upon the Scheme becoming effective, only be entitled to receive the cash consideration due under the Scheme in respect thereof.
Without prejudice to any other provision of this Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) or the Form of Election or otherwise, Quanex and Tyman reserve the right in their absolute discretion to treat as valid in whole or in part any election for the Capped All-Share Alternative which is not entirely in order.
No acknowledgements of receipt of any Form of Election or other documents will be given. All communications, notices, other documents and remittances to be delivered by or to or sent to or from holders of Scheme Shares (or their designated agent(s)) or as otherwise directed will be delivered by or to or sent to or from such holders of Scheme Shares (or their designated agents(s)) at their risk. Quanex and Tyman and/or their respective agents reserve the right to notify any matter to all or any Tyman Shareholders: (i) with registered addresses outside the UK; or (ii) whom Quanex, Tyman and/or their respective agents know to be nominees, trustees or custodians for such Scheme Shareholders by announcement in the UK or paid advertisement in any daily newspaper published and circulated in the UK or any part thereof, in which case such notice shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given notwithstanding any failure by any such Tyman Shareholders to receive or see such notice. All references in this document to notice in writing, or the provision of information in writing, by or on behalf of Quanex, Tyman and/or their respective agents shall be construed accordingly. No such document shall be sent to an address outside the United Kingdom where it would or might infringe the laws of that jurisdiction or would or might require Quanex or Tyman to obtain any governmental or other consent or to effect any registration, filing or other formality with which, in the opinion of Quanex and Tyman, it would be unable to comply or which it regards as unduly onerous.
Each Scheme Shareholder by whom, or on whose behalf, either a Form of Election is executed and lodged with Link Group, or a TTE Instruction is submitted, irrevocably undertakes, represents, warrants and agrees to and with each of Quanex, Quanex and Tyman (as applicable) (so as to bind him/her/it and his/her/its heirs, successors and assigns) to the effect that the execution of the Form of Election, or submission of a TTE Instruction to Euroclear (as applicable) will, conditionally on (and with effect from) the Scheme becoming Effective, constitute:
appoint a proxy or corporate representative to attend, and not himself/herself/itself to attend, any such general meeting or separate class meeting;
All powers of attorney, appointments as agent and authorities on the terms conferred by or referred to in this document or in the Form of Election are given by way of security for the performance of the obligations of the Scheme Shareholder concerned and are irrevocable (in accordance with section 4 of the Powers of Attorney Act 1971), except as required by law or as determined by the Takeover Panel in accordance with the Takeover Code.
The Form of Election and TTE Instructions and all elections thereunder or pursuant thereto and all contracts made pursuant thereto and actions taken or made or deemed to be taken or made under any of the terms of this Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) of this document and the relationship between a Scheme Shareholder, Quanex, and/or Link Group shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.
The execution by or on behalf of a Scheme Shareholder of a Form of Election or the submission by or on behalf of a Scheme Shareholder of a TTE Instruction (as applicable) will constitute his/her/its agreement that the courts of England and Wales are (subject to the paragraph below), to have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise in relation to all matters arising out of or in connection with the creation, validity, effect, interpretation or performance of the legal relationships established by the election for the Capped All-Share Alternative, or otherwise arising in connection with the Scheme and such election (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not in respect of the New Quanex Shares themselves), and for such purposes that he/she/it irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
The execution of a Form of Election, or TTE Instruction (as applicable) by or on behalf of a Scheme Shareholder, will constitute his/her/its agreement that the provision set out above is included for the benefit of Quanex, Tyman, Link Group and their respective agents and accordingly, notwithstanding the exclusive agreement in the paragraph above in this Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) of this document, each of Quanex, Link Group and their respective agents shall retain the right to, and may in their absolute discretion, bring any action, suit or proceedings arising out of or in connection with the Scheme and Form of Election or TTE Instruction in the courts of any other country which may have jurisdiction, and that the electing Scheme Shareholder irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of any such country.
If the Scheme does not become effective in accordance with its terms, any election made shall cease to be valid.
Neither Quanex, Link Group nor any of their respective advisers or any person acting on behalf of either of them shall have any liability to any person for any loss or alleged loss arising from any decision as to the treatment of elections under the Scheme on any of the bases set out in this Part Ten (How to make an election for the Capped All-Share Alternative) of this document or otherwise in connection therewith.
Any Scheme Shareholder who has validly elected for the Capped All-Share Alternative may, by written notice to Link Group, cancel their election for the Capped All-Share Alternative, provided that such notice is received by Link Group by no later than the Election Return Time.
If you hold your Scheme Shares in uncertificated form and the Scheme does not become Effective in accordance with its terms, the Escrow Agent will transfer back to you all of your Scheme Shares that were transferred to an escrow balance.
Set out below is a summary of the proposed Quanex share capital structure and the Quanex bylaws governing the terms on which Scheme Shareholders will hold securities in Quanex.
Quanex is the issuer of the Quanex Shares. Quanex is a global manufacturer with core capabilities and broad applications across various end markets.
Quanex is organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"). Under the Quanex Certificate of Incorporation, the purpose of Quanex is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized and incorporated under the DGCL.
Quanex is headquartered in 945 Bunker Hill Road, Suite 900, Houston, Texas 77024, United States and has I.R.S Employer Identification number, 26-1561397.
Quanex's legal entity identifier is 1423221.
George L. Wilson is the chief executive officer of Quanex.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, in so far as is known to Quanex, the following persons are interested in 5 per cent. or more of Quanex's voting rights:
| Names | Number of Quanex Shares |
Percentage of Quanex Shares |
Percentage of Quanex Shares immediately following the Effective Date(1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackRock, Inc. | 5,291,3355 | 15.98% | 10.89% |
| The Vanguard Group | 3,710,3366 | 11.21% | 7.63% |
| Allspring Global Investments Holdings, LLC |
3,213,4537 | 9.70% | 6.61% |
| Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. | 2,549,7698 | 7.70% | 5.25% |
(1) Assuming Scheme Shareholders elect for and Quanex accepts the maximum amount of the Capped All-Share Alternative.
Except as described above, as at the date of this document, Quanex and the Quanex Directors are not aware of any other person who, directly or indirectly, jointly or severally, exercises or could exercise control over Quanex.
Quanex's auditors are Grant Thornton LLP. Grant Thornton LLP is registered with the Public Corporation Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
5 Based solely on a Form 8.3 filing made by BlackRock, Inc. on 10 June 2024 https://www.londonstockexchange.com/newsarticle/market-news/form-8-3-quanex-building-products-corporation/16512110 6 Based solely on a Form 8.3 filing made by The Vanguard Group on 10 June 2024 https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-
article/market-news/form-8-3-the-vanguard-group-inc-quanex-building-products-corporation/16511982 7 Based solely on a Form 8.3 filing made by Allspring Global Investments Holdings, LLC on 06 June 2024 https://
www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/market-news/form-8-3-quanex-building-products-corporation/16507640 8 Based solely on a Form 8.3 filing made by Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P. on 31 May 2024 https://
www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/market-news/dimensional-fund-advisors-ltd-form-8-3-quanex-building-productsordinary-shares/16497613
Quanex could be required to issue up to 15,487,381 New Quanex Shares pursuant to the Transaction.
The securities which Quanex intends to issue under the Transaction are common stock with a par value of US\$ 0.01 per share whose ISIN is US7476191041. A supplemental listing application will be made for the listing of New Quanex Shares on the NYSE. Immediately following admission of the New Quanex Shares to listing and trading on the NYSE, Quanex will have one class of share in issue, being the Quanex Shares. The Quanex Shares are denominated in U.S. dollars. On the NYSE, Quanex trades under ticker symbol "NX".
Quanex has 33,112,593 shares of common stock outstanding as of the Latest Practicable Date, which does not include:
The Quanex Board has the authority to issue, without any further vote or action by the Quanex Shareholders, up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value, in one or more series, which may give other stockholders dividend, conversion, voting, and liquidation rights, among other rights, which may be superior to the rights of holders of our common stock. As at the Latest Practicable Date, there was no preferred stock outstanding.
The attention of Tyman Shareholders is drawn to the principal risks and uncertainties of Quanex set out in Quanex's filings with the SEC, including the risk factors set out in the Proxy Statement and Item 1A of Part I of Quanex's annual report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended 31 October 2023 and any subsequent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.
Each Quanex stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each Quanex Share held. Each Quanex stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders, or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, may authorize another person to act as its proxy.
Each nominee for a director shall be elected director by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders with respect to such nominee at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of shareholders for the election of directors in which the number of candidates for election as directors exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the determination of which shall be made by Quanex's secretary on the following grounds: (1) Quanex's secretary receives one or more notices that a shareholder has nominated a person for election to the Quanex Board in compliance with the advance notice requirements set out in the Quanex bylaws; and (2) such nomination(s) has not been withdrawn by such shareholder on or before the tenth (10th) day before Quanex first mails its notice of such meeting to the shareholders. For the purposes of this relevant section of the Quanex bylaws, election by "the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast" means the votes cast "for" a nominee's election must exceed the votes cast "against" that nominee's election.
Any transfer of Quanex Shares that would be in breach of applicable securities law is restricted.
The holders of the Quanex Shares shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Quanex Board, dividends and other distributions out of the assets of Quanex which are by law available for such purposes. Dividends shall be payable either in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock.
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Quanex, the holders of the Quanex Shares shall be entitled to receive, pro rata, all of the remaining assets of Quanex available for distribution to its shareholders.
No pre-emptive rights attach to the Quanex Shares, nor are they convertible or redeemable.
The payment of any dividends in the future, and the timing and amount thereof, is within the discretion of the Quanex Board. The Quanex Board's decisions regarding the payment of dividends will depend on many factors, such as Quanex's financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, debt service obligations, restrictive covenants in its debt, industry practice, legal requirements, regulatory constraints and other factors that the Quanex Board deems relevant. Quanex's ability to pay dividends will depend on its ongoing ability to generate cash from operations and on its access to the capital markets. Quanex cannot guarantee that it will pay a dividend in the future or continue to pay any dividends if and when it commences paying dividends.
Tyman Shareholders will not be entitled to receive dividends declared prior to the completion of the Transaction which have a record date prior to the completion of the Transaction in respect of the New Quanex Shares issued in connection with the Transaction.
Quanex has agreed to provide an observer right on the Quanex Board to any person who: (i) is beneficially interested in 16 per cent. or more of the fully diluted ordinary share capital of Tyman when the Transaction is Effective; (ii) will, following the issue of the New Quanex Shares to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Transaction, be beneficially interested in 5 per cent. or more of the issued Quanex Shares when such New Quanex Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, taking into account only (x) those New Quanex Shares which are issued to Scheme Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the Transaction (and no other Quanex Shares, howsoever acquired or received by them) as the numerator for such calculation and (y) only the aggregated number of all New Quanex Shares and Quanex Shares (excluding shares held in treasury) in issue as at the date of the Announcement as the denominator for such calculation; and (iii) has obtained any required regulatory or legal approvals necessary for such person to take up such right. Quanex will be entitled to terminate this observer right on the date of Quanex's 2026 annual general meeting.
