logo-loader
RNS
IWG PLC

IWG Plc - Results of Placing

RNS Number : 1940O
IWG PLC
28 May 2020
 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR FORWARDING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

 

FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.

LEI: 2138003LWDII27UTAG52

For immediate release

28 May 2020

("IWG" or the "Company")

IWG (LSE: IWG), the leading global operator of workspace brands, announces the successful pricing of the non-pre-emptive placing (the "Placing") of new ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares") announced yesterday, as well as the concurrent offer made by the Company for retail investors to subscribe for Ordinary Shares via the PrimaryBid platform (the "Retail Offer").

The Placing and the Retail Offer in aggregate comprise 133,891,213 new Ordinary Shares, which will raise gross proceeds of approximately £320 million. The price of 239 pence (the "Placing Price") represents a discount of 8.1 per cent. to the middle market closing price of 260.2 pence on 27 May 2020. The Ordinary Shares being issued under the Placing (the "Placing Shares") and under the Retail Offer (the "Retail Shares") together represent approximately 15.4 per cent. of the existing issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) of the Company prior to the Placing and the Retail Offer.

Investec Bank plc, Barclays Bank PLC and HSBC Bank plc are acting as joint global co-ordinators and joint bookrunners in connection with the Placing (the "Joint Global Co-ordinators" or the "Banks"). Investec, Barclays and HSBC are joint corporate brokers to the Company.

As part of the Placing, Mark Dixon, the CEO of the Company, has agreed to subscribe for 38,205,384 Placing Shares in the Placing at the Placing Price, equating to approximately £91.3 million and representing approximately 28.53 per cent. of the total number of Placing Shares and Retail Shares  being offered in the Placing and the Retail Offer.

IWG consulted with a number of its major shareholders prior to the Placing and has respected the principles of pre-emption through the allocation process. The Company is pleased by the strong support it has received from new and existing shareholders, including a number of retail shareholders via the Retail Offer.

Applications have been made to the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") and London Stock Exchange plc (the "LSE") respectively for the admission of the Placing Shares and the Retail Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the LSE (together, "Admission"). It is expected that Admission will become effective on or before 8.00 a.m. on 1 June 2020. The Placing and the Retail Offer are each conditional upon, amongst other things, Admission becoming effective and upon the Placing Agreement between the Company and the Banks not being terminated in accordance with its terms.

The Placing Shares and the Retail Shares will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with each other and with the existing Ordinary Shares in the capital of IWG, including, without limitation, the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue.

Following Admission, the total number of shares in issue in IWG will be 1,057,248,651. IWG currently holds 51,630,803 Ordinary Shares as treasury shares which do not carry voting rights, and, therefore, following Admission, the total number of voting shares in IWG in issue will be 1,005,617,848.

Estorn Limited, an entity owned by Mark Dixon, is a related party of the Company for the purpose of Chapter 11 of the FCA's Listing Rules (the "Listing Rules"). Estorn Limited has agreed to participate in the Placing for 38,205,384 Placing Shares for an aggregate consideration of approximately £91.3 million. The participation in the Placing by Estorn Limited constitutes a smaller related party transaction for the purposes of Listing Rule 11.1.10R.

 

Additionally, Toscafund Ltd ("Tosca") is a substantial shareholder of the Company and a related party of the Company for the purposes of the Listing Rules and has agreed to subscribe for 24,845,223 Placing Shares in the Placing at the Placing Price, representing an aggregate consideration of approximately £59.4 million. The participation in the Placing by Tosca constitutes a smaller related party transaction for the purpose of Listing Rule 11.1.10R.

A smaller related party transaction does not require the approval of independent shareholders of the Company. These transactions fall within Listing Rule 11.1.10R (smaller related party transactions) and this Announcement is made in accordance with Listing Rule 11.1.10R(2)(c).

This Announcement is released by IWG plc and contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR.

For the purposes of MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055, the person responsible for releasing this Announcement is Tim Regan, Company Secretary of IWG plc.

