Livermore Investments Group Limited
("Livermore" or "the
Company")
Cash offer of £0.90 per Atlas Share to acquire
the Atlas Shares
The following was
released by Fragiolig Holdings Limited on April 19, 2009 RNS # 3452K. Livermore
would further like to disclose that immediately prior to this announcement,
Livermore held 21.71 per cent of Atlas Estates Limited issued share capital:
CASH OFFER
by
FRAGIOLIG HOLDINGS
LIMITED
("FRAGIOLIG")
for
ATLAS ESTATES LIMITED
("ATLAS")
Highlights
· Cash
offer by Fragiolig of £0.90 per Atlas Share to acquire the Atlas Shares not
already owned by Fragiolig (or parties acting in concert with it), valuing the
entire issued share capital of Atlas at approximately £42.17 million.
· The
Offer provides Atlas Shareholders with an opportunity to realise their
investment in Atlas for cash at a price that fully reflects the future
prospects of the business.
· The
Offer price represents: a premium of approximately 41 per cent. to the three
month volume-weighted average price of Atlas Shares; and a premium of 11 per
cent. to the Closing Price of £0.81 per Atlas Share on 13 April 2010, being the
last dealing day prior to the announcement by Atlas that it had received an
approach in connection with a potential takeover offer.
· Subject
to the other terms of the Offer, the Offer is conditional only on Fragiolig
receiving acceptances in respect of Atlas Shares which will result in Fragiolig
(together with parties acting in concert with it) holding more than 50 per
cent. of the voting rights exercisable at general meetings of Atlas.
· Immediately
prior to this announcement, Fragiolig acquired 3,325,346 Atlas Shares, as a
result of which Fragiolig, together with parties acting in concert with it, now
owns, in aggregate, 15,437,738 Atlas Shares, representing approximately 32.95
per cent. of the issued share capital of Atlas. In addition, Fragiolig has
received an irrevocable undertaking to accept the Offer in respect of a further
3,100,199 Atlas Shares, representing approximately 6.62 per cent. of the issued
share capital of Atlas.
Summary
The Fragiolig Board are
pleased to announce a cash offer to be made by Fragiolig (a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Izaki Group, the Israel-based real estate development firm)
to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Atlas not
already owned by Fragiolig or persons acting in concert with it.
The Offer, which will be
subject to the Acceptance Condition and to the full terms and conditions of the
Offer, which will be set out in the Offer Document and Form of Acceptance when
issued, will be made on the following basis:
for each Atlas Share £0.90in
cash.
The Offer values the
entire issued share capital of Atlas at approximately £42.17 million. The Offer
represents a discount of approximately 5 per cent. to the Closing Price of
£0.95 per Atlas Share on 15 April 2010, being the last dealing day before the
date of this announcement. The Offer also represents a premium of approximately
11 per cent. to the Closing Price of £0.81 per Atlas Share on 13 April 2010,
being the last dealing day prior to the announcement by Atlas that it had received
an approach in connection with a potential takeover offer, and a premium of
approximately 41 per cent. to the three month volume-weighted average price of
Atlas Shares.
On 16 April 2010
Fragiolig acquired 3,325,346 Atlas Shares, representing approximately 7.10 per
cent. of the issued share capital of Atlas, at a price of £0.90 per Atlas
Share. As a result of this acquisition, under Rule 9 of the City Code a
mandatory cash offer is required to be made by Fragiolig for the entire issued
and to be issued share capital of Atlas not already owned by Fragiolig or by
persons acting in concert with it at a price of £0.90 per Atlas Share, being
the highest price paid by Fragiolig or any person acting in concert with it for
Atlas Shares in the 12 months prior to this announcement. Fragiolig, together
with parties acting in concert with it, now owns, in aggregate, 15,437,738
Atlas Shares representing approximately 32.95 per cent. of the issued share
capital of Atlas.
In addition, Fragiolig
has received an irrevocable undertaking to accept the Offer from CVW in respect
of a further 3,100,199 Atlas Shares, representing approximately 6.62 per cent.
of the issued share capital of Atlas. This undertaking will remain binding in
the event of a higher competing offer for Atlas.
Therefore, in
combination with the Atlas Shares already owned by Fragiolig and parties acting
in concert with it, Fragiolig, together with parties acting in concert with it,
owns, or has received an irrevocable undertaking in respect of, in aggregate,
18,537,937 Atlas Shares, representing approximately 39.57 per cent. of the
issued share capital of Atlas.
The Fragiolig Directors
recognise the achievements of the management team and executives of Atlas and
AMC in developing Atlas' business to date. The Fragiolig Directors believe the
Offer is compelling and provides Atlas Shareholders with a meaningful liquidity
event and an opportunity to realise their investment in Atlas at a price that
fully reflects its future prospects despite the continued uncertainties facing
Atlas and the macro-economic environment in which it operates.
