Offer declared unconditional in all respects
Not for release, publication or distribution, in
whole or in part, in, into or from any jurisdiction where
to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws
or regulations of such jurisdiction
03 February 2012
RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER
BY
ARAVIS THERAPEUTICS LIMITED
FOR
AGI THERAPEUTICS PLC
1. Introduction
On 09 January 2012, the board of AGI Therapeutics plc
("AGI") and the board of Aravis Therapeutics
Limited ("Aravis") announced that they had
reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer
(the "Offer") by Aravis for the entire issued and
to be issued ordinary share capital of AGI.
The full terms of, and conditions to, the Offer and
the procedure for acceptance were set out in the Offer
Document and Forms of Acceptance which were
posted to AGI Shareholders on 12 January 2012.
2. Levels of Acceptances
As at 1.00 p.m. (Dublin time) on 02 February 2012,
being the initial closing date of the Offer, valid
acceptances of the Offer have been received in respect of
53,631,375 AGI Shares, representing approximately 79.56 per
cent. of AGI's issued share capital. In addition to
these valid acceptances, invalid acceptances of the Offer
have been received in respect of 1,921,845 AGI Shares,
representing approximately 2.85 per cent. of AGI's
issued share capital.
These acceptances include acceptances received in
respect of 31,359,118 AGI Shares (representing
approximately 46.52per cent. of
the existing issued ordinary share capital of AGI) which
were subject to irrevocable commitments procured by Aravis
from AGI Directors and AGI Investors and also include
acceptances received in respect of 11,000 AGI Shares
(representing approximately 0.016 per cent of the existing
issued ordinary share capital of AGI) from parties deemed
to be acting in concert with
Aravis.
Accordingly, Aravis is pleased to announce that each
of the conditions to the Offer, as set out in the Offer
Document, have been waived and the Offer is now declared
unconditional in all respects.
3. Offer timetable
The Offer remains open for acceptance until 3.00 p.m.
(Dublin time) on 17 February 2012.
AGI Shareholders who have not yet accepted the Offer
are urged to complete, sign and return their Forms of
Acceptance in accordance with the procedure set out in the
Offer Document as soon as possible. If further Forms of
Acceptance are needed, please contact Computershare
Investor Services (Ireland) Limited by telephone on 01 447
5438 (if calling within Ireland) or on +353 1 447 5438 (if
calling from outside Ireland).
Copies of the Offer Document and the Form of
Acceptance will be available for inspection at the offices
of A&L Goodbody, International Financial Services Centre,
North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, Ireland and Beauchamps
Solicitors, Riverside Two, Sir John Rogerson's Quay,
Dublin 2, Ireland during normal business hours on any
weekday (Saturday, Sundays and public holidays excepted)
while the Offer remains open for acceptance.
4. Settlement
Settlement of the consideration to accepting AGI
Shareholders, or their designated agents, will be
effected:
(a) in the case of valid acceptances received
complete in all respects on or before today's date,
within 14 calendar days of today's date; or
(b) in the case of valid acceptances received
complete in all respects after today's date, within 14
calendar days of the date of such receipt.
AGI Shareholders are able to elect to receive their
entire cash consideration pursuant to the Offer in US
Dollars or Euro. In the case of valid
acceptances received complete in all respects on or before
today's date, the Euro cash amount payable will be
determined based on the prevailing US$/€ exchange rate
today. In the case of valid
acceptances received complete in all respects after
today's date, the Euro cash amount payable will be
determined based on the prevailing US$/€ exchange rate on
the day their cash consideration is converted into Euro by
Aravis.
5. Compulsory Acquisition and
Cancellation of Trading
If Aravisreceives valid
acceptances in respect of 80 per cent
ofAGI's issued share capital, Aravis
intends to apply the provisions of section 204 of
the Irish Companies Act 1963 to
acquire compulsorily any outstanding AGI Shares as soon as
possible thereafter.