 

ENQUIRIES:

 

IWG plc

Mark Dixon, Chief Executive Officer

Eric Hageman, Chief Financial Officer

Neil Galloway, Executive Vice President

Tim Regan, Company Secretary

Wayne Gerry, Group Investor Relations Director

 

Tel: +41 (0) 41 723 2353

 

Investec Bank plc (Joint Global Co-ordinator, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Broker)

James Rudd / Henry Reast / Alex Wright / Tejas Padalkar

 

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7597 5970

Barclays Bank PLC (Joint Global Co-ordinator, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Broker)

Richard Probert / Tom Macdonald / Phil Drake / Ben Newmark

 

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7623 2323

HSBC Bank plc (Joint Global Co-ordinator, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Broker)

Mark Dickenson / Sam McLennan / Richard Fagan / Rob Baker

 

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7991 8888

Rothschild & Co (Financial Adviser)

Alex Midgen / Sam Green

 

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7280 5000

Brunswick

Nick Cosgrove / Charles Pretzlik / Oli Sherwood

Tel: +44 (0)20 7404 5959

 

This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement.

 

IWG is a company incorporated in Jersey with registered number 122154 and registered office at 22 Grenville Street, St Helier, Jersey JE4 8PX, Channel Islands.

This Announcement is for information purposes only and is directed only at persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing and disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their business and who have professional experience in matters relating to investments and are: (a) if in a member state of the European Economic Area (the "EEA"), qualified investors within the meaning of article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation") ("Qualified Investors"); or (b) if in the United Kingdom, Qualified Investors who are (i) persons who fall within the definition of "investment professional" in article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), or (ii) persons who fall within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (c) persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (all such persons referred to in (a), (b) and (c) above together being referred to as "Relevant Persons").  Any investment or investment activity to which this Announcement relates is available in the EEA or the UK only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. This Announcement must not be acted on or relied on by persons in the EEA or the UK who are not Relevant Persons.

No action has been taken by the Company, Investec, Barclays or HSBC or any of their respective Affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf that would permit an offer of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and the Banks to inform themselves about, and to observe, such restrictions.

No prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained in this Announcement and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation) to be published.  Persons needing advice should consult a qualified independent legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial, business or tax advice.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE, FORWARDING OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (COLLECTIVELY, THE "UNITED STATES"), AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.  FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, NOR IS IT INTENDED THAT IT WILL BE SO APPROVED.

This Announcement or any part of it does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of South Africa, Japan, Jersey or any other jurisdiction in which the same would be unlawful. No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in any such jurisdiction.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, and may not be offered, sold, pledged, taken up, exercised, resold, renounced, transferred, or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with the securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction of the United States.  The Placing Shares are being offered and sold by the Company only (a) outside the United States in offshore transactions as defined in, and pursuant to, Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S"), and (b) in the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) ("QIBs") in transactions not involving any "public offering" within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act pursuant to a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and/or pursuant to another exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. All potential Placees and all prospective beneficial owners of the Placing Shares must, now and at the time the Placing Shares are subscribed for, be, (i) outside the United States and subscribing for the Placing Shares in an "offshore transaction" as defined in, and in accordance with, Regulation S; or (ii) (a) a QIB and (b) subscribing for the Placing Shares pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act.  No public offering of securities is being made in the United States

The relevant clearances have not been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada, no prospectus has been lodged with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; the relevant clearances have not been, and will not be, obtained for the South Africa Reserve Bank or any other applicable body in the Republic of South Africa in relation to the Placing Shares and the Placing Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under or offering in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa or Japan.  Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, the Republic of South Africa, or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which such activities would be unlawful.