Fragiolig has engaged
with the Atlas Board with a view to seeking a recommendation for the Offer, and
the Atlas Board is in the process of considering such recommendation.
Commenting on the
announcement Guy Indig, a representative of Fragiolig, said:
"Our offer
represents a unique opportunity for Atlas shareholders to realise certain value
for their shares in cash in circumstances where the markets in which Atlas
operates continue to face significant structural and liquidity challenges and
Fragiolig's offer fully reflects the future value of the business. We
look forward to working with the Board to secure their recommendation for our
offer."
Excellion Advisors LLP
is acting as financial adviser to Fragiolig. Dom Maklerski Banku Handlowego
S.A., which is part of Citigroup, is acting as financial adviser to Fragiolig
in relation to Polish matters.
Enquiries:
Fragiolig Holdings
Limited
Guy
Indig Telephone:
+357 2 245 8700
Excellion Advisors LLP,
Financial Adviser to Fragiolig
Robert
Stafler
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3008 6870
Raffael Johnen
Aura Financial
Andy
Mills
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7321 0034
This announcement does
not constitute an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for
any securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any
securities pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. The Offer will be made
solely by the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance accompanying the Offer
Document, which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer,
including details of how the Offer may be accepted.
Excellion Advisors LLP,
which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial
Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Fragiolig and no one else in
connection with the matters described in this announcement and is not advising
any other person and accordingly will not be responsible to anyone other than
Fragiolig for providing the protections afforded to clients of Excellion
Advisors LLP nor for providing advice in relation to the matters described in
this announcement.
The laws of the relevant
jurisdictions may affect the availability of the Offer to persons who are not
resident in the United Kingdom. Persons who are not resident in the
United Kingdom or who are subject to laws of any jurisdiction other than the United
Kingdom, should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable
requirements. Any person (including nominees, trustees and custodians)
who would, or otherwise intends to, forward this announcement, the Offer
Document and/or the Form of Acceptance or any accompanying document to any
jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom should refrain from doing so and seek
appropriate professional advice before taking any action.
The Offer will not be
made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any
means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, telephonically or
electronically) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of any
securities exchange of, the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan and will
not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facility or from within the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
Accordingly, this announcement and any other document relating to the Offer are
not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise
forwarded, transmitted, distributed or sent in, into or from the United States,
Canada, Australia or Japan. Doing so may render invalid any purported
acceptance of the Offer. All Atlas Shareholders or other persons (including
nominees, trustees or custodians) who would or otherwise intend to, or may have
a contractual or legal obligation to, forward this announcement or any other
document relating to the Offer, to any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom
should refrain from doing so and seek appropriate professional advice before
taking any action.
The Offer will be
capable of acceptance only by persons outside the United States. Offering
materials with respect to this Offer will not be, and may not be, distributed
in or sent to the United States and may not be used for the purpose of
solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell any securities in the United
States. Any tenders received from persons resident in the United States
or with United States mailing addresses will be rejected.
Dealing Disclosure
Requirements
Under the provisions of
Rule 8.3 of the City Code if any person is or becomes "interested"
(directly or indirectly) in one per cent. or more of any class of
"relevant securities" of Atlas all "dealings" in any
"relevant securities" of Atlas (including by means of an option in
respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such "relevant
securities") must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 pm (London
time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant
transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which the Offer
becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances, lapses or is
otherwise withdrawn or on which the "offer period" otherwise
ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding (whether formal or informal) to acquire an "interest"
in "relevant securities" of Atlas, they will be deemed to be a single
person for the purposes of Rule 8.3.
Under the provisions of
Rule 8.1 of the City Code, all "dealings" in "relevant
securities" of Atlas by Fragiolig or Atlas, or by any of their respective
"associates" must also be publicly disclosed by no later than 12.00
noon (London time) on the London business day following the date of the
relevant transaction.
A disclosure table,
giving details of the companies in whose "relevant securities"
"dealings" should be disclosed, and the number of such securities in
issue, can be found on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
"Interests in
securities" arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure,
whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities.
In particular, a person will be treated as having an "interest" by
virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in
respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities.
Terms in quotation marks
are defined in the City Code, which can also be found on the Panel's website.
If you are in any doubt
as to the application of Rule 8 to you, please contact an independent financial
adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, consult
the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk or contact the
Panel on telephone number +44 20 7638 0129; fax +44 20 7236 7013.