The form of Board Observer Agreement will be included in the list of documents available on the websites of Tyman and Quanex as detailed in paragraph 18 of Part Eight (Additional Information on Tyman and Quanex).
The rights of Tyman Shareholders are governed by English law, the Listing Rules and the Tyman Articles. The rights of Quanex Stockholders are governed by Delaware law, the NYSE rules and Quanex's certificate of incorporation and by-laws. The following is a comparison of and summary of the material differences between the rights of the Tyman Shareholders and those of the Quanex Shareholders arising from differences between English and Delaware law, between the Listing Rules and the NYSE rules, and between the Tyman Articles and Quanex's certificate of incorporation and by-laws.
This is a summary only and therefore does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For more complete information, you should read the NYSE rules, Quanex's certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the Listing Rules and the Tyman Articles.
| Quanex Shares | Tyman Shares | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rights of Purchase and Redemption | ||||
| Under the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), a corporation may purchase, redeem, receive, take or otherwise acquire, own and hold, sell, lend, exchange, transfer, otherwise dispose of, pledge, use and otherwise deal in and with its own shares except when the capital of the corporation is impaired, or such purchase or redemption would cause any impairment to the |
The FCA requires that where a company has issued shares that are admitted to the Official List and are convertible into a class of shares to be repurchased, the holders of the convertible shares must first pass a "special resolution" (see "Resolutions of Shareholders" below) approving any repurchase at a separate class meeting. |
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| capital of the corporation. Under the DGCL, a corporation, other than a nonstock corporation, may, however, purchase or redeem out of capital, shares that are entitled upon any distribution of its assets, whether by dividend or in liquidation, to a preference over another class or series of its stock, or, if no shares entitled to such a preference are outstanding, any of its own shares, if such shares are to be retired and the capital reduced. However, a corporation may not purchase redeemable shares for a price greater than that at which they would be redeemed. |
The Tyman Articles provide that Tyman can issue shares which can be redeemed, including shares which can be redeemed if the holders want to do so, as well as shares which Tyman can insist on redeeming. The directors can decide on the terms and conditions and the manner of redemption of any redeemable share. The FCA requires that purchases of 15 per of a company's cent. or more of any class share capital must be by way of a tender offer to all shareholders of that class. |
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| Amendment to Governing Provisions | ||||
| Under the DGCL, stockholders of a corporation entitled to vote have the right to amend, repeal or adopt the bylaws. If a corporation's certificate of incorporation so provides, the corporation's board of directors may also have the right to amend, repeal or adopt the bylaws. |
Under English law, Tyman Shareholders may, by "special resolution", alter, delete, substitute, amend or add to its articles of association. The Tyman Board is not authorised to change the Tyman Articles. |
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| Under the DGCL, subject to limited exceptions, an amendment to the certificate of incorporation must be approved by: (1) the board of directors; and (2) the holders of a majority of a Delaware corporation's outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon, unless the certificate of incorporation provides for a greater number. |
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| Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws authorize: (1) the board of directors to adopt, alter, amend or repeal bylaws by vote of a majority of the directors present and voting at a meeting where a quorum is present; and (2) the stockholders to adopt, alter, amend or repeal bylaws by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two thirds (66 2/3rds per cent.) of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. |
| Amendment to Governing Provisions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or thereafter Quanex's prescribed by the DGCL. Additionally, Certificate of Incorporation specifies a higher stockholder voting threshold of not less than two thirds (66 2/3rds per cent.) of the outstanding shares of stock of Quanex entitled to vote in elections, to approve an amendment to the provisions of certain Articles of the Certificate of Incorporation (including provisions with respect to filling board vacancies, transactions with 5 per cent. stockholders, written consent and heightened voting thresholds for amendments to Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws). Any other amendment to Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation requires approval by an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of Quanex entitled to vote thereon. |
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| Right to Dividends | ||
| Under the DGCL, the directors of every corporation may, subject to any restrictions contained in its certificate of incorporation, pay dividends out of surplus or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the current and/or the preceding fiscal year, unless the capital of the corporation is less than the capital represented by issued and outstanding stock having preferences on asset distributions. Moreover, under the DGCL, if the capital of the corporation has been diminished by depreciation in the value of its property, or by losses, or otherwise, to an amount less than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets, the directors shall not declare and pay out of such net profits any dividends upon any shares of any classes of its capital stock until the deficiency in the amount of capital represented by the issued and outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of assets shall have been repaired. Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation does not incorporate additional restrictions with regard to dividends beyond those provided by the DGCL. |
English law requires dividends to be paid only out of the profits of a company available for distribution and additionally restricts a public company such as Tyman from making a distribution if that would reduce the amount of net assets of that company below the aggregate amount of its called up share capital and certain undistributable reserves. Under the Tyman Articles, Tyman may, upon recommendation by the Tyman Board, declare a dividend to be paid by ordinary resolution at a general meeting of the Tyman Shareholders. The Tyman Board may also, from time to time, pay the Tyman Shareholders interim dividends on shares of any class of any amounts and on any dates and for any periods which they decide, if justified by the financial position of Tyman. In addition, under the Tyman Articles, the Tyman Board may pay a fixed or other dividend on any class of shares on the dates prescribed for the payment of those dividends, if justified by the financial position of Tyman. |
| Under the DGCL, a stockholder of a corporation that is a constituent in a merger, consolidation, conversion, domestication, transfer, or continuance may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which the |
appraisal rights. |
|---|---|
| stockholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair market value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery. |
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| Under the DGCL, appraisal rights, however, will not be available for shares of any class or series of stock, which at the record date fixed to determine the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the stockholder meeting to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation (or as of immediately prior to the execution of the agreement of merger), were either: (1) listed on a national securities exchange; or (2) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. |
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| Furthermore, appraisal rights are not available for any shares of the surviving corporation if the merger does not require the vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation. |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, under the DGCL, appraisal rights are available to stockholders if the holders are required by the terms of an agreement of merger or consolidation to accept for such stock anything except: (1) shares of the stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from the merger; (2) shares of stock of any other corporation which will be either listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders; (3) cash in lieu of fractional shares; or (4) any combination of (1) – (3).
Additionally, under the DGCL, appraisal rights are also available in certain other circumstances, including in: (1) parent-subsidiary corporation mergers where all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware corporation party to a merger is not owned by the parent immediately prior to the merger; and (2) where the certificate of incorporation provides appraisal rights.
Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation does not incorporate additional appraisal rights to stockholders beyond those provided by the DGCL.
English law does not generally provide for appraisal rights.
However, in the event of a compulsory acquisition or "squeeze-out" under the Companies Act where: (1) a takeover offer is made for the shares of a company incorporated in the United Kingdom; and (2) the offeror has acquired or unconditionally contracted to acquire at least 90 per cent. in value of the shares of any class to which the offer relates representing at least 90 per cent. of the voting rights carried by those shares, the offeror may, within three months beginning on the day after the last day on which the offer could be accepted, require shareholders who did not accept the offer to transfer their shares to the offeror on the terms of the offer. A dissenting shareholder may object to the transfer or its proposed terms by applying to the court within six weeks of the date on which notice of the required transfer was given by the offeror.
The English courts may, on receiving such an application, order: (1) that the offeror is not entitled and bound to acquire the shares to which the notice relates; or (2) that the terms on which the offeror is entitled and bound to acquire the shares shall be such as the court thinks fit.
A minority shareholder is entitled, in circumstances similar to the "squeeze-out" described above, to require the offeror to acquire his or her shares on the terms of the takeover offer.
| Pre-emptive Rights | ||
|---|---|---|
| Under the DGCL, stockholders do not have any pre-emptive rights to subscribe to additional issues of stock of the corporation or any securities convertible into such stock unless such right is expressly granted to stockholders in the certificate of incorporation of the corporation. |
English law provides for statutory pre-emption rights that apply on an allotment of equity securities for cash. Such rights can be disapplied by a special resolution passed by shareholders at a shareholders' meeting. |
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| Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for pre-emptive, subscription, or conversion rights. |
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| Convening of and Attendance at Shareholders' Meetings | ||
| Under the DGCL, stockholder meetings may be held at such place, either within or outside the state of Delaware, as may be designated by or in the manner provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or as determined by the board of directors. Moreover, if the board of directors is authorized to determine the place of a stockholder meeting, the board of directors may hold a stockholder meeting by means of remote communication. Additionally, special stockholder meetings may be called by the board of directors or by such person or persons as may be authorized by the certificate of incorporation or by the bylaws. Under the DGCL, stockholders do not have a statutory right to call a special stockholder meeting, but the certificate of incorporation or bylaws for the corporation may provide for such right. Quanex's Bylaws provide that annual stockholder meetings will be held on such date and at such time as is fixed by the board of directors and stated in the notice of meeting. Moreover, Quanex's Bylaws provide that a special stockholder meeting may be called only by: (1) the chairman of the board; (2) the president; (3) the secretary at the written request of a majority of the directors or; (4) the stockholders or a group of stockholders that beneficially own 25 per cent. or more of the |
shareholders' meeting Under English law, a may be called by the Tyman Board whenever they think fit, subject to the relevant notice requirements. Tyman is required to hold an annual general meeting every year within six months from Tyman's the date following accounting reference date (i.e. 31 December). Shareholders holding at least 5 per cent. of the paid-up capital of Tyman carrying voting rights (excluding any paid-up capital held as treasury shares) may require the Tyman Board to call a shareholders' meeting. The notice requirement for public traded companies such as Tyman (unless the conditions in the paragraph below are satisfied) is at least 21 clear days' notice prior to an annual general meeting and any other shareholders' meeting. For shareholders' meetings (other than annual general meetings) the requirement is reduced to at least 14 clear days' notice if, among other conditions, a special resolution of shareholders is passed at the immediately preceding annual general meeting or at a shareholders' meeting held since that annual general meeting reducing the period of notice to not less than 14 clear days' notice. |
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| outstanding stock of Quanex by providing a written request to the secretary. |
In addition to physical meetings, the Tyman Articles allow for general meetings to be held "hybrid meeting", by means of a which includes both physical attendance by members and proxies at a particular place and by members and proxies also being able to attend and participate by electronic means without needing to be in physical attendance at that place. |
Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder is entitled to 1 vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder. The DGCL also allows a corporation to provide, in its certificate of incorporation, that stockholders are allowed to cumulate votes at elections of directors.
