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 OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE “CODE”). THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY FIRM OFFER MIGHT BE MADE.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10 April 2019
G4S plc
STATEMENT REGARDING UNSOLICITED POSSIBLE CASH OFFER
G4S plc (the "Company") notes the announcement by Garda World Security Corporation (“Garda World”) regarding an unsolicited possible cash offer for the Company, or a part thereof.
There can be no certainty that any firm offer for the Company will be made by Garda World nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made. Shareholders are urged to take no action at this time.
Following the establishment of our Global Cash Solutions division on 1 January 2018, the Board announced in December 2018 that the Company is reviewing options for the separation of the Cash Solutions business from the Group. In parallel with the review, the Company is taking steps to enable it to commence the process of separation in the second half of 2019. Our aim is to establish two strong independent businesses that are able to take advantage of their leading market positions and excellent service offerings. The Board believes that a separation of Cash Solutions has the clear potential to enhance the focus and success of both businesses and thus to unlock substantial shareholder value.
As previously announced, the Group has received other unsolicited expressions of interest to acquire the Global Cash Solutions and/or Retail Cash Solutions businesses. No assurance can be provided at this stage that any of these expressions of interest will lead to a proposal or transaction.
A copy of this announcement is also available on G4S plc’s website at www.g4s.com/investors
The content of this website is not incorporated in, and does not form part of, this announcement.
| Contact information: | ||
| Helen Parris | Director of Investor Relations | +44 (0) 207 9633189 |
| Media enquiries: | ||
| Sophie McMillan | Head of Media | +44 (0) 759 5523483 |
| Press office | +44 (0) 207 9633333 |
Company brokers:
J.P. Morgan Securities plc (which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove) ("J.P. Morgan Cazenove") which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA, is acting as financial adviser exclusively for G4S plc and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than G4S plc for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or its affiliates, nor
for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to herein.
Citigroup Global Markets Limited ("Citi"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting exclusively for G4S and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement or any other matter set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than G4S for providing the protections afford to clients of Citi nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to herein.
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.
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.
Rule 2.6 of the Takeover Code
In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, Garda World must, by not later than 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 8 May 2019, either announce a firm intention to make an offer, subject to conditions or pre-conditions if relevant, for G4S in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that Garda World does not intend to make an offer for G4S, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline can be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.
Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code
For the purposes of Rule 2.9 of the Takeover Code, G4S plc confirms that it has in issue 1,551,594,436 ordinary shares carrying one vote each. The ISIN for the shares is GB00B01FLG62.
Dealing Disclosure Requirements
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover 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 Takeover 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 of the Takeover Code. 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 of the Takeover Code.
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 of the Takeover Code).
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 atwww.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.