In addition to Rule 8,
as Atlas Shares are also listed on the WSE, dealings in Atlas Shares may also
require certain disclosures to be made to Atlas and to the Polish FSC. These
obligations are regulated by the Public Offering Act and were outlined in the
prospectus issued by Atlas in connection with the admission of the Atlas Shares
to listing on the WSE.
NOT FOR RELEASE,
PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED
STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO
WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
16 April 2010
CASH OFFER
by
FRAGIOLIG HOLDINGS
LIMITED
("FRAGIOLIG")
for
ATLAS ESTATES LIMITED
("ATLAS")
Introduction
The Fragiolig Board are
pleased to announce a cash offer to be made by Fragiolig (a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Izaki Group, the Israel-based real estate development firm)
to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Atlas not
already owned by Fragiolig or persons acting in concert with Fragiolig.
On 16 April 2010
Fragiolig acquired 3,325,346 Atlas Shares, representing approximately 7.10 per
cent. of the issued share capital of Atlas at a price of £0.90 per Atlas
Share. As a result of this acquisition, under Rule 9 of the City Code, a
mandatory cash offer is required to be made for the entire issued and to be
issued share capital of Atlas not already owned by Fragiolig or persons acting
in concert with it at a price of £0.90 per Atlas Share being the highest price
paid by Fragiolig or any person acting in concert with it for Atlas Shares in
the 12 months prior to this announcement. Fragiolig, together with parties
acting in concert with it, therefore now owns, in aggregate, 15,437,738 Atlas
Shares, representing approximately 32.95 per cent. of the issued share capital
of Atlas. Consequently, the Offer will be made in accordance with Rule 9 of the
City Code.
The Offer
The Offer, which will be
subject to the Acceptance Condition and to the full terms and conditions of the
Offer which will be set out in the Offer Document and Form of Acceptance when
issued, will be made on the following basis:
for each Atlas Share £0.90in
cash.
The Offer values the
entire issued share capital of Atlas at approximately £42.17 million. The Offer
represents a discount of approximately 5 per cent. to the Closing Price of
£0.95 per Atlas Share on 15 April 2010, being the last dealing day before the
date of this announcement. The Offer also represents a premium of approximately
11 per cent. to the Closing Price of £0.81 per Atlas Share at the close of
business on 13 April 2010, being the last dealing day prior to the date
of announcement by Atlas that it had received an approach in connection
with a potential takeover offer, and a premium of approximately 41 per cent. to
the three month volume-weighted average price of Atlas Shares.
Fragiolig has engaged
with the Atlas Board with a view to seeking a recommendation for the Offer, and
the Atlas Board is in the process of considering such recommendation.
The Offer will extend to
all Atlas Shares unconditionally allotted or issued (including to satisfy the
exercise of Atlas Warrants under the Warrant Instrument) before the date the
Offer closes (or such earlier date as Fragiolig may, in accordance with the
Acceptance Condition and the further terms and conditions of the Offer,
decide), save for those Atlas Shares that are presently owned by, or, before the
date the Offer closes, are issued to, Fragiolig or parties acting in concert
with it.
The Atlas Shares will be
acquired by Fragiolig fully paid and free from all liens, equities, charges,
encumbrances and other interests and together with all rights now or hereafter
attaching thereto, including the right to receive and retain all dividends and
other distributions declared, made or paid on or after the date of this
announcement.
The Acceptance Condition
and certain further terms and conditions of the Offer are set in Appendix
One to this announcement.
In accordance with
Polish law and regulation, the Offer is also being announced in Poland.
Irrevocable undertaking
and other transactions
Fragiolig has received
an irrevocable undertaking to accept the Offer from CVW in respect of 3,100,199
Atlas Shares, representing approximately 6.62 per cent. of the issued share
capital of Atlas. This undertaking will remain binding in the event of a higher
competing offer for Atlas.
Therefore, in
combination with the Atlas Shares already owned by Fragiolig and by parties
acting in concert with it, Fragiolig and parties acting in concert with it own,
or have received an irrevocable undertaking in respect of, in aggregate,
18,537,937 Atlas Shares, representing approximately 39.57 per cent. of the
issued share capital of Atlas.
Fragiolig has granted to
CVW an option to purchase 3,325,346 Atlas Shares at a price of £0.90 per Atlas
Share from Fragiolig during a period of 15 calendar days commencing two
Business Days after the date the Offer lapses or is withdrawn. CVW are not
entitled to exercise this option if the Offer becomes or is declared
unconditional in all respects.
AMC is a privately owned
Guernsey incorporated company whose sole purpose is to manage Atlas' assets on
its behalf pursuant to a management agreement between Atlas and AMC. AMC
is owned by the RP Capital Group and the Izaki Group.
