UKLR 9.4 Transactions

For a placing of rights arising from a rights issue before the official start of dealings, a listed company must ensure that:

1. (1)

   the placing relates to at least 25% of the maximum number of equity securities offered;

2. (2)

   the placees are committed to take up whatever is placed with them;

3. (3)

   the price paid by the placees does not exceed the price at which the equity securities which are the subject of the rights issue are offered by more than one half of the calculated premium over that offer price (that premium being the difference between the offer price and the theoretical ex-rights price); and

4. (4)

   the equity securities which are the subject of the rights issue are of the same class as the equity securities already listed.

If existing shareholders do not take up their rights to subscribe in a rights issue:

1. (1)

    the listed company must ensure that the equity securities to which the offer relates are offered for subscription or purchase on terms that any premium obtained over the subscription or purchase price (net of expenses) is to be for the account of the holders, except that if the proceeds for an existing holder do not exceed £5.00, the proceeds may be retained for the company’s benefit; and

2. (2)

    the equity securities may be allotted or sold to underwriters if, on the expiry of the subscription period, no premium (net of expenses) has been obtained.

A listed company must ensure that for a rights issue the following are notified to a RIS as soon as possible:

1. (1)

   the issue price and principal terms of the issue; and

2. (2)

   the results of the issue and, if any rights not taken up are sold, details of the sale, including the date and price per share.

A listed company must ensure that the offer relating to a rights issue remains open for acceptance for at least 10 business days. For the purposes of calculating the period of 10 business days, the first business day is the date on which the offer is first open for acceptance.

A listed company must ensure that the timetable for an open offer is approved by the RIE on which its equity securities are traded.

A listed company must ensure that the open offer remains open for acceptance for at least 10 business days. For the purposes of calculating the period of 10 business days, the first business day is the date on which the offer is first open for acceptance.

A listed company must ensure that in relation to communicating information on an open offer:

1. (1)

   if the offer is subject to shareholder approval in a general meeting, the announcement must state that this is the case; and

2. (2)

   the circular dealing with the offer must not contain any statement that might be taken to imply that the offer gives the same entitlements as a rights issue unless it is an offer with a compensatory element.

If existing shareholders do not take up their rights to subscribe in an open offer with a compensatory element:

1. (1)

    the listed company must ensure that the equity securities to which the offer relates are offered for subscription or purchase on terms that any premium obtained over the subscription or purchase price (net of expenses) is to be for the account of the holders, except that if the proceeds for an existing holder do not exceed £5.00, the proceeds may be retained for the company’s benefit; and

2. (2)

    the equity securities may be allotted or sold to underwriters if, on the expiry of the subscription period, no premium (net of expenses) has been obtained.

A listed company must ensure that for a subscription in an open offer with a compensatory element the following are notified to a RIS as soon as possible:

1. (1)

    the offer price and principal terms of the offer; and

2. (2)

    the results of the offer and, if any securities not taken up are sold, details of the sale, including the date and price per share.

A listed company must ensure that in a vendor consideration placing all vendors have an equal opportunity to participate in the placing.

A listed company must ensure that for an offer for sale or an offer for subscription of equity securities:

1. (1)

   letters of allotment or acceptance are all issued simultaneously and numbered serially (and, where appropriate, split and certified by the listed company’s registrars);

2. (2)

   if the equity securities may be held in uncertificated form, there is equal treatment of those who elect to hold the equity securities in certificated form and those who elect to hold them in uncertificated form;

3. (3)

   letters of regret are posted at the same time or not later than 3 business days after the letters of allotment or acceptance; and

4. (4)

   if a letter of regret is not posted at the same time as letters of allotment or acceptance, a notice to that effect is inserted in a national newspaper, to appear on the morning after the letters of allotment or acceptance are posted.

If, for an issue of equity securities (other than an issue in lieu of dividend), a shareholder’s entitlement includes a fraction of a security, a listed company must ensure that the fraction is sold for the benefit of the holder, except that if its value (net of expenses) does not exceed £5.00, it may be sold for the company’s benefit.

A listed company must ensure that any temporary document of title (other than one issued in global form) for an equity security:

1. (1)

    is serially numbered;

2. (2)

    states, where applicable:

   1. (a)

       the name and address of the first holder and names of joint holders (if any);

   2. (b)

       for a fixed income security, the amount of the next payment of interest or dividend;

   3. (c)

       the pro rata entitlement;

   4. (d)

       the last date on which transfers were or will be accepted for registration for participation in the issue;

   5. (e)

       how the securities rank for dividend or interest;

   6. (f)

       the nature of the document of title and proposed date of issue;

   7. (g)

       how fractions (if any) are to be treated; and

   8. (h)

       for a rights issue, the time, being not less than 10 business days calculated in accordance with UKLR 9.4.6R, in which the offer may be accepted, and how equity securities not taken up will be dealt with; and

3. (3)

    if renounceable:

   1. (a)

       states in a heading that the document is of value and negotiable;

   2. (b)

       advises holders of equity securities who are in any doubt as to what action to take to consult appropriate independent advisers immediately;

   3. (c)

       states that where all of the securities have been sold by the addressee (other than ex rights or ex capitalisation), the document should be passed to the person through whom the sale was effected for transmission to the purchaser;

   4. (d)

       has the form of renunciation and the registration instructions printed on the back of, or attached to, the document;

   5. (e)

       includes provision for splitting (without fee) and for split documents to be certified by an official of the company or authorised agent;

   6. (f)

       provides for the last day for renunciation to be the second business day after the last day for splitting; and

   7. (g)

       if at the same time as an allotment is made of shares issued for cash, shares of the same class are also allotted credited as fully paid to vendors or others, provides for the period for renunciation to be the same as, but no longer than, that provided for in the case of shares issued for cash.

A listed company must ensure that any definitive document of title for an equity share (other than a bearer security) includes the following matters on its face (or on the reverse in the case of paragraph (6)):

1. (1)

   the authority under which the listed company is constituted and the country of incorporation and registered number (if any);

2. (2)

   the number or amount of securities the certificate represents and, if applicable, the number and denomination of units (in the top right-hand corner);

3. (3)

   a footnote stating that no transfer of the security or any portion of it represented by the certificate can be registered without production of the certificate;

4. (4)

   if applicable, the minimum amount and multiples thereof in which the security is transferable;

5. (5)

   the date of the certificate; and

6. (6)

   for equity shares with preferential rights, on the face (or, if not practicable, on the reverse), a statement of the conditions thereof as to capital, dividends and (where applicable) conversion.