OTTAWA, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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 IN THAT JURISDICTION Summary - The Boards of Avaya
International Enterprises Limited ("Avaya") and Ubiquity Software
Corporation plc ("Ubiquity" or the "Company") announce the terms of
a recommended cash offer, to be made by Avaya, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Avaya Inc., for the entire issued and to be issued
share capital of Ubiquity (the "Offer"). - The Offer Price of 37.