In connection with RP
Capital's internal re-organisation of its investments, RP Partners Fund has
granted to an independent trustee, in its capacity as a trustee of a newly
established "purpose trust", options to acquire up to 25.5 per cent.
of the issued share capital of AMC. A member of the Izaki Group has made
an irrevocable offer to the trustee to be transferred and/or assigned to rights
and obligations under those options. If the trustee were to accept such offer
and if the Izaki Group exercises the options then the Izaki Group would hold,
in aggregate, 74.5 per cent. of AMC (the "AMC Transaction").
On 13 April 2010,
Fragiolig entered into a co-operation and implementation agreement with certain
companies in the RP Capital Group and certain companies in the Izaki Group
pursuant to which these parties agreed to conduct a joint, sustainable policy
in relation to Atlas. Such agreement was entered into in order for such
entities to properly co-ordinate their respective interests in Atlas.
On 13 April 2010
Fragiolig entered into a co-operation agreement with certain companies in the
RP Capital Group and certain companies in the Izaki Group pursuant to which
such parties agreed to provide certain mutual undertakings to each other in
connection with the making of the Offer or any other offer for Atlas.
Background to and
reasons for the Offer
The Fragiolig Directors
believe the Offer is compelling and provides Atlas Shareholders with an
opportunity to realise their investment in Atlas in cash at a price that fully
reflects the future prospects of the business. The Fragiolig Directors recognise
the achievements of the management team, directors and executives of Atlas and
AMC in developing the business to date. Notwithstanding this, Fragiolig
believes that Atlas continues to face uncertainties due to the environment in
which it operates, including:
· very
high levels of indebtedness with total bank debt of approximately €260m as at
31 December 2009 resulting in a significant recurring interest liability;
· Atlas'
ability to generate operating profits also curtailed by decreasing revenues,
with declines in the last financial year of 22 per cent. in rental income and
23 per cent. in income from hotel operations;
· low
visibility of making meaningful capital repayments resulting from property
sales or other exits in the near term;
· a
limited appetite for the provision of property finance among financial
institutions in the markets in which Atlas operates;
· limited
access to capital from equity capital markets largely as a result of the
extremely low liquidity in Atlas' shares;
· continued
uncertainties in the property markets in which Atlas operates; and
· lack
of financial means to develop Atlas's land assets.
Information on Atlas
Atlas is a closed-ended
investment company incorporated in Guernsey. The entire issued share capital of
Atlas was admitted to AIM on 1 March 2006 and to the WSE on 12 February 2008.
The Atlas Group invests
in real estate assets in Central and Eastern Europe excluding the Former USSR
Countries. The Atlas Group currently operates in the Polish, Hungarian,
Slovakian, Romanian and Bulgarian real estate markets. Atlas' assets are
managed by AMC.
As at 31 December 2009
the Atlas Group had 340 employees.
Information on Fragiolig
and the Izaki Group
Fragiolig is a limited
liability company incorporated in the Republic of Cyprus. It was
incorporated as part of the Izaki Group, the Israel-based real estate
development firm, on 12 November 2008 as an investment vehicle. Fragiolig is
wholly owned by the Izaki Group. The Izaki Group was founded in
1948. Mr Roni Izaki is the chief executive officer and main
shareholder of the Izaki Group.
The directors of
Fragiolig are Arlene Nahikian and Costas Christoforou.
The Izaki Group, through
Atlas International Holdings Limited, owns 6,540,745 Atlas Shares representing
approximately 13.96 per cent. of the issued share capital of Atlas and, through
Fragiolig owns 3,325,346 Atlas Shares, representing approximately 7.10 per cent
of the issued share capital of Atlas. In addition, the Izaki Group, through RI
Holdings Limited and RI Limited, holds, prior to the completion of the AMC
Transaction (as described above), a minority interest in AMC. Following
completion of the AMC Transaction, the Izaki Group will hold 74.5 per cent. of
the issued share capital of AMC.
Financing the Offer
The cash consideration
payable by Fragiolig under the terms of the Offer will be funded from the
existing cash resources of Fragiolig.
Excellion Advisors LLP,
as financial adviser to Fragiolig, is satisfied that sufficient resources are
available to Fragiolig to enable it to satisfy full acceptance of the Offer.
Management and employees
Fragiolig intends that,
on the Offer becoming wholly unconditional, the existing contractual employment
rights of all management and employees of Atlas will be fully safeguarded.
Warrants and treasury
shares
The Offer will extend to
any Atlas Shares unconditionally allotted or issued whilst the Offer remains
open for acceptance (or by such earlier date as Fragiolig may, subject to the
City Code, decide) upon the exercise of Atlas Warrants or otherwise.