Under the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of a corporation may specify the number of shares and/or the amount of other securities having voting power the holders of which shall be present or represented by proxy at any meeting in order to constitute a quorum for, and the votes that shall be necessary for, the transaction of any business, but in no event shall a quorum consist of less than one-third of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting, except that, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a quorum shall consist of no less than one-third of the shares of such class or series or classes or series.
Under the DGCL, in the absence of such specification in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation: (1) a majority of the shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a stockholder meeting; (2) in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders; (3) directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares entitled to vote on the election of directors; and (4) where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter and, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares of such class or series or classes or series shall be the act of such class or series or classes or series.
Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, stockholders may act without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, with the written consent of the stockholders having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. If less than unanimous written consent is given, the corporation must give prompt notice of the action taken to the nonconsenting stockholders.
"Special resolutions" generally involve proposals for major changes to a company, such as to alter its capital structure, change or amend the rights of shareholders, permit the company to issue new shares for cash without applying the shareholders' preemptive rights, amend its articles of association, etc. Under English law, a special resolution means a resolution passed by a majority of not less than 75 per cent. of the shareholders or holders of 75 per cent. of the shares (depending on whether the vote is by a show of hands or by a poll) present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting. For a resolution to be regarded as a special resolution, the notice of the meeting must specify the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution.
Proposals relating to the ordinary course of the company's business, such as the election of directors or payment of dividends, would generally be the subject of an "ordinary resolution." Under English law, an ordinary resolution means a resolution that is passed by a simple majority of shareholders or holders of a simple majority of the shares (depending on whether the vote is by a show of hands or by a poll) present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.
The Tyman Articles allow for Tyman to issue new shares of any class by ordinary resolution, subject to restrictions in English law (e.g. the disapplication of pre-emption rights as discussed above).
| Resolutions of Shareholders | |
|---|---|
| Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation is silent regarding the number of votes per share per stockholder and accordingly under the DGCL, stockholders are entitled to 1 vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder. Under the DGCL, stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes unless otherwise provided in the certificate of formation. Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in elections of directors. |
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| Quanex's Bylaws provide that the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of Quanex having voting power with respect to a subject matter will constitute a quorum at meetings for the transaction of business with respect to such subject matter. However, if the subject matter is one as to which a higher vote is required (as contemplated by the certificate of incorporation or the laws of the State of Delaware), then the holders of that number of shares equal to at least that higher number of outstanding shares of stock of Quanex having voting power with respect to such subject matter present or represented by proxy will constitute a quorum at stockholder meetings solely for the transaction of business with respect to such subject matter. |
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| Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation provides that stockholders may act by written consent in lieu of a meeting, provided that such written consent is unanimously approved by all stockholders of Quanex, with limited exceptions for actions by preferred stockholders. This provision eliminates the right of stockholders to act by written consent as a practical matter. |
Under the DGCL, stockholders have the right to elect directors at an annual stockholder meeting.
Quanex's Bylaws provide that stockholders have the right to elect directors to the board of directors by an affirmative vote of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of Quanex entitled to vote in elections of directors at the annual stockholder meeting.
Quanex's Bylaws provide that stockholders have the right to remove such directors, with or without cause, by an affirmative vote of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of Quanex entitled to vote in elections of directors at a special stockholder meeting called for that purpose.
Quanex's Bylaws provide that the holders of outstanding shares of common stock of Quanex have the right to vote on subject matters for which shareholders are entitled to vote at stockholder meetings (whether annual or special meetings), including the election of directors. Quanex's Bylaws provide that, in an uncontested election, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (the number of shares voted "for" a director's election exceeds fifty percent (50 per cent.) of the number of votes cast with respect to that director's election) by stockholders present at an annual stockholder meeting at which a quorum is present will be required for the election of directors. Quanex's Bylaws provide that, in a contested election, a plurality of the votes cast at an annual stockholder meeting at which a quorum is present will be required for the election of directors.
Quanex's Certificate of Formation and Bylaws provide that any vacancy occurring in the board of directors caused by resignation, removal, death or other incapacity, and any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors, will be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office, whether or not a quorum is met. Such directors appointed by the board of directors to fill a vacancy will hold office for the unexpired term of the director's predecessor in office. Moreover, such directors appointed by the board of directors to fill newlycreated directorships will hold office for a term continuing only until the next annual stockholder meeting.
The following matters, among others, require shareholder approval and for a UK listed company therefore have to be exclusively approved at a shareholders' meeting:
Matters requiring special resolution:
Matters requiring ordinary resolution:
Quanex's Bylaws provide that a special stockholder meeting may be called by the stockholders or a group of stockholders that beneficially own 25 per cent. or more of the outstanding stock of Quanex by providing a written request to the secretary. For such stockholders to exercise their right to call special stockholder meetings, such stockholders must satisfy certain timely notice and information requirements in writing to the secretary of Quanex as established under Quanex's Bylaws. A special stockholder meeting requested by stockholders will be held at such date, time and place as may be fixed by the board of directors; provided, however, the date of such special stockholder meeting will not be more than sixty days after the record date for such meeting. Only such business brought forth that satisfies Quanex's notice and information requirements will be conducted at special stockholder meetings.
Quanex's Bylaws also provide that for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder (including director nominations by stockholders or stockholder proposals outside the processes of Rule 14a-8), the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of Quanex. For notice to be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered and received at Quanex's principal executive offices no later than the close of business on the 90th day before and no earlier than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of Quanex's prior annual meeting. However, if the date of the annual meeting is more than 60 days later than the anniversary date of Quanex's prior annual meeting, the stockholder's notice must be received no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of either the date on which a written statement setting forth the date of the annual meeting was mailed to stockholders or the date on which it is first disclosed to the public.
Tyman Shareholders representing at least 5 per cent. of the total voting rights of all shareholders having a right to vote at a meeting of Tyman Shareholders can require the Tyman Board to call such a meeting. The requirement must state the general nature of the business to be dealt with at the meeting and may include the text of the resolution to be passed at the meeting.
Tyman Shareholders representing: (1) at least 5 per cent. of the total voting rights of all Tyman Shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting; or (2) at least 100 Tyman Shareholders who have paid up an average sum, per Tyman Shareholder, of at least £100 and have a right to vote at the meeting may require the Company to circulate a statement of not more than 1,000 words with respect to a matter referred to in a proposed resolution to be dealt with at that meeting, or other business to be dealt with at that meeting.
| Shareholder Suits | ||
|---|---|---|
| Under the DGCL, a stockholder of a corporation may bring a derivative action on behalf of the corporation provided that the stockholder initiating the suit was a stockholder of the corporation at the time of the transaction of which such stockholder complains or that such stockholder's stock thereafter devolved upon such stockholder by operation of law. Before initiating the suit, the stockholder is required to make a demand to the board of directors in order to give the board an opportunity to decide whether the suit is in the best interests of the corporation. In cases where demand would be futile due to the interests of a majority of the board in the matter, demand is excused. |
The Companies Act provides limited circumstances in which a shareholder of a company may bring a derivative claim on behalf of a company. Such a claim may only be brought in respect of a cause of action arising from an actual or proposed act or omission involving negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by a director of the company. It is immaterial whether the cause of action arose before or after the person seeking to bring the claim became a shareholder of the company. A person seeking to bring a derivative claim must first obtain the permission of the court to do so. There are specified grounds on which the court must refuse to grant permission to continue the claim, as well as specified grounds that the court must take into consideration. |
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| The Companies Act also permits a shareholder to apply to the court for relief on the grounds that: (1) the company's affairs are being or have been conducted in a manner unfairly prejudicial to the interests of all or some shareholders, including the shareholder making the claim; or (2) an actual or proposed act or omission of the company (including an act or omission on its behalf) is or would be so prejudicial. |
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| If the court is satisfied that the application is well founded, it may make such order as it thinks fit for giving relief in respect of the matters complained of. |
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| Rights of Inspection | ||
| Under the DGCL, all stockholders of a corporation have the right to inspect, during the usual business hours of the corporation for any proper purpose, and to make copies and extracts from: (1) the stock ledger; (2) the stockholder list; |
The register and index of names of Tyman Shareholders must be open to inspection: (1) for free, by its shareholders; and (2) for a fee by any other person. In both cases, the documents may be copied for a fee. |
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| (3) other books and records; and (4) the books and records of a subsidiary of the corporation, to the extent that the corporation has actual possession and control of such records of such subsidiary or the corporation could obtain such records through the exercise of control of such subsidiary, provided that as of the date of the |
The Tyman Shareholders may also inspect, without charge, during business hours: (1) minutes of meetings of the shareholders and obtain copies of the minutes for a fee; (2) the director register; and (3) service contracts of Tyman Directors. |
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| making of the demand: (a) the stockholder would not constitute a breach of an agreement between the corporation or the subsidiary and a person or persons not affiliated with the corporation; and (b) the subsidiary would not have the right under |
In addition, the published annual accounts and auditors report of the Company are required to be available for Tyman Shareholders' Shareholders at a Tyman meeting and a Tyman Shareholder is entitled |
to a copy of these accounts.
applicable law to deny the corporation access to
such books and records.
