Company Announcements

Recommended cash offer update

Source: RNS
RNS Number : 2502H
KAZ Minerals PLC
02 December 2020
 

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 THAT JURISDICTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2 December 2020

Recommended cash offer update

 

On 28 October 2020, the board of Nova Resources B.V. and the Independent Committee of KAZ Minerals PLC announced the terms of a recommended cash offer to be made by Bidco for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of KAZ Minerals (other than the KAZ Minerals Shares already owned or controlled by the Consortium) to be implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement.  On 19 November 2020, KAZ Minerals announced that it had asked the Court to adjourn the originally scheduled Court hearing seeking permission to convene the Court Meeting in connection with the Scheme. Posting of the Scheme Document can only take place after this hearing has been held and permission of the Court has been granted. A further announcement regarding the Court process will be made when appropriate.

Capitalised terms used in this announcement have the meaning given to them in the announcement dated 28 October 2020.

Enquiries:

Bidco / VTB Capital (Financial adviser to Bidco)

 

Alexander Metherell

+44 (0) 20 3334 8000

Giles Coffey

 

Elena Loseva

 

 

 

KAZ Minerals

 

Chris Bucknall, Head of Investor Relations

+44 (0) 20 7901 7882

Susanna Freeman, Company Secretary

+44 (0) 20 7901 7826

 

 

Brunswick Group (Financial PR adviser to KAZ Minerals)

 

Carole Cable

+44 (0) 20 7404 5959

Charles Pretzlik

 

 

 

Citigroup Global Markets Limited (Financial adviser and corporate broker to KAZ Minerals)

 

Robert Way

+44 (0) 20 7986 4000

Tom Reid

 

David Fudge

 

 

 

UBS AG London Branch (Financial adviser and corporate broker to KAZ Minerals)

 

Ian Hart

+44 (0) 20 7567 8000

Jason Hutchings

 

David Roberts

 

 

Important notices

VTB Capital, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the PRA and the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Bidco and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of VTB Capital nor for giving advice in relation to the Acquisition or any matter or arrangement referred to in this announcement.

Citigroup, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated in the UK by the FCA and the PRA, is acting as financial adviser for KAZ Minerals and for no one else in connection with the Acquisition and other matters described in this announcement, and will not be responsible to anyone other than KAZ Minerals for providing the protections afforded to clients of Citigroup nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Citigroup nor any of its affiliates, directors or employees owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, consequential, whether in contract, in tort, in delict, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Citigroup in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein, the Acquisition or otherwise.

UBS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. It is authorised by the PRA and subject to regulation by the FCA and limited regulation by the PRA in the United Kingdom. UBS provided financial and corporate broking advice to KAZ Minerals and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement. In connection with such matters, UBS will not regard any other person as its client, nor will it be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to herein.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer to sell or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise. The Acquisition will be made solely through the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document), which together with the associated forms of proxy will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any acceptance or other response to the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document).

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.

Overseas Shareholders

This announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law, the Takeover Code, the Market Abuse Regulation and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England.

The Acquisition will be subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the FCA, the London Stock Exchange and the Takeover Code.

The availability of the Acquisition to KAZ Minerals Shareholders who are not resident in and citizens of the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or of which they are citizens. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom to vote their KAZ Minerals Shares with respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, or to appoint another person as proxy to vote at the Court Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person. Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme Document.

Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, 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 Scheme by any such use, means, instrumentality or from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction. Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the Acquisition. If the Acquisition 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 the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities.

Notice to US investors in KAZ Minerals

The Acquisition 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. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer or proxy solicitation rules under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "US Exchange Act"). Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure requirements of the US tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. The financial information relating to KAZ Minerals included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and thus 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 US.

If, in the future, Bidco exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer, which is to be made into the US, such Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with the applicable US laws and regulations, including Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the US Exchange Act. Such a takeover would be made in the United States by Bidco and no one else.

In the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of Takeover Offer, Bidco, its affiliates, and the nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, KAZ Minerals Shares outside the Acquisition, such as in open market purchases or privately negotiated purchases, during the period in which the Acquisition remains open for acceptance. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made, they would be made outside the US and would comply with applicable law, including United Kingdom laws and the US Exchange Act. Any such purchases by Bidco or its affiliates will not be made at prices higher than the price of the Acquisition provided in this announcement unless the price of the Acquisition is increased accordingly. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase shall be disclosed as required under United Kingdom laws and will be available to all investors (including US investors) via the Regulatory Information Service and shall be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com. To the extent that such information is required to be publicly disclosed in the United Kingdom in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, this information will, as applicable, also be publicly disclosed in the United States.

It may be difficult for US holders of KAZ Minerals Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal laws, since Bidco and KAZ Minerals are located in a non-US jurisdiction, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of KAZ Minerals 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.

Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any US state securities commission has approved or disapproved or passed judgement upon the fairness or the merits of the Acquisition, or determined if the information contained in this announcement is adequate, accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the US.

The receipt of consideration by a US KAZ Minerals Shareholder for the transfer of its KAZ Minerals Shares pursuant to the Acquisition will likely 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 US KAZ Minerals Shareholder is urged to consult their independent legal, tax and financial advisers immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them, including under applicable US state and local, as well as oversees and other, tax laws.

Forward looking statements

This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by Bidco and KAZ Minerals contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of Bidco and KAZ Minerals 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.

The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement include statements relating to the expected effects of the Acquisition on Bidco and KAZ Minerals (including their future prospects, developments and strategies), the expected timing and scope of the Acquisition and other statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject to", "budget", "projects", "strategy", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or 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. Although Bidco and KAZ Minerals believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Bidco and KAZ Minerals can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. 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. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

These factors include, but are not limited to: the ability to complete the Acquisition; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of other Conditions on the proposed terms and schedule; future market conditions, changes in general economic and business conditions, the behaviour of other market participants; the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction not being realised as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions in the countries in which Bidco and KAZ Minerals operate; weak, volatile or illiquid capital and/or credit markets; changes in tax rates; interest rate and currency value fluctuations; the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which Bidco and KAZ Minerals operate and changes in laws or in supervisory expectations or requirements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. Neither Bidco nor KAZ Minerals, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. You are cautioned not to place any reliance on these forward-looking statements. Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations, neither Bidco nor KAZ Minerals is under any obligation, and Bidco and KAZ Minerals expressly disclaim any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Publication on a website

This announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Bidco's website at www.novaresourcesbv.com and on KAZ Minerals' website at www.kazminerals.com by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date of this announcement. The content of the websites referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

No profit forecasts, estimates or quantified benefits statements

Nothing in this announcement is intended, or is to be construed, as a profit forecast, profit estimate or quantified benefits statement for any period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for KAZ Minerals for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share for KAZ Minerals.

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