The Offer will not
extend to any Atlas Shares held by Atlas in treasury, save to the extent that
they are transferred out of treasury whilst the Offer remains open for
acceptance.
Appropriate proposals
will, if required, also be made in due course to the holders of Atlas Warrants.
Interests in Atlas
At the date of this
announcement, the Izaki Group owns 9,866,091 Atlas Shares and RP Capital Group
and its affiliates which are deemed to be acting in concert with Fragiolig in
relation to Atlas, own 5,571,647 Atlas Shares. The holdings of the Izaki
Group and the RP Capital Group and parties acting in concert with them are as
follows:
Entity
|
Number of Atlas Shares owned
|
Percentage of issued Atlas Shares
|
Fragiolig Holdings Limited
|
3,325,346
|
7.10
|
Atlas International Holdings
Limited
|
6,461,425
|
13.79
|
Hadar Izaki-Bar1
|
24,660
|
0.05
|
Mishaela Shulman1
|
54,660
|
0.12
|
RP Explorer Master Fund
|
728,559
|
1.56
|
RP Partners Fund
|
4,832,017
|
10.31
|
RP Capital Group employees
|
11,071
|
0.02
|
Total
|
15,437,738
|
32.95
|
1 Hadar
Izaki-Bar and Mishaela Shulman are members of Mr Roni Izaki's family and are
deemed to be acting in concert with the Izaki Group
Entity
|
Number of Atlas Shares to be
issued on exercise of Atlas Warrants2
|
Rafael Berber
|
658,574
|
Roni Izaki
|
658,574
|
D Saradhi Rajan
|
461,002
|
Lou Silver
|
197,572
|
AMC
|
2,195,248
|
2 Atlas
Warrants are exercisable at a price of £3.41 per Atlas Share
Save as disclosed in
this announcement, neither Fragiolig nor any of its directors, nor, to the best
of Fragiolig's knowledge and belief, any person acting in concert with
Fragiolig, is interested in or has any rights to subscribe for any Atlas Shares
or has borrowed or lent any Atlas Shares nor does any such person have any
short position whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or
otherwise (including a short position under a derivative) or any arrangement in
relation to Atlas Shares. For these purposes 'interest' includes any long
economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of
securities and a person is treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the
ownership or control of securities or by virtue of any option in respect of, or
derivative referenced to, securities and 'arrangement' includes any agreement
to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to
purchase or take delivery of Atlas Shares and also includes any indemnity or option
arrangement, any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, of whatever
nature relating to Atlas Shares which may be an inducement to deal or refrain
from dealing in such securities.
In view of the
requirement for confidentiality, Fragiolig has not made any enquiries in
respect of certain parties who may be deemed by the Panel to be acting in
concert with it for the purposes of the Offer.
De-listing, compulsory
acquisition and re-registration
Whilst there is no
current intention to do so, if the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional
in all respects and subject to any applicable requirements of the London Stock
Exchange, Fragiolig may procure that Atlas will make an application to cancel
the admission to trading of Atlas Shares on AIM.
If Fragiolig receives
acceptances under the Offer in respect of, and/or otherwise acquires, 90 per
cent. or more in value of the Atlas Shares to which the Offer relates,
Fragiolig may exercise its rights pursuant to the articles of association of
Atlas to acquire compulsorily the remaining Atlas Shares in respect of which
the Offer has not been accepted. After compulsorily acquiring the remaining
Atlas Shares and subject to any applicable requirements under Polish law and
the rules of the WSE, Fragiolig may procure that Atlas will make an application
to cancel the admission to trading on WSE.
Overseas Shareholders
The availability of the
Offer to Atlas Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be
affected by the laws of their relevant jurisdiction. Such persons should inform
themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of
their jurisdiction. If you remain in any doubt, you should consult an
appropriate independent professional adviser in the relevant jurisdiction without
delay.
General
It is expected that the
Offer Document, setting out details of the Offer, and the Form of Acceptance
are dispatched shortly to Atlas Shareholders (other than certain Overseas
Shareholders) and, in any event, within 28 days of the date of this
announcement unless the Panel otherwise consent. The Offer is expected to
close in June 2010.
The Offer will be
subject to the Acceptance Condition and to the full terms and conditions to be
set out in the Offer Document and Form of Acceptance when issued.
The Offer will be
governed by English law and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the English
courts.
There are no agreements
or arrangements to which Fragiolig is a party which relate to the circumstances
in which it may or may not invoke or seek to invoke a condition to the Offer.
The International
Securities Identification Number for Atlas Shares is GB00B0WDBP88.
Details of the sources
and bases of certain information set out in this announcement are included in Appendix
Two to this announcement.