| Rights of Inspection | ||
|---|---|---|
| Under the DGCL, if a corporation refuses to permit inspection or does not reply to the demand within five business days after the demand has been made, the stockholder may apply to the Delaware Court for an order to compel such inspection. Generally, under the DGCL, the stockholder bears the burden of showing that each category of requested records is essential to the accomplishment of the stockholder's stated purpose for the inspection. However, when a stockholder seeks to inspect a corporation's list of stockholders or stock ledger, the burden of proof is on the corporation to establish that the inspection is for an improper purpose. |
The Tyman Articles provide that no Tyman Shareholder shall have any right to inspect any accounting records or other books or papers unless: (1) legislation or a court order gives them that right; (2) the directors authorise them to do so; or (3) the Tyman Shareholders authorise them to do so by ordinary resolution. |
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| Disclosure of Interests | ||
| Neither the DGCL nor Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws requires disclosures by stockholders of their interests except in stockholder's connection with a notice to the Secretary of the corporation for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by such stockholder. Under Section 13(d)(1) of the U.S. Exchange Act, any person who, directly or indirectly, acquires more than five per cent. of equity securities of a corporation must, within ten days of such |
The Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules require Tyman Shareholders, subject to certain exceptions, to notify Tyman in writing within two days of becoming aware that they have acquired a material interest in Tyman, being 3 per cent. or more of the total issued Tyman Shares carrying voting rights. Thereafter, Tyman Shareholders must also notify Tyman within two days of any increase or decrease by which their interest crosses a 1 per cent. threshold as well as any decrease that reduces the shareholders' |
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| acquisition, file with the SEC, a Schedule 13D containing the information specified therein and send a copy of the Schedule 13D to the corporation and to each securities exchange on which the corporation's common stock is traded. Amendments to Schedule 13D representing changes in co-ownership or intentions with respect to the corporation must be filed promptly. |
holding below the 3 per cent. threshold. Pursuant to the Companies Act, Tyman may also send a notice to any person whom Tyman knows or believes to be interested in Tyman Shares requiring that person to confirm whether they have such an interest and if so provide details of that interest or |
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| Quanex is required by the rules of the SEC to disclose in its proxy statement relating to its annual stockholder meeting, the identity and number of shares of Quanex voting securities |
any other interest in Tyman Shares of which they are aware. Directors and connected persons share ownership: |
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| beneficially owned by: (1) each of its directors; (2) its principal executive officer; (3) its principal financial officer; (4) each of its three most highly compensated executive officers other than its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer; (5) all of its directors and executive officers as a group; and (6) any beneficial owner of 5 per cent. or more of Quanex's voting securities of which Quanex is aware. |
Tyman is required by the Listing Rules to disclose in its annual report the identity and share interests of its directors and any persons connected with them, as defined in the Companies Act, and of any person with an interest of 3 per cent. or more of its shares which has been notified to Tyman under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. |
| Disclosure of Interests | |
|---|---|
| Persons discharging managerial responsibilities (primarily directors and senior executives), and their connected persons, must notify Tyman in writing of the occurrence of all transactions conducted on their own account in Tyman Shares, or derivatives or any other financial instruments relating to those shares within three working days of the day on which the transaction occurred. The notification must contain specified information, including the name of the person involved, the type of transaction, the date on which it occurred, and the price and volume of the transaction. Tyman must notify a RIS (which will make the information public) of any information notified to it in accordance with these provisions. The notification to a RIS must be made as soon as possible, and in any event by no later than two working days following the receipt of the information by Tyman. |
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| Directors' Duties | |
| Under Delaware law, directors of a corporation are subject to the fiduciary duties of care and loyalty. The duty of loyalty requires that directors act on a disinterested and independent basis, in good faith and with an honest belief that the directors' action is in the best interests of the corporation and its stockholders. The duty of care requires directors to handle their duties with such care as an ordinarily prudent person would use under similar circumstances. Moreover, with regard to the duty of care, Delaware subjects the duty of care to the business judgment rule, which provides a presumption that a director acted on an informed basis, in good faith, and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. As a general matter, Delaware courts will only impose liability upon a director who is alleged to have breached the duty of care if such director willfully or recklessly disregarded his or her duties or was grossly negligent, so as to constitute an utter failure to carry out the director's fiduciary duties. Quanex's Bylaws provide that that the business and affairs of Quanex will be managed by the board of directors, who may exercise all of Quanex's powers not reserved to or conferred on the stockholders by statute, or Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws. |
Under the Companies Act, Tyman must act in accordance with its articles of association and only exercise powers for the purposes for which they are conferred. Each Tyman Director has a duty to act in the way the director considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of Tyman for the benefit of its shareholders as a whole. Apart from this, each Tyman Director also has the following duties: (1) to exercise independent judgment; (2) to exercise the same standard of care, skill and diligence that would be exercised by a reasonably diligent person with (a) the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as the director in relation to Tyman, and (b) the general knowledge, skill and experience that the director actually has; (3) to avoid situations in which he or she has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interests of the Company; (4) to declare any of his or her direct or indirect interest in a proposed transaction or arrangement with Tyman; and |
| Directors' Duties | |
|---|---|
| (5) not to accept a benefit from a third party, where the benefit is given by director's reason of the position, and there is a reasonable likelihood of a conflict of interest arising. |
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| Transactions with Interested Parties | |
| Under the DGCL, certain interested party transactions are not void or voidable solely because the transaction is between a corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the corporation and an entity in which one or more of its directors or officers has a financial interest, or solely because the interested director or officer was present at or participated in the meeting in which the interested transaction was approved if any of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the material facts as to the director's officer's or relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the board of directors or the committee, and the board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; (2) the material facts as to the director's or officer's relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (3) the contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the board of directors, a committee or the stockholders. Furthermore, under the DGCL, unless a corporation's certificate of incorporation or bylaws (original, or approved by stockholders) provide otherwise, corporations that have a class of voting stock listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by 2,000 or more persons are "business prohibited from entering into any combination" with any "interested stockholder" (generally a beneficial holder of 15 per cent. or more of the corporation's voting stock) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder. |
Subject to certain exceptions, English law imposes various restrictions and procedural requirements on transactions between Tyman (including its subsidiaries) and a related party. The definition of a related party includes a Tyman Director and a substantial shareholder (i.e., any person who is entitled to exercise, or to control the exercise of, 10 per cent. or more of the votes able to be cast on all or shareholders' substantially all matters at meetings of Tyman). Certain tests are used to assess the impact of the related party transaction on the listed company ("class tests"). Tyman's obligations would depend on the result of the class tests and range from no action being required, to obtaining an independent adviser's confirmation that the terms of the transaction are fair and reasonable and disclosing the details of such Tyman's transactions in next annual published accounts, to requiring the publication of a shareholder circular and obtaining the prior consent of the Tyman Shareholders before entering into such a transaction. |
| Transactions with Interested Parties | ||
|---|---|---|
| The DGCL provides an exception to this corporation's prohibition if: (1) the board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction in which the stockholder became an interested stockholder prior to the date the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder; (2) the interested stockholder acquired at least 85 per cent. of the voting stock of that company (excluding shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans in which participants do not have the right to determine whether shares will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer) in the transaction in which it became an interested stockholder; or (3) the business combination is approved by the board of directors and the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by disinterested stockholders at an annual or special meeting (and not by written consent). |
||
| Under the DGCL, a corporation has the right to elect, in its certificate of incorporation, not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL, which provides the aforementioned prohibition. |
||
| Quanex has not opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL. |
||
| Additionally, Quanex's Certificate of Incorporation provides that the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than four-fifths (80 per cent.) of the outstanding shares of stock of Quanex is required to approve any of the following actions if, as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote, the other person or entity has been the beneficial owner of 5 per cent. or more of Quanex's outstanding shares of stock within the preceding twelve months: |
||
| (1) to adopt or approve an agreement to merge or consolidate Quanex or any of its subsidiaries with or into any other person or entity; |
||
| (2) to authorize the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Quanex or any of its subsidiaries to any other person or entity; or |
||
| (3) to authorize the issuance or transfer of voting securities of Quanex or any of its subsidiaries in exchange or payment for the securities or assets of another person or entity. |
| Transactions with Interested Parties | |
|---|---|
| This heightened stockholder voting requirement, however, is not required for the aforementioned actions if: (1) the board of directors approves a memorandum of understanding with the other transaction's party, outlining the principal terms and the majority of directors voting in favor were elected before the other party attained beneficial Quanex's ownership of 5 per cent. or more of outstanding stock; or (2) if the other party is a corporation of which a majority of the outstanding shares of stock are owned by Quanex or any of its subsidiaries. |
|
| Reporting Requirements | |
| As a U.S. public company and large accelerated filer, Quanex must file with the SEC, among other reports and notices: (1) an annual report on form 10-K within 60 days after the end of the fiscal year; (2) a quarterly report on form 10-Q within 40 days after the end of the fiscal quarter; and (3) current reports on form 8-K within 4 days of the occurrence of specified corporate events, which include, among other things: (a) entry into or termination of a material definitive agreement; (b) completion of an acquisition or disposition of assets; (c) unregistered sales of equity securities of the corporation; and (d) changes in control of the corporation. |
Tyman is required to notify the FCA and/or the Registrar of Companies of: (1) any major new developments relating to its business which are not public knowledge and may lead to a substantial movement in its share price; (2) notifications received by it from persons holding an interest in 3 per cent. or more of any class of Tyman's share capital; (3) any changes in the Tyman Board; (4) any purchase or redemption by it of its own equity securities; (5) interests of directors in its shares or debentures; and (6) changes in its capital structure |
| Announcement | the announcement of a firm intention to make an offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Tyman pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code made by Quanex on 22 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Announcement Exchange Rate |
the GBP:US\$ exchange rate of 1.2373 as derived from Bloomberg and based on the exchange rate as at 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on 19 April 2024, being the last Business Day prior to the date of the Announcement |
| Authorisations | authorisations, orders, recognitions, grants, consents, clearances, confirmations, certificates, licences, permissions, determinations, exemptions or approvals |
| Board Observer Agreement | the form of agreement to grant an observer right on the Quanex Board on the terms described in paragraph 6 of Part Eleven (Description of New Quanex Shares and the Quanex Group) |
| Broadridge | Broadridge Financial Solutions Limited |