Certain statements contained in this Announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" with respect to the financial condition, performance, strategic initiatives, objectives, results of operations and business of the Company. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Announcement are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements.  Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words ''targets'', ''plans'', ''believes'', ''expects'', ''aims'', ''intends'', ''anticipates'', ''estimates'', ''projects'', ''will'', ''may'', "would", "could" or "should", or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements 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; and (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of the Company's operations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions.  Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements.  The important factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, economic and business cycles, the terms and conditions of the Company's financing arrangements, foreign currency rate fluctuations, competition in the Company's principal markets, acquisitions or disposals of businesses or assets and trends in the Company's principal industries.  Due to such uncertainties and risks, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements in this Announcement may not occur. The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement speak only as of the date of this Announcement.  The Company, its Directors, the Banks, their respective Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf each expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required to do so by applicable law or regulation, the Listing Rules, MAR, the DTRs, the rules of the London Stock Exchange or the FCA.

Each of the Banks is authorised by the Prudential Regulatory Authority (the "PRA") and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA.  Each of the Banks is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing, the contents of this Announcement and other matters described in this Announcement.  Each of the Banks will not regard any other person as their respective client in relation to the Placing, the content of this Announcement and other matters described in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone (including any Placees) other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the Placing, the content of this Announcement or any other matters referred to in this Announcement. The Banks are not acting for the Company with respect to the Retail Offer.

This Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by any Bank or by any of their respective Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.

This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning any investor's investment decision with respect to the Placing. The price of shares and any income expected from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested upon disposal of the shares. Past performance is no guide to future performance. The contents of this Announcement are not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice. Each investor or prospective investor should consult his, her or its own legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial, business or tax advice.

Any indication in this Announcement of the price at which ordinary shares have been bought or sold in the past cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. No statement in this Announcement is intended as a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company, as appropriate, for the current or future years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company.

In connection with the Placing, each of the Banks and any of their respective Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf, may take up a portion of the shares of the Company in the Placing in a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell for its own account such shares and other securities of the Company or related investments and may offer or sell such shares, securities or other investments otherwise than in connection with the Placing. Accordingly, references in this Announcement to Placing Shares being issued, offered, acquired or placed should be read as including any issue, offering or placement of such shares in the Company to the Banks or any of their respective Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf acting in such capacity. In addition, any Bank or any of their respective Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for difference) with investors in connection with which such Bank(s) or any of their respective Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of such securities of the Company, including the Placing Shares. Furthermore, in the event that the Banks acquire Placing Shares in the Placing, they may co-ordinate disposals of such shares in accordance with applicable law and regulation. None of the Banks or any of their respective Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so.

Each of the Banks and their respective Affiliates may have engaged in transactions with, and provided various commercial banking, investment banking, financial advisory transactions and services in the ordinary course of their business with the Company and/or its Affiliates for which they would have received customary fees and commissions. Each of the Banks and their respective Affiliates may provide such services to the Company and/or its Affiliates in the future.

The Placing Shares to be issued or sold pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the London Stock Exchange.

Neither the content of the Company's website (or any other website) nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this Announcement.

This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with applicable law and regulation in the United Kingdom and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (B) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any 'manufacturer' (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Banks will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

If you are in any doubt about the contents of this Announcement you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other financial adviser.

The Company has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the facts stated in this Announcement are true and accurate in all material respects, and that there are no other facts the omission of which would make misleading any statement in the document, whether of facts or of opinion. The Company accepts responsibility accordingly.

It should be remembered that the price of securities and the income from them can go down as well as up.

Capitalised terms used but not defined in this Announcement have the meaning given in the Placing Announcement unless otherwise stated.

NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THE FOREGOING, NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE BY ANY PERSON ANYWHERE AND THE COMPANY HAS NOT AUTHORISED OR CONSENTED TO ANY SUCH OFFERING IN RELATION TO THE PLACING SHARES.

 


This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
 
END
 
 
ROIEVLBLBELBBBV
NO INVESTMENT ADVICE

The Company is a publisher. You understand and agree that no content published on the Site constitutes a recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of...

FOR OUR FULL DISCLAIMER CLICK HERE

20 min read