Appendix Three to this
announcement contains definitions of certain terms used in this announcement.
Fragiolig reserves the
right to elect to implement the acquisition of Atlas, with the consent of the
Panel, by way of scheme of arrangement under Part VIII of the Companies
(Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended). In such event, such scheme will be
implemented on the same terms (subject to appropriate amendment) as the Offer.
References to the Offer and the Offer Document in this announcement shall
include, where applicable, any such scheme of arrangement.
Enquiries:
Fragiolig Holdings
Limited
Guy
Indig Telephone: +357
2 245 8700
Excellion Advisors LLP,
Financial Adviser to Fragiolig
Robert
Stafler Telephone: +44
(0) 20 3008 6870
Raffael Johnen
Aura Financial
Andy
Mills Telephone: +44
(0) 20 7321 0034
This announcement does
not constitute an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for
any securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any
securities pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. The Offer will be made solely
by the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance accompanying the Offer
Document, which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer,
including details of how the Offer may be accepted.
The Fragiolig Directors
and Mr Roni Izaki accept responsibility for the information contained in this
document, save that the only responsibility accepted by the Fragiolig Directors
and Mr Roni Izaki in respect of the information contained in this document
relating to Atlas Group which has been compiled from public sources is to
ensure that such information is correctly and fairly reproduced and presented.
Subject as aforesaid, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the Fragiolig
Directors and Mr Roni Izaki (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure such
is the case), the information contained in this document is in accordance with
the facts and does not omit anything likely to effect the import of such
information.
Excellion Advisors LLP,
which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial
Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Fragiolig and no one else in
connection with the matters described in this announcement and is not advising
any other person and accordingly will not be responsible to anyone other than
Fragiolig for providing the protections afforded to clients of Excellion
Advisors LLP nor for providing advice in relation to the matters described in
this announcement.
The laws of the relevant
jurisdictions may affect the availability of the Offer to persons who are not
resident in the United Kingdom. Persons who are not resident in the
United Kingdom or who are subject to laws of any jurisdiction other than the
United Kingdom, should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable
requirements. Any person (including nominees, trustees and custodians)
who would, or otherwise intends to, forward this announcement, the Offer
Document and/or the Form of Acceptance or any accompanying document to any
jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom should refrain from doing so and seek
appropriate professional advice before taking any action.
The Offer will not be
made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any
means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, telephonically or
electronically) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of any
securities exchange of, the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan and will
not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or
facility or from within the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.
Accordingly, this announcement and any other document relating to the Offer is
not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise
forwarded, transmitted, distributed or sent in, into or from the United States,
Canada, Australia or Japan. Doing so may render invalid any purported
acceptance of the Offer. All Atlas Shareholders or other persons
(including nominees, trustees or custodians) who would or otherwise intend to,
or may have a contractual or legal obligation to, forward this announcement or
any other document relating to the Offer to any jurisdiction outside the United
Kingdom should refrain from doing so and seek appropriate professional advice
before taking any action.
The Offer will be
capable of acceptance only by persons outside the United States. Offering
materials with respect to this Offer will not be, and may not be, distributed
in or sent to the United States and may not be used for the purpose of
solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell any securities in the United
States. Any tenders received from persons resident in the United States
or with United States mailing addresses will be rejected.
Dealing Disclosure
Requirements
Under the provisions of
Rule 8.3 of the City Code if any person is or becomes "interested"
(directly or indirectly) in one per cent. or more of any class of
"relevant securities" of Atlas all "dealings" in any
"relevant securities" of Atlas (including by means of an option in
respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such "relevant
securities") must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 pm (London
time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant
transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which the Offer
becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances, lapses or is
otherwise withdrawn or on which the "offer period" otherwise
ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding (whether formal or informal) to acquire an "interest"
in "relevant securities" of Atlas, they will be deemed to be a single
person for the purposes of Rule 8.3.
Under the provisions of
Rule 8.1 of the City Code, all "dealings" in "relevant
securities" of Atlas by Fragiolig or Atlas, or by any of their respective
"associates" must also be publicly disclosed by no later than 12.00
noon (London time) on the London business day following the date of the
relevant transaction.
A disclosure table,
giving details of the companies in whose "relevant securities"
"dealings" should be disclosed, and the number of such securities in
issue, can be found on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
"Interests in
securities" arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure,
whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities.
In particular, a person will be treated as having an "interest" by
virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in
respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities.
Terms in quotation marks
are defined in the City Code, which can also be found on the Panel's website.
If you are in any doubt
as to the application of Rule 8 to you, please contact an independent financial
adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, consult
the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk or contact the
Panel on telephone number +44 20 7638 0129; fax +44 20 7236 7013.
