Company Announcements

Response to speculation

Source: RNS
RNS Number : 2625K
Blue Prism Group PLC
31 August 2021
 

Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in, into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction.

 

This is an announcement falling under Rule 2.4 of the Takeover Code (the "Code"). It does not represent an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code. There can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made, or as to the terms on which any firm offer might be made.

 

This announcement contains inside information.

 

For immediate release.

 

                                                                                                                               August 31, 2021

Blue Prism Group plc ("Blue Prism" or "the Company")

 

Statement Regarding Recent Speculation

 

 

 

Blue Prism notes the recent speculation and confirms that it is in discussions with TPG Capital ("TPG") and Vista Equity Partners ("Vista") regarding possible offers for the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of Blue Prism.

 

There can be no certainty that any offer will be made, nor as to the terms of which any offer would be made.

 

A further announcement will be made if and when appropriate.

 

This statement is being made by Blue Prism without the consent of TPG or Vista.

 

Under Rule 2.6(a) of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Code"), each of TPG and Vista must by no later than 5.00 p.m. on September 28, 2021, either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Blue Prism in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

 

 

Enquiries:

 

Blue Prism

Tom Hull, Head of Investor Relations

+44 (0)77 3670 7407

 

 

Qatalyst Partners (financial adviser to Blue Prism)

Jason DiLullo/Peter Spofforth

+44 (0)20 3700 8820

 

 

 

 

 

Investec Bank (corporate broker to Blue Prism)

Carlton Nelson/Ben Griffiths/Sebastian Lawrence

 

+44 (0)20 7597 5970

 

Brunswick                                                                                                             +44 (0)20 7404 5959

Caroline Daniel

 

About Blue Prism

 

Blue Prism is a global leader in intelligent automation for the enterprise, transforming the way work is done. At Blue Prism, we have users across the globe in more than 2,000 businesses, including Fortune 500 and public sector organizations, that are creating value with new ways of working, unlocking efficiencies, and returning millions of hours of work back into their businesses. Our Digital Workforce is smart, secure, scalable and accessible to all; freeing up humans to re-imagine work.

 

 

Disclaimer

 

Qatalyst Partners Limited ("Qatalyst Partners"), which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA"), is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Blue Prism and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be acting for any other person and will not be responsible to any person other than Blue Prism for providing the protections afforded to clients of Qatalyst Partners or for advising any other person in respect of the matters referred to in this announcement. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Qatalyst Partners as to the contents of this announcement.

 

Investec Bank plc ("Investec") is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the "PRA") and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA. Investec is acting for Blue Prism and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this announcement) as a client in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Blue Prism for providing the protections afforded to Investec's clients, nor for providing advice in connection with any other matter, transaction or arrangement referred to herein. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Investec as to the contents of this announcement

 

Important Notices

 

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether pursuant to this announcement or otherwise, or the solicitation of any vote in favour or approval of any offer in any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction and any such offer (or solicitation) may not be extended in any such jurisdiction.

 

Any securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or with any securities regulatory authority of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration thereunder. There may be no public offering of securities in the United States.

 

This announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law and the Code, and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been prepared in accordance with laws outside of the United Kingdom.

 

The distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

 

Nothing in this announcement is or should be relied on as a promise or representation to the future. This announcement includes certain statements, estimates and projections provided by the Company in relation to the Company's anticipated future performance. Such statements, estimates and projections are based on various assumptions made by the Company concerning anticipated results which may or may not prove to be correct. No representations or warranties are made by any person as to the accuracy of such statements, estimates or projections.

 

Relevant securities in issue

 

In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, Blue Prism confirms that, as at the close of business on August 27, 2021, it has 96,885,881 ordinary shares of 1 pence each in issue and admitted to trading on the AIM for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange plc. The International Securities Identification Number for the ordinary shares is GB00BYQ0HV16.

 

Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

 

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

 

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

 

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

 

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

 

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

 

Publication of this announcement

 

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted jurisdictions on the Company's website (www.blueprism.com) no later than 12 noon (London time) on September 1, 2021, but will not be available to persons in any jurisdiction where publication of this announcement would violate the laws of such jurisdiction.

 

The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

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