Notice is hereby given that Aravis intends, as soon
as it is practicable to do so, to procure the cancellation
of admission to trading of AGI Shares on ESM and AIM. It is
anticipated that the last day of trading of AGI Shares on
ESM and AIM will be close of business on 01 March 2012 and
that the cancellation of admission to trading on ESM and
AIM will take effect on 02 March 2012 (20 business days
from today) or as soon as is practicable thereafter.
6. Disclosures
The Directors of AGI are not aware of any material
change in the financial or trading position of AGI since 31
December 2010 being the date to which the last audited
accounts of AGI were prepared.
At the close of business on 06 January
2012, being the last Business Day prior to the
commencement of the Offer Period, the following
persons who are, or are deemed to be, acting in
concert with Araviswere
interested, or held any short positions, in relevant
securities of AGI:
|
|
No. AGI Shares
|
% AGI issued share capital
|
|
Goodbody Stockbrokers (on behalf of
discretionary clients)
|
11,000
|
0.016%
|
Save as disclosed above, neither the
Aravis Groupnor any person acting in concert
with the Aravis Groupis
interested in any relevant AGI securities, or holds any
short position in any relevant AGI securities.
Save as disclosed above, neither the
Aravis Groupnor any person acting in concert
with the Aravis Grouphas acquired
or agreed to acquire any AGI Shares or other securities of
AGI during the Offer Period.
This announcement should be read in conjunction with
the Offer Document dated 12 January 2012. Unless expressly
defined in this announcement, defined terms used in this
announcement shall have the same meanings as set out in the
Offer Document.
Enquiries:
|
AGI Therapeutics plc
|
Tel: +353 1 449
3254
|
|
David Kelly, CFO
|
|
|
|
|
|
Davy Corporate Finance
|
Tel: +353 1 679
6363
|
|
Financial adviser to AGI
|
|
|
John Frain
|
|
|
David Nangle
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodbody Corporate Finance
|
Tel: +353 1 667
0420
|
|
Financial adviser to the Aravis
Group
|
|
|
Simon Howley
|
|
|
Stephen Kane
|
|
Responsibility Statements
The directors of AGIaccept
responsibility for the information contained in this
announcement relating to AGI, the AGI Group, the directors
of AGI and members of their immediate families, related
trusts and persons connected with them, and for the
recommendation and related opinions of the directors of AGI
contained in this announcement. To the best of the
knowledge and belief of the directors of AGI (who have
taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case),
the information contained in this announcement for which
they accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts
and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of
such information.
The directors of the
AravisGroup accept responsibility for
the information contained in this announcement; other than
that relating to AGI, the AGI Group, the directors of AGI
and members of their immediate families, related trusts and
persons connected with them, and any recommendation and
related opinions of the directors of AGI. To the best of
the knowledge and belief of the directors of the
Aravis Group(who have taken all
reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the
information contained in this announcement for which they
accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and
does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such
information.
Financial Advisers
Davy Corporate Finance which is regulated by the
Central Bank of Ireland, is acting exclusively for
AGIand no one else in connection with
the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other
than AGIfor providing the
protections afforded to customers of Davy Corporate Finance
or for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any
other matters referred to in this announcement.
Goodbody Corporate Finance which is regulated by the
Central Bank of Ireland, is acting exclusively for
the Aravis Groupand no one else
in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to
anyone other than the Aravis
Groupfor providing the protections afforded to
customers of Goodbody Corporate Finance or for providing
advice in relation to the Offer or any other matters
referred to in this announcement.
General
This announcement does not constitute an offer to
purchase, sell, subscribe for or exchange or the
solicitation of an offer to purchase, sell, subscribe for
or exchange any securities or the solicitation of any vote
or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Offer or
otherwise.
The distribution of this announcement in or into
certain jurisdictions may be restricted by the laws of
those jurisdictions. Accordingly, copies of this
announcement and all other documents relating to the Offer
are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise
forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any
Restricted Jurisdiction. Persons receiving such documents
(including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and
custodians) should observe these restrictions. Failure to
do so may constitute a violation of the securities
laws
of any such jurisdiction.
Any response in relation to the Offer should be made
only on the basis of the information contained in the Offer
Document or any document by which the Offer are
made.