| Business Day | a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or bank holiday, on which clearing banks are generally open for business in the City of London and New York |
| Capped All-Share Alternative | the alternative to the Main Offer whereby Scheme Shareholders (other than Scheme Shareholders resident or located in a Restricted Jurisdiction) may elect to receive the consideration applicable to their entire holding of Tyman Shares in New Quanex Shares at a ratio of 0.14288 of a New Quanex Share to every 1 Tyman Share held as at the Scheme Record Time |
| Capped All-Share Alternative Election |
an election whereby Scheme Shareholders (other than Restricted Shareholders) may elect to accept the Capped All-Share Alternative up to the Capped All-Share Alternative Maximum pursuant to a Form of Election or a TTE Instruction |
| Capped All-Share Alternative Maximum |
the maximum number of New Quanex Shares available to eligible Scheme Shareholders under the Capped All-Share Alternative, which is limited to a number which represents 25.0 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of Tyman at completion of the Transaction |
| CDI | a CREST depository interest representing an entitlement to a share |
| Cede & Co | the nominee name for the DTC |
| certificated or in certificated form |
a share or other security which is not in uncertificated form (that is, not in CREST) |
| CGT | capital gains tax |
| Clean Team and Joint Defence Agreement |
clean team and joint defence agreement entered into between Tyman, Quanex and their respective external regulatory counsel dated 27 March 2024 |
| close of business | 6:00 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day in question |
| Closing ex Dividend Price | the Closing Price of a Tyman Share on 19 April 2024, being the Business Day prior to the date of the Announcement, of 296.0 pence deducting the amount of the FY23 Dividend |
| Closing Price | closing middle market price of a Tyman Share on a particular trading day as derived from the Daily Official List |
| CMA. | Competition and Markets Authority, a UK statutory body established under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 |
|---|---|
| Companies Act | the UK Companies Act 2006, as amended from time to time |
| Conditions | the conditions to the implementation of the Transaction as set out in Part Three (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction) of this document or, if applicable, the Takeover Offer Document, and "Condition" means any one of them |
| Co-operation Agreement | the co-operation agreement entered into between Quanex and Tyman dated 22 April 2024 relating to the Transaction |
| Court | the High Court of Justice in England and Wales |
| Court Hearing | the hearing of the Court at which the Court Order will be sought by Tyman |
| Court Meeting | the meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) of the Scheme Shareholders to be convened with the permission of the Court pursuant to Part 26 of the Companies Act to consider and, if thought fit, approve the Scheme (with or without modification), notice of which is set out in Part Thirteen (Notice of Court Meeting) of this document (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) |
| Court Order | the order of the Court sanctioning the Scheme under Part 26 of the Companies Act |
| Court Sanction Date | means the date on which the Court sanctions the Scheme under section 899 of the Companies Act |
| CREST | the relevant system (as defined in the CREST Regulations) in respect of which Euroclear is the operator (as defined in the CREST Regulations) in accordance with which securities may be held and transferred in uncertificated form |
| CREST Manual | the CREST manual referred to in agreements entered into by Euroclear |
| CREST Proxy Instruction | has the meaning given to it in Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc) and Part Thirteen (Notice of General Meeting) |
| CREST Regulations | the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3755) (including as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018), as amended from time to time |
| Daily Official List | the daily official list published by the London Stock Exchange |
| dealing day | a day on which dealings in domestic securities may take place on, and with the authority of, the London Stock Exchange |
| Dealing Disclosure | an announcement pursuant to Rule 8 of the Takeover Code containing details of dealings in interests in relevant securities of a party to an offer |
| Deutsche Numis | Numis Securities Limited |
| DGCL | Delaware General Corporation Law |
| Disclosed | the information fairly disclosed by, or on behalf of, Tyman: (i) in the annual report and accounts of the Tyman Group for the financial year ended 31 December 2023; (ii) in the Announcement; or (iii) in any other announcement to a Regulatory Information Service by, or on behalf of, Tyman before the publication of the Announcement |
| Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules |
the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA in its capacity as the UK Listing Authority under FSMA and contained in the UK Listing Authority's publication of the same name (as amended from time to time) |
|---|---|
| disclosure period | the period commencing 22 April 2023, being the date which is 12 months before the start of the Offer Period, and ending on the Latest Practicable Date |
| Disclosure Table | the disclosure table on the Takeover Panel's website at https:// www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/ |
| document | this document dated 11 June 2024 sent to Tyman Shareholders containing the Scheme and an explanatory statement in accordance with section 897 of the Companies Act |
| DRS or the Direct Registration System |
a system that allows electronic direct registration of securities in an investor's name on the books for the transfer agent or issuer, and allows shares to be transferred between a transfer agent and broker electronically |
| DTC | The Depository Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation |
| EBITDA | earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, intangible amortisation, exceptional items, share option costs and acquisition costs |
| EDGAR | the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, the public database that performs automated collection, validation, indexing, acceptance, and forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |
| Effective | in the context of the Transaction: (a) if the Transaction is implemented by way of the Scheme, the Scheme having become effective pursuant to its terms, upon delivery of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies; or (b) if the Transaction is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Takeover Offer having been declared or become unconditional in accordance with the requirements of the Takeover Code |
| Effective Date | the date upon which the Transaction becomes effective in accordance with its terms |
| Election Return Time | the later of: |
| (a) 1:00 p.m. on the date that is seven calendar days before the Court Hearing; and |
|
| (b) such other date and time as Quanex and Tyman may agree (and announce via a Regulatory Information Service) |
|
| Enlarged Group. | the enlarged group following completion of the Transaction, comprising the Quanex Group and the Tyman Group |
| Equiniti | Equiniti Trust Company, LLC |
| Escrow Agent | means Link Group in its capacity as escrow agent when receiving TTE Instructions |
| EU or European Union | the European Union |
| Euroclear | Euroclear UK & International Limited |
| Excluded Shares | any Tyman Shares at the Scheme Record Time which (if any): |
| (a) are owned or controlled by the Quanex Group; |
| (b) are held by Tyman as treasury shares (within the meaning of the Companies Act); and |
|
|---|---|
| (c) any other Tyman Shares which Quanex and Tyman agree will not be subject to the Scheme |
|
| Executive Directors | each of Rutger Helbing and Jason Ashton |
| Explanatory Statement | the explanatory statement (in compliance with section 897 of the Companies Act) relating to the Scheme, set out in Part Two (Explanatory Statement) of this document |
| FCA | Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom or its successor from time to time, acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI of FSMA |
| Form of Election | the green form of election for use in respect of the Capped All Share Alternative by Scheme Shareholders (other than Restricted Shareholders) who hold Tyman Shares in certificated form |
| Forms of Proxy | either or both (as the context demands) of the form of proxy in relation to the Court Meeting and the form of proxy in relation to the General Meeting |
| FSMA | the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended from time to time) |
| FY23 Dividend | final dividend of 9.5 pence per Tyman Share announced by Tyman on 7 March 2024 and paid on 29 May 2024 to eligible Tyman Shareholders on the register at 26 April 2024 |
| General Meeting | the general meeting of Tyman (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) to be convened in connection with the Scheme, expected to be held as soon as the preceding Court Meeting shall have been concluded or adjourned |
| Greenhill | Greenhill & Co. International LLP, an affiliate of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc |
| HMRC | HM Revenue and Customs |
| holder | a registered holder and includes any person(s) entitled by transmission |
| IFRS | international accounting standards and international financial reporting standards and interpretations thereof, approved or published by the International Accounting Standards Board and adopted by the United Kingdom |
| Interim Facilities Agreement | the agreement dated 21 April 2024 and entered into between Quanex and certain other parties including Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Interim Facility Agent and as Interim Security Agent, and the interim lender parties thereto, pursuant to which the Interim Lenders (as defined therein) agreed to provide the Interim Facility |
| Interim Facility | a US\$750 million term loan provided pursuant to an interim facilities agreement entered into between, among others, Quanex (as the company), Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Bank of America Securities and TD Bank |
| KPMG | KPMG LLP |
| Latest Practicable Date | 10 June 2024 (being the latest practicable date before the publication of this document) |
| Link Group | Link Group, a trading name of Link Market Services Limited, who act for Tyman as registrar and receiving agent |
| Listing Rules | the rules and regulations made by the FCA under FSMA, and contained in the FCA's publication of the same name |
|---|---|
| London Stock Exchange | London Stock Exchange plc or its successor |
| Long-Stop Date | 11.59 p.m. on 22 January 2025, or such later date as may be agreed by Tyman and Quanex (with the consent of the Panel and, if required, as the Court may approve) |
| Main Market | the main market for trading in listed securities operated by the London Stock Exchange; |
| Main Offer | the main offer being made by Quanex to Tyman Shareholders in connection with the Transaction, being: |
| • 240.0 pence in cash; and |
|
| • 0.05715 of a New Quanex Share, for every 1 Tyman Share held as at the Scheme Record Time |
|
| Market Abuse Regulation | the Market Abuse Regulation (2014/596/EU), as it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended |
| Meetings | the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, and "Meeting" means either of them |
| Mizuho | Mizuho Financial Group, Inc |
| New Quanex Shares | shares of Quanex common stock with a par value of US\$0.01 per share proposed to be issued in connection with the Transaction |
| Non-executive Directors | each of Nicky Hartery, Margaret Amos, Pamela Bingham, David Randich, and Paul Withers |
| NYSE or New York Stock Exchange… |
New York Stock Exchange LLC |
| OEM. | original equipment manufacturer |
| Offer Document or Takeover Offer Document |
should the Transaction be implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the document which would be sent to Tyman Shareholders containing, amongst other things, the terms and conditions of the Takeover Offer |
| Offer Period | the offer period (as defined in the Takeover Code) relating to Tyman, which commenced on 22 April 2024 |
| Official List | the official list maintained by the FCA pursuant to Part 6 of FSMA |
| Opening Position Disclosure | has the meaning given to it in Rule 8 of the Takeover Code |
| Overseas Shareholders | Tyman Shareholders (or nominees of, or custodians or trustees for, Tyman Shareholders) who are resident in, ordinarily resident in, or citizens of, jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom |
| PRA | Prudential Regulation Authority, or any successor regulatory body |
| Proxy Statement | the definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, which includes a notice convening the Quanex Stockholder Meeting to be sent by Quanex to Quanex Stockholders, requesting approval of the Quanex Share Proposal, which was filed with the SEC on 6 June 2024 |
| Quanex | Quanex Building Products Corporation, a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware |
| Quanex Confidentiality Agreement |
the confidentiality agreement dated 18 March 2024 between Quanex and Tyman, entered into in connection with the Transaction |
|---|---|
| Quanex Directors or Quanex Board |
the directors of Quanex as at the date of this document or, where the context so requires, the directors of Quanex from time to time |
| Quanex Group | Quanex and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time and, where the context so requires or admits, each of them which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include the Tyman Group following the Effective Date |
| Quanex Omnibus Incentive Plan |
Quanex Building Products Corporation 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan adopted by the Quanex Directors on January 6, 2020, and approved by the Quanex Shareholders at a meeting held on February 27, 2020 |
| Quanex Profit Forecast | the Quanex profit forecast set out in Part Seven (Quanex Profit Forecast) of this document |
| Quanex Share Proposal | a proposal for the approval of the issuance of the New Quanex Shares in relation to the Transaction by a majority of Quanex Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Quanex Stockholder Meeting and entitled to vote on the Quanex Share Proposal |
| Quanex Shares | shares of Quanex common stock with a par value of US\$0.01 per share |
| Quanex Stockholder Meeting | the special meeting of Quanex Stockholders to be convened in connection with the Transaction, notice of which will be sent to the Quanex Stockholders (including any adjournment, postponement and reconvening of it) |
| Quanex Stockholders | holders of Quanex Shares |
| Quanex Transfer Agent | Equiniti |
| Quantified Financial Benefits Statement |
has the meaning given to it in Part Fifteen (Quantified Financial Benefits Statement) of this document |