In addition to Rule 8,
as Atlas Shares are also listed on the WSE, dealings in Atlas Shares may also
require certain disclosures to be made to Atlas and to the Polish FSC. These
obligations are regulated by the Public Offering Act and were outlined in the
prospectus issued by Atlas in connection with the admission of the Atlas Shares
to listing on the WSE.
Appendix One
Acceptance Condition and
certain further terms of the Offer
The Offer will comply
with the City Code, will be governed by English law and will be subject to the
jurisdiction of the courts of England. The Offer will be made on the
terms and conditions in the Offer Document and in the Form of Acceptance.
1. Acceptance
Condition
The Offer will be
subject to valid acceptances being received (and not, where permitted,
withdrawn) by not later than 3.00 p.m. (London time) on the first closing date
of the Offer (or such later time(s) and/or date(s) as Fragiolig may, with the
consent of the Panel or in accordance with the City Code, decide) in respect of
Atlas Shares which, together with Atlas Shares acquired or agreed to be
acquired before such time, will result in Fragiolig and any person acting in
concert with it holding Atlas Shares representing more than 50 per cent. of the
voting rights then normally exercisable at general meetings of Atlas including,
for this purpose to the extent (if any) required by the Panel, any such voting
rights attaching to any Atlas Shares that may be unconditionally allotted or
issued before the Offer becomes unconditional as to acceptances whether
pursuant to the exercise of any outstanding conversion or subscription rights
or otherwise.
For the purposes of this
condition:
(A)
Atlas Shares which have been unconditionally allotted shall be deemed to carry
the voting rights they will carry upon being entered in the register of members
of Atlas; and
(B)
the expression "Atlas Shares that may be unconditionally allotted or
issued" shall include any Treasury Shares which are unconditionally
transferred or sold by Atlas.
2. Certain
further terms of the Offer
The Offer will lapse if
the European Commission initiates proceedings under Article 6(1)(c) of Council
Regulation 139/2004/EC or, following a referral by the European Commission
under Article 9 of such Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Atlas by Fragiolig,
or any matter arising therefrom, is referred to the UK Competition Commission
in either case before 3.00 pm (London Time) on the first closing date of the
Offer or the time and date when the Offer becomes unconditional as to
acceptances, whichever is the later.
If the Offer lapses, the
Offer will cease to be capable of further acceptance and Fragiolig and holders
of Atlas Shares shall thereupon cease to be bound by prior acceptances
delivered on or before the time when the Offer lapses.
Fragiolig reserves the
right, with the consent of the Panel to elect to implement the acquisition of
the Atlas Shares by way of a scheme of arrangement under Part VIII of the
Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended). In such event, the scheme of
arrangement will be implemented on the same terms (subject to appropriate
amendments), so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the
Offer. In particular, the AcceptanceCondition will not apply and the
scheme of arrangement will become effective and binding on the following:
(A)
approval at a court meeting or any separate class meeting, if applicable, which
may be required by the court, (or any adjournment thereof) by a majority in
number of the Atlas Shareholders present and voting, either in person or by
proxy, representing 75 per cent. or more in value of the Atlas Shares held by
such holders;
(B)
the resolutions required to approve and implement the scheme of arrangement and
to be set out in a notice of extraordinary general meeting of the holders of
the Atlas Shares being passed by the requisite majority at such extraordinary
general meeting; and
(C)
the sanction of the scheme of arrangement and confirmation of any reduction of
capital involved therein by the court (in both cases with or without
modifications, on terms reasonably acceptable to Atlas and Fragiolig).
The attention of the
holders of Atlas Shares not resident in the United Kingdom is drawn to the
relevant provisions of the Offer Document which will be despatched on behalf of
Fragiolig.
Appendix Two
Sources and Bases of
Information
1. Historic
share prices are sourced from the AIM appendix to the daily official list of
the London Stock Exchange and represent the closing middle market prices
for the Atlas Shares on the relevant dates.
2. The
value of the entire issued share capital of Atlas is calculated upon the basis
of 46,852,014 Atlas Shares in issue, as published by the Company on 15 April
2010.
3. Unless
otherwise stated, the financial information relating to Atlas contained in this
announcement is extracted from the audited published consolidated accounts of
Atlas for the year ended 31 December 2009.
4. Unless
otherwise stated, the value of the share price of Atlas Shares has been
converted into pounds from Euros using the 15 April 2010 currency exchange rate
of €1.135/£1 based on the 9.30am exchange rate provided by the Bank of England.