| Receiving Agent | Link Group |
| Registrar of Companies | the registrar of companies in England and Wales |
| Resolutions | the resolutions relating to the Transaction to be proposed at the Meetings |
| Restricted Jurisdiction | any jurisdiction where local laws or regulations may result in a significant risk of civil, regulatory or criminal exposure if information concerning the Transaction were made available in that jurisdiction, or if the Transaction (including details regarding any election that may be made for the Capped All-Share Alternative) is or were extended or made available in that jurisdiction, or where to do so would result in a requirement to comply with any governmental or other consent or any registration, filing or other formality which Quanex or Tyman regards as unduly onerous |
| Restricted Shareholder | a person (including, without limitation, an individual partnership, unincorporated syndicate, limited liability company, unincorporated organisation, trust, trustee, executor, administrator or other legal representative) in, or resident in, or any person whom Quanex reasonably believes to be in, any jurisdiction (whether or not a Restricted Jurisdiction) whom Quanex is advised to treat as restricted overseas persons in order to observe the laws of such jurisdiction or to avoid the |
| requirement to comply with any governmental or other consent or any registration, filing or other formality which Quanex regards as unduly onerous |
||
|---|---|---|
| RIS or Regulatory Information Service |
any information service authorised from time to time by the FCA for the purpose of disseminating regulatory announcements and included within the list maintained on the FCA's website |
|
| Scheme | the | proposed scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act between Tyman and the Scheme Shareholders particulars of which are set out in Part Four (The Scheme of Arrangement) of this document, in its present form or with or subject to any modification, addition or condition approved by the Court and agreed by Quanex and Tyman |
| Scheme Record Time | agree | close of business on the Business Day immediately before the Effective Date, or such later time as Quanex and Tyman may |
| Scheme Shareholders | holders of Scheme Shares at any relevant date or time | |
| Scheme Shares | the Tyman Shares: | |
| (a) | in issue at the date of this document; | |
| (b) | (if any) issued after the date of this document and prior to the Voting Record Time; and |
|
| (c) | (if any) issued at or after the Voting Record Time and before the Scheme Record Time in respect of which the original or any subsequent holder thereof is bound by the Scheme or shall by such time have agreed in writing to be bound by the Scheme, |
|
| and, in each case, remaining in issue at the Scheme Record Time but excluding any Excluded Shares |
||
| SEC | the US Securities and Exchange Commission | |
| Share Plan Letters | has | the meaning given to it in paragraph 18 of Part Two (Explanatory Statement) |
| Special Resolution | the special resolution to be proposed by Tyman at the General Meeting in connection with, among other things, the approval of the Scheme and the alteration of Tyman's articles of association and such other matters as may be necessary to implement the Scheme and the delisting of the Tyman Shares |
|
| Substantial Interest | in | relation to an undertaking, a direct or indirect interest of 20 per cent. or more of the total voting rights or equity share capital (as defined in section 548 of the Companies Act) of such undertaking |
| Takeover Code | the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers | |
| Takeover Offer | subject | to the consent of the Panel and the terms of the Co-operation Agreement, should the Transaction be implemented by way of a takeover offer as defined in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act, the offer to be made by or on behalf of Quanex to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Tyman, other than any Excluded Shares and, where the context admits, any subsequent revision, variation, extension or renewal of such offer |
| Takeover Panel or Panel | the UK Panel on Takeovers and Mergers | |
| Teleios. | Teleios Global Opportunities Master Fund, Ltd acting through its manager Teleios Capital Partners LLC |
| Teleios Confidentiality Agreement |
confidentiality agreement entered into between Teleios Capital Partners LLC, Quanex and Tyman dated 19 March 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Third Party | any relevant central bank, government or governmental, quasi governmental, supranational, statutory, regulatory, environmental, administrative, fiscal or investigative body, court, trade agency, association, institution, environmental body, employee representative body, any entity owned or controlled by any relevant government or state, or any other body or person whatsoever in any jurisdiction |
|
| Transaction | the proposed acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Tyman by Quanex to be implemented by means of the Scheme (or, if Quanex so elects, subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement, a Takeover Offer) |
|
| TTE Instruction | a transfer to escrow instruction (as defined in the CREST Manual) | |
| Tyman or the Company | Tyman plc, a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 02806007 |
|
| Tyman Articles | the articles of association of Tyman | |
| Tyman Directors or Tyman Board |
the directors of Tyman as at the date of this document or, where the context so requires, the directors of Tyman from time to time |
|
| Tyman's Director's Remuneration Policy |
Tyman's director's remuneration policy, as adopted by Tyman and approved by Tyman Shareholders from time to time |
|
| Tyman DSBP | Tyman deferred share bonus plan 2020, approved by Tyman Shareholders and adopted by the Tyman Directors on 20 May 2020 |
|
| Tyman Employees. | means the employees of Tyman and the employees of members of the Tyman Group from time to time, each a "Tyman Employee" |
|
| Tyman Group | Tyman and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time and, where the context so requires or admits, each of them |
|
| Tyman International Sharesave Plan |
Tyman international sharesave plan (established as a sub-plan of the Tyman UK Sharesave Plan without prior Tyman Shareholder approval), adopted by the Tyman Directors on 21 July 2017 and amended by the Tyman Directors on 23 July 2018 |
|
| Tyman LTIP | Tyman long term incentive plan 2020, approved by the Tyman Shareholders and adopted by the Tyman Directors on 20 May 2020 |
|
| Tyman Remuneration Committee |
means the remuneration committee of the board of directors of Tyman |
|
| Tyman Share Plans | (a) the Tyman DSBP |
|
| (b) the Tyman LTIP |
||
| (c) the Tyman Sharesave Plans |
||
| Tyman Shareholders | the holders of Tyman Shares from time to time | |
| Tyman Shares | the ordinary shares of five pence each in the capital of Tyman from time to time |
|
| Tyman Sharesave Plans | (a) the Tyman International Sharesave Plan |
|
| (b) the Tyman UK Sharesave Plan |
||
| (c) the Tyman US Sharesave Plan |
| Tyman UK Sharesave Plan | Tyman sharesave plan, approved by the Tyman Shareholders on 15 May 2015, approved by the Tyman Directors on 28 July 2015 and amended by the Tyman Directors on 23 July 2018 |
|---|---|
| Tyman US Sharesave Plan | Tyman US sharesave plan, approved by the Tyman Shareholders on 15 May 2015 and approved by the directors of Tyman on 28 July 2015 |
| UBS | UBS AG London Branch |
| UK or United Kingdom | the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| uncertificated or in uncertificated form |
a share or other security recorded on the relevant register as being held in uncertificated form in CREST |
| US or United States or USA or United States of America |
the United States of America, its territories and possessions, all areas subject to its jurisdiction or any subdivision thereof, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia |
| US Exchange Act | the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder |
| US GAAP | US generally accepted accounting principles |
| US Securities Act | the US Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder |
| Voting Record Time | 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the Court Meeting) and 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the General Meeting) on the day which is two days before the date of the Court Meeting or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the Court Meeting) and 6:00 p.m. (in respect of the General Meeting) on the day which is two days before the date of such adjourned meeting, in each case excluding any day that is not a Business Day |
| Wider Quanex Group | Quanex and the subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings of Quanex and associated undertakings (including any joint venture, partnership, firm or company in which any member of the Quanex Group is interested or any undertaking in which Quanex and such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a Substantial Interest) |
| Wider Tyman Group | Tyman and the subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings of Tyman and associated undertakings (including any joint venture, partnership, firm or company in which any member of the Tyman Group is interested or any undertaking in which Tyman and such undertakings (aggregating their interests) have a Substantial |
For the purposes of this document, "subsidiary", "subsidiary undertaking" and "undertaking" have the respective meanings given thereto by the Companies Act, and "associated undertaking" has the meaning given to it by paragraph 19 of Schedule 6 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, other than paragraph 1(b) thereof, which shall be excluded for this purpose.
Interest)
All references to "pounds", "pounds sterling", "sterling", "£", "GBP", "pence", "penny" and "p" are to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
All references to "dollars", "\$", "US\$" and "cent" are to the lawful currency of the United States.
All the times referred to in this document are London times unless otherwise stated. References to the singular include the plural and vice versa.
All references to a statutory provision or law or to any order or regulation shall be construed as a reference to that provision, law, order or regulation as extended, modified, replaced or re-enacted from time to time and all statutory instruments, regulations and orders from time to time made thereunder or deriving validity therefrom.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CR-2024-002491 BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES COMPANIES COURT (CH) INSOLVENCY AND COMPANIES COURT ICC JUDGE PRENTIS
and
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, by an order dated 4 June 2024 in the above matters, the Court has given permission for Tyman plc (the "Company") to convene a meeting (the "Court Meeting") of the holders of Scheme Shares as at the Voting Record Time (each as defined in the Scheme of Arrangement referred to below) for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving (with or without modification) a scheme of arrangement proposed to be made pursuant to Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 between the Company and the holders of Scheme Shares (the "Scheme of Arrangement") and that the Court Meeting will be held at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF, at 2:30 p.m. on 12 July 2024, at which place and time all holders of Scheme Shares are requested to attend.
A copy of the Scheme of Arrangement and a copy of the statement required to be furnished pursuant to section 897 of the Companies Act 2006 are incorporated in the document of which this notice forms part.
Unless the context requires otherwise, any capitalised term used but not defined in this notice shall have the meaning given to such term in the document of which this notice forms part.
Voting on the resolution to approve the Scheme of Arrangement will be by poll, which shall be conducted as the Chair of the Court Meeting may determine.
Scheme Shareholders who are entitled to attend and vote at the Court Meeting may vote in person at such meeting or they may appoint one or more persons, whether a member of the Company or not, as their proxy or proxies, to exercise all or any of their rights to attend, speak and vote at the Court Meeting, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares.
It is important that, for the Court Meeting, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair representation of opinion of Scheme Shareholders. Scheme Shareholders are strongly encouraged to submit proxy appointments and instructions for the Court Meeting as soon as possible, using any of the methods (by post, online or electronically through CREST) set out below. Scheme Shareholders are also strongly encouraged to appoint "the Chair of the Meeting" as their proxy.
The completion and return of the blue Form of Proxy by post (or transmission of a proxy appointment or voting instruction electronically, online, through CREST or by any other procedure described below) will not prevent you from attending, speaking and voting at the Court Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, if you are entitled to and wish to do so.
A blue Form of Proxy, for use at the Court Meeting, has been provided with this notice. Instructions for its use are set out in the form. It is requested that the blue Form of Proxy (together with any power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed, or a duly certified copy thereof) be returned to Link Group, Tyman's registrars, Link Group at Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL either: (i) by post or (ii) (during normal business hours only) by hand, so as to be
received as soon as possible and not later than 2:30 p.m. on 10 July 2024 (or, in the event of an adjournment of the Court Meeting, 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time appointed for the adjourned meeting). However, if not so lodged, blue Forms of Proxy (together with any such authority, if applicable), may be handed to the Chair of the Court Meeting or to Tyman's registrars, on behalf of the Chair of the Court Meeting, before the start of the Court Meeting and will be valid.
As an alternative to completing and returning the printed Form of Proxy, proxies may be appointed electronically by logging on to the following website: www.signalshares.com, selecting the "Proxy Vote" button and following the instructions therein. For an electronic proxy appointment to be valid, the appointment must be received by Link Group not later than 2:30 p.m. on 10 July 2024 (or, in the event of an adjournment of the Court Meeting, 48-hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time appointed for the adjourned meeting). If the electronic proxy appointment is not received by this time, it will be invalid. Full details of the procedure to be followed to appoint a proxy electronically are given on the website.
If you hold Tyman Shares in uncertificated form through CREST and wish to appoint a proxy or proxies for the Court Meeting (or any adjournment thereof) by using the CREST electronic proxy appointment service, you may do so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed any 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.
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 the specifications of Euroclear and must contain the information required for such instructions as described in the CREST Manual. The message (regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or an amendment to the instructions given to a previously appointed proxy) must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by Tyman's registrars, Link Group not later than 2:30 p.m. on 10 July 2024 (or, in the event of an adjournment of the Court Meeting, 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time appointed for the adjourned meeting). 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 Link Group are 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.
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 any voting service provider(s), to procure that his/her 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. For further information on the logistics of submitting messages in CREST, 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.
Tyman may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the CREST Regulations.
Entitlement to attend and vote (either in person or by proxy) at the Court Meeting or any adjournment thereof and the number of votes which may be cast at the Court Meeting will be determined by reference to the register of members of the Company at 6:00 p.m. on 10 July 2024 or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, at 6:00 p.m. on the date which is two Business Days before the date fixed for the adjourned meeting. Changes to the register of members after the relevant time shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote (either in person or by proxy) at the Court Meeting.
In the case of joint holders of Scheme Shares, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, will be accepted to the exclusion of the vote(s) of the other joint holder(s). For this purpose, seniority will be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register of members of the Company in respect of the joint holding.
As an alternative to appointing a proxy, any holder of Scheme Shares which is a corporation (including a company) may appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all its powers as a member, provided that if two or more corporate representatives purport to vote in respect of the same shares, if they purport to exercise the power in the same way as each other, the power is treated as exercised in that way, and in other cases the power is treated as not exercised.
By said order, the Court has appointed Nicky Hartery (Chairman) or failing him Rutger Helbing (Chief Executive Officer), or failing him any other director of the Company to act as chair of the Meeting and has directed the chair to report the result of the Court Meeting to the Court.
The Scheme of Arrangement will be subject to the subsequent sanction of the Court.
Dated 11 June 2024
99 Bishopsgate London EC2M 3XF Solicitors for the Company
Any person to whom this notice is sent who is a person nominated under section 146 of the Companies Act to enjoy information rights (a "Nominated Person") does not, in that capacity, have a right to appoint a proxy, such right only being exercisable by shareholders of the Company. However, Nominated Persons may, under an agreement between him/her and the shareholder by whom he/she was nominated, have a right to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for the Court Meeting. If a Nominated Person has no such proxy appointment right or does not wish to exercise it, he/she may, under any such agreement, have a right to give instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a general meeting of Tyman plc (the "Company") will be held at the offices of Latham & Watkins, 99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XF, at 2:45 p.m. on 12 July 2024 (or as soon thereafter as the meeting of the holders of Scheme Shares (as defined in the Scheme as referred to in the resolution set out below), convened for 2:45 p.m. on the same day and at the same place, by an order of the High Court of Justice, shall have concluded or been adjourned) for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolution, which will be proposed as a special resolution.
THAT, for the purpose of giving effect to the scheme of arrangement dated 11 June 2024 between the Company and the holders of Scheme Shares (as defined in such scheme of arrangement), a print of which has been produced to this meeting and for the purposes of identification signed by the chairman of this meeting, in its original form or subject to such modification, addition or condition as may be agreed between the Company and Quanex and approved or imposed by the Court (the "Scheme"):
11 June 2024
By Order of the Board Peter Ho Company Secretary
Registered Office: 29 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9BU
Registered in England and Wales No. 02806007
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.
Pursuant to Regulation 41(1) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (as amended), the Company has specified that only those members registered on the register of members of the Company at 6:00 p.m. on 10 July 2024 (the "Voting Record Time") (or, if the meeting is adjourned to a time more than 48 hours after the Voting Record Time, at 6:00 p.m. on the day which is two days prior to the time of the adjourned meeting) shall be entitled to attend and vote (either in person or by proxy) at the General Meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at that time. If the meeting is adjourned to a time not more than 48 hours after the Voting Record Time, that time will also apply for the purpose of determining the entitlement of members to attend and vote (and for the purposes of determining the number of votes they may cast) at the adjourned meeting. 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.
Tyman Shareholders are strongly encouraged to submit proxy appointments and instructions for the General Meeting as soon as possible, using any of the methods (by post, online or electronically through CREST) set out below. Tyman Shareholders are also strongly encouraged to appoint "the Chair of the Meeting" as their proxy.
A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting may appoint one or more proxies to exercise all or any of the member's rights to attend, submit written questions and, on a poll, to vote, instead of him or her. A proxy need not be a member of the Company but must attend the meeting for the member's vote to be counted. 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. If a member wishes to appoint more than one proxy, they should contact Link Group for further yellow Forms of Proxy or photocopy the yellow Form of Proxy as required.
The completion and return of the yellow Form of Proxy by post (or transmission of a proxy appointment or voting instruction electronically, online, through CREST or by any other procedure described below) will not prevent you from attending, speaking and voting at the General Meeting, if you are entitled to and wish to do so.
A yellow Form of Proxy, for use at the General Meeting, has been provided with this notice. Instructions for its use are set out in the form. It is requested that the yellow Form of Proxy (together with any power of attorney or other authority, if any, under which it is signed, or a duly certified copy thereof) be returned to Link Group, Tyman's registrars, at Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL either: (i) by post or (ii) (during normal business hours only) by hand, so as to be received as soon as possible and not later than 2:45 p.m. on 10 July 2024 (or, in the event of an adjournment of the General Meeting, 48-hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time appointed for the adjourned meeting).
If the yellow Form of Proxy for the General Meeting is not lodged by the relevant time, it will be invalid.
As an alternative to completing and returning the printed yellow Form of Proxy, proxies may be appointed electronically by logging on to the following website: www.signalshares.com, selecting the "Proxy Vote" button and following the instructions therein. For an electronic proxy appointment to be valid, the appointment must be received by Link Group not later than 2:45 p.m. on 10 July 2024 or, in the event of an adjournment of the General Meeting, 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time appointed for the adjourned meeting. Full details of the procedure to be followed to appoint a proxy electronically are given on the website.
If you hold Tyman Shares in uncertificated form through CREST and wish to appoint a proxy or proxies for the General Meeting (or any adjournment thereof) by using the CREST electronic proxy appointment service, you may do so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed any 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.
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 the specifications of Euroclear and must contain the information required for such instructions as described in the CREST Manual. The message (regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or an amendment to the instructions given to a previously appointed proxy) must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by Link Group (ID: RA10) not later than 2:45 p.m. on 10 July 2024 (or, in the event of an adjournment of the General Meeting, 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period falling on a non-business day) before the time appointed for the adjourned meeting). 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 Link Group are 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.
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 any voting service provider(s), to procure that his/her 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. For further information on the logistics of submitting messages in CREST, 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.
Tyman may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the CREST Regulations.
In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint one or more proxies, only the purported appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the joint holders stand in the Company's register of members in respect of the joint holding.
Any corporation (including a company) which is a shareholder can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its powers, provided that if two or more representatives purport to vote in respect of the same shares: if they purport to exercise the power in the same way as each other, the power is treated as exercised in that way; and in other cases, the power is treated as not exercised.
At the General Meeting, voting on the Special Resolution will be by poll. The results of the poll will be announced through a Regulatory Information Service and published on the Company's website as soon as reasonably practicable following the conclusion of the General Meeting.
Any person to whom this notice is sent who is a person nominated under section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 to enjoy information rights (a "Nominated Person") may, under an agreement between him/her and the shareholder by whom he/she was nominated, have a right to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for the General Meeting. If a Nominated Person has no such proxy appointment right or does not wish to exercise it, he/she may, under any such agreement, have a right to give instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights.
The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to appointment of proxies in paragraph 2 above does not apply to Nominated Persons. The rights described in that paragraph can only be exercised by shareholders of the Company.
As at 4 June 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this notice), the Company's issued share capital consisted of 196,762,059 ordinary shares of 5 pence each, carrying one vote each. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company as at 10 June 2024 were 196,322,249 votes.
Any member attending the General Meeting has a right to ask questions. The Company must cause to be answered any such question relating to the business being dealt with at the General Meeting but no such answer need be given if: (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the General Meeting or involve the disclosure of confidential information; (b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question; or (c) it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the General Meeting that the question be answered.
Tyman Shareholders who have any queries about the General Meeting should contact the Shareholder Helpline operated by Link Group, on +44 (0) 371 664 0321. 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. The helpline is open between 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Please note that Link Group cannot provide any financial, legal or tax advice and calls may be recorded and monitored for security and training purposes.
Tyman Shareholders may not use any electronic address provided in this notice or in any related documents to communicate with the Company for any purpose other than those expressly stated. Any electronic communications, including the lodgement of any electronic proxy form, received by the Company, or its agents, that is found to contain any virus will not be accepted.
Paragraph 3 (Background to and reasons for the Transaction) of Part One (Letter from the Chairman of Tyman plc) of this document contains statements of estimated cost savings and synergies arising from the Transaction (together, the "Quantified Financial Benefits Statement").
A copy of the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement is set out below:
"The Quanex Directors, having reviewed and analyzed the potential cost synergies of the Transaction, and taking into account the factors they can influence, believe that the Enlarged Group can deliver approximately US\$30 million of pre-tax recurring cost synergies on an annual run-rate basis, expected to be realized by the end of the second full year following completion of the Transaction.
The quantified cost synergies, which are expected to originate from the cost bases of both Quanex and Tyman, are expected to be realized primarily from:
The Quanex Directors expect approximately 50 per cent. of these cost synergies to be achieved by the end of the first 12-month period following completion of the Transaction and the full run-rate by the second anniversary of completion of the Transaction.
The Quanex Directors estimate that the realization of the identified cost synergies will result in oneoff costs to achieve of approximately US\$35 million in aggregate over the first two years post completion of the Transaction.
Potential areas of dis-synergy expected to arise in connection with the Transaction have been considered and were determined by the Quanex Directors to be immaterial for the analysis.
The identified cost synergies will occur as a direct result of the success of the Transaction and would not be achieved on a standalone basis. The identified cost synergies reflect both the beneficial elements and relevant costs."
Further information on the bases of belief supporting the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, including the principal assumptions and sources of information, is set out below.
In preparing the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, Tyman has provided Quanex with certain operating and financial information to facilitate a detailed analysis in support of evaluating the potential synergies available from the Transaction. Where possible, estimated benefits and costs have been calculated on a bottom-up basis. In circumstances where data has been limited for commercial, regulatory, or other reasons, Quanex management has made estimates and assumptions to aid its development of individual synergy initiatives. The assessment and quantification of the potential synergies have, in turn, been informed by Quanex management's industry experience and knowledge of the existing businesses, together with consultation with Tyman.
The synergy assumptions have been risk-adjusted.
The cost bases used as the basis for the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement are Quanex last twelve months to 31 January 2024 (with adjustments made to reflect non-recurring items) and manpower costs and headcount data as of 25 March 2024, and Tyman audited financial results and headcount data for the year ending 31 December 2023 (with adjustments made to reflect nonrecurring items and expected future changes in certain costs).
In arriving at the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, the Quanex Directors have assumed:
In addition, the Quanex Directors have assumed that the cost synergies are substantively within Quanex's control, albeit that certain elements are dependent in part on negotiations with third parties.
As required by Rule 28.1(a) of the Takeover Code, KPMG LLP, as reporting accountants to Quanex, and UBS, as financial adviser to Quanex, have provided the reports required under that Rule. Copies of these reports are included in Parts B and C (respectively) of Appendix 4 to the Announcement. Each of KPMG LLP and UBS has given and not withdrawn its consent to the publication of their respective reports in the Announcement in the form and context in which it is included.
As required by Rule 27.2(d) of the Takeover Code, the Quanex Directors confirm that:
Under the terms of the Transaction, every Scheme Shareholder at the Scheme Record Time will receive, subject to the terms and conditions set out in Part 3 (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Transaction) of this document, 240.0 pence in cash and 0.05715 of a New Quanex Share for each Scheme Share (the "Main Offer").
As an alternative to the Main Offer, eligible Scheme Shareholders may elect in respect of all (but not part only) of their Tyman Shares to receive, in lieu of the Main Offer, the consideration in respect of their entire holding of Tyman Shares in Quanex Shares at a ratio of 0.14288 of a New Quanex Share to every 1 Tyman Share held at the Scheme Record Time (the "Capped All-Share Alternative").
Tyman Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions are not eligible to elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative.
If the Scheme becomes Effective, Scheme Shareholders who do not validly elect for the Capped All-Share Alternative will automatically receive the Main Offer for their entire holding of Tyman Shares.
Unlike Tyman Shares, the Quanex Shares are not capable of being held, transferred or settled through the CREST settlement systems. For this reason, Scheme Shareholders who hold their Tyman Shares in uncertificated form through CREST ("Tyman CREST Shareholders") (directly or through a broker or other nominee with a CREST account) immediately prior to the Scheme Record Time will not be issued New Quanex Shares directly, but will instead be issued Quanex CREST Depositary Interests ("Quanex CDIs") (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares) through an existing CDI programme administered through CREST in respect of Quanex Shares.
The Quanex CDIs will be issued by CREST Depository Limited through CREST to the Receiving Agent, as receiving agent for delivery to the securities deposit account in CREST in which each such uncertificated Scheme Shareholder previously held Scheme Shares. A custody fee, as determined by CREST from time to time, is charged at the user level (i.e. to the holder of Quanex CDIs).
Quanex and Tyman will enter into arrangements with the Receiving Agent pursuant to which the Receiving Agent and Euroclear will make arrangements to credit the appropriate stock account in CREST of the relevant Scheme Shareholder with such relevant Scheme Shareholder's entitlement to Quanex CDIs as soon as practicable after the Effective Date and in any event within 14 days thereof. The stock account concerned will be an account under the same participant ID and member account ID under which the relevant CREST shareholder holds the relevant Scheme Shares.
In respect of your Tyman Shares, with effect from close of trading on the last day of dealings in Tyman Shares prior to the Effective Date, each holding of Scheme Shares credited to any stock account in CREST will be disabled and all Scheme Shares will be removed from CREST in due course.
If Tyman or Quanex reasonably believes or is advised that a Tyman Shareholder is a Restricted Shareholder, Quanex may at its discretion determine that either (i) such Tyman Shareholder shall not have allotted or issued to him Quanex CDIs and that the Quanex CDIs which would otherwise have been attributable to such Tyman Shareholder under the terms of the Transaction shall be sold in the market and the cash proceeds of such sale forwarded to such Tyman Shareholder or (ii) the Quanex CDIs shall be issued to such Tyman Shareholder but shall be sold in the market on his behalf and the cash proceeds of such sale forwarded to the relevant Tyman Shareholder (in each case after deduction of broking fees and other sale costs and expenses).
A "CDI" stands for a CREST Depository Interest. A CDI is a UK security that represents a stock traded on an exchange outside the UK. CDIs were created to allow overseas stocks to be held and settled through CREST in the UK in the same way as trades in UK shares.
As Quanex is a US company organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, it will not be possible for New Quanex Shares to be held directly in CREST in the same way as the Scheme Shares are. Following the Transaction, as is customary in these circumstances, Quanex CDIs will be issued to Scheme Shareholders who held their Scheme Shares through CREST to allow settlement to take place efficiently on as close as possible to a like-for-like basis.
Euroclear UK & International Limited ("Euroclear") operates the CREST system. You can find out more information on CREST and CDIs by visiting the Euroclear website at www.euroclear.co.uk.
The ISIN for the Quanex CDIs is US7476191041.
Under the arrangements, one Quanex CDI will represent one Quanex Share.
Holders of Quanex CDIs are not registered holders of the New Quanex Shares. Instead the New Quanex Shares underlying all of the Quanex CDIs are held on trust for the Quanex CDI holders. The terms on which CDIs are issued and held in CREST are set out in the CREST Manual (and, in particular, the deed poll set out in the CREST International Manual) and the CREST Terms and Conditions issued by Euroclear.
You can continue to hold your Quanex CDIs through CREST.
You can instruct your broker to make arrangements to sell the Quanex Shares underlying your Quanex CDIs (see the third paragraph of Question 9 below).
You can instruct your broker to sell your Quanex CDIs to another CREST participant (to the extent a counterparty is found) (see the second paragraph of Question 9 below).
You may wish to hold Quanex Shares via DRS rather than hold Quanex CDIs in CREST. In this instance you should direct your broker to make arrangements for the Quanex CDIs to be cancelled and for the Quanex Shares underlying the Quanex CDIs to be deposited into your nominated US brokerage account (see Question 10 below).
Yes, the Quanex CDIs will reflect the same economic rights as are attached to the New Quanex Shares.
Proceeds to Quanex CDI holders resulting from the payment of any dividends by Quanex will be paid on Quanex CDIs in USD as the default. Alternatively, such dividends may be paid in a participant's preferred currency stated within the CREST system (either USD, pounds sterling or euros).
Please note that your broker may apply currency conversion charges for converting USD to or from pounds sterling or euros for any conversion of dividend proceeds. For more information on these charges, please consult your broker.
A custody fee, as determined by CREST from time to time, is charged to the holder of Quanex CDIs. You should consult your broker for details of any charges applicable to you.
Should a Scheme Shareholder wish to hold Quanex Shares via DRS rather than hold Quanex CDIs (representing an entitlement to New Quanex Shares), standard CREST tariff fees will apply to CREST members for utilising the CREST International Settlement Links Service in order to effect such a transfer. In this instance, you should consult your broker for details of charges applicable to you.
Should a Scheme Shareholder direct their broker to sell their Quanex CDIs in dematerialised form to another CREST member, no cross-border transfer fee is charged by CREST although standard CREST tariff fees will apply. You should consult your broker for details of charges applicable to you.
Scheme shareholders who hold Scheme Shares in certificated form should consult their broker or custodian (as applicable) for details of how they may trade their interests in New Quanex Shares and for details of all associated charges.
Euroclear offer a general meeting and proxy voting service for relevant CDIs representing US securities in partnership with Broadridge. Holders of Quanex CDIs who wish to participate in Quanex shareholder meetings will need to ensure that they have established connectivity with the Broadridge proxy voting service to receive meeting announcements and to send their voting instructions. Full details for CREST members can be found on the following webpage: https:// my.euroclear.com/eui/en/reference/services/asset-servicing-basics/general-meetings-and-proxy-votingbasics.html. Shareholders who are not direct CREST participants should refer to their broker for further information regarding Quanex shareholder voting.
Holders of Quanex CDIs will otherwise be treated in the same manner as if they were registered holders of the New Quanex Shares underlying the Quanex CDIs, in each case in accordance with applicable law and, so far as is possible, in accordance with the CREST arrangements.
Tyman Shareholders receiving Quanex CDIs will be able to instruct their broker to: (i) trade their Quanex CDIs with other CREST members; or (ii) make arrangements for an international transfer of the Quanex Shares underlying the Quanex CDIs to a US brokerage account using the CREST International Settlement Links Service.
You can instruct your broker to sell your Quanex CDIs "off-market" to another CREST member. In this instance, no cross-border transfer will be required. The delivering CREST member will transfer the Quanex CDIs to their CREST counterparty (to the extent a counterparty is found) either by a free of payment or versus payment CREST transaction. You should contact your broker who can provide details of the procedure to be followed, any pricing implications and the related costs.
Alternatively, you can instruct your broker to sell your Quanex CDIs by making arrangements to undertake a cross-border delivery transaction, which allows a sale of the underlying Quanex Shares to be settled in accordance with the CREST International Settlement Links Service. Your broker would need to issue an instruction to CREST to cancel the Quanex CDI holding. CREST will then transfer the relevant number of underlying Quanex Shares to a US brokerage account. Once the underlying Quanex Shares have been transferred to the relevant US brokerage account, the broker would then proceed to make an "on market" trade and remit the proceeds to you, net of any brokerage fees. You should contact your broker for further details.
Please refer to Question 11 for information on the costs of trading in Quanex CDIs.
Should you wish to hold Quanex Shares via DRS rather than hold Quanex CDIs in CREST, you can direct your broker to make arrangements for the Quanex CDIs to be cancelled and for the Quanex Shares underlying the Quanex CDIs to be deposited into your nominated US brokerage account. You should contact your broker who will be able to provide further details of the procedure to be followed and the related costs.
A cross-border transaction fee would be chargeable by CREST and apply to the transfer of the relevant number of Quanex Shares underlying the Quanex CDIs to be deposited into your US brokerage account.
In addition, brokers are likely to charge an additional administrative fee associated with this transaction and any subsequent trading instruction, with such fees varying between brokers. Additional fees may also be applied by market participants and brokers in the jurisdictions where trades in Quanex CDIs are settled.
For more information on the fees associated with converting your Quanex CDIs to holding Quanex Shares via DRS, please consult your broker.
DISCLAIMER. The information which is summarised herein does not constitute financial or other professional advice and is general in nature. You should consult your broker or financial adviser, as appropriate, if you have any specific questions concerning this information.
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