Appendix Three
Definitions
The following
definitions apply throughout this announcement, unless the context requires
otherwise:
"Acceptance Condition"
|
means the condition to the Offer
referred to in paragraph 1 of Appendix One to this announcement
|
"AIM"
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AIM, a market operated by the
London Stock Exchange
|
"AMC"
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Atlas Management Company Limited
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"Atlas"
|
Atlas Estates Limited
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"Atlas Directors" or
"Atlas Board"
|
the directors of Atlas
|
"Atlas Group"
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Atlas and its subsidiary
undertakings
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"Atlas Shareholders"
|
holders of Atlas Shares
|
"Atlas Shares"
|
ordinary shares of €0.01 each in
Atlas in issue on the date of this announcement and any such further shares
which are unconditionally allotted or issued after the date hereof and before
the date on which the Offer closes (or such earlier date or dates as
Fragiolig may decide) pursuant to the exercise of the Atlas Warrants or
otherwise, but excluding any shares in Atlas which are held by Atlas in
treasury, except where they are transferred out of treasury whilst the Offer
remains open for acceptance
|
"Atlas Warrants"
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warrants exercisable pursuant to
the Warrant Instrument
|
"Australia"
|
the Commonwealth of Australia, its
states, territories and possessions
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"Business Day"
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a day (other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a public bank holiday) on which banks are generally open for
business in London and Warsaw
|
"Canada"
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Canada, its provinces and
territories and all areas subject to its jurisdiction and any political
sub-division thereof
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"City Code"
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the City Code on Takeovers and
Mergers
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"Closing Price"
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the closing middle market price of
an Atlas Share as derived from the AIM Appendix to the daily official list of
the London Stock Exchange
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"CVW"
|
Capital Venture Worldwide Group
Limited
|
"Euro" or "€"
|
the lawful currency of member
states of the European Union that adopt or have adopted the Euro as their
currency in accordance with the legislation of the European Union relating to
European Monetary Union (and references to "cent" shall be
construed accordingly)
|
"Financial Services
Authority"
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Financial Services Authority
Limited
|
"Form of Acceptance"
|
the form of acceptance, election
and authority to be distributed with the Offer Document.
|
"Former USSR Countries"
|
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan
|
"Fragiolig"
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Fragiolig Holdings Limited
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"Fragiolig Directors" or
"Fragiolig Board"
|
the directors of Fragiolig
|
"Guernsey"
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the Island of Guernsey
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"Japan"
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Japan, its cities, prefectures,
territories and possessions
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"London Stock Exchange"
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London Stock Exchange plc
|
"Offer"
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the proposed cash offer to be made
by Fragiolig on the terms and subject to the conditions to be set out in the
Offer Document, to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital
of Atlas save for the Atlas Shares already owned by Fragiolig or parties
acting in concert with it and, where the context admits, any subsequent
revision, variation, extension or renewal thereof
|
"Offer Document"
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the document proposed to be sent
to holders of Atlas Shares containing, amongst other things, the terms and
conditions of the Offer and where appropriate, any other document(s)
containing terms and conditions of the Offer
|
"Overseas Shareholders"
|
holders of Atlas Shares resident
in or nationals or citizens of, jurisdictions outside the UK or who are
nominees of, or custodians, trustees or guardians for, citizens or nationals
of other countries
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"Panel"
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the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
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"Polish FSC"
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the Polish Financial Supervisory
Commission ("Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego")
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"pounds" or
"£"
|
UK pounds sterling, the lawful
currency of the United Kingdom
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"Public Offering Act"
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the Polish Act on Public Offering,
Conditions Governing the Introduction of Financial Instruments to Organised
Trading, and Public Companies of 29 July 2005
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"Restricted
Jurisdiction"
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Canada, Australia and Japan and
any other jurisdiction in relation to which the extension or acceptance of
the Offer to such jurisdiction would violate the laws of such jurisdiction,
or where local laws or regulation may result in a significant risk of civil,
regulatory or criminal exposure if information on the Offer is sent or made
available to Atlas Shareholders in that jurisdiction
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"Treasury Shares"
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shares held as treasury shares as
defined in The Companies (Purchase of Own Shares) (Treasury Shares)
Ordinance, 2006
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"United Kingdom" or
"UK"
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the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland
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"United States" or
"US"
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the United States of America, its
territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and
the District of Columbia
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"Warrant Instrument"
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the warrant instrument executed by
Atlas on 23 February 2006 or any of the warrant issuance agreements between
(1) Atlas and (2) AMC and each of the directors of AMC, executed on 23
February 2006
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"WSE"
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Warsaw Stock Exchange
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Enquiries:
Livermore Yael
Kastiel +41
43 344 3200
Matrix
Corporate Capital LLP Stephen
Mischler / Tim Graham +44
20 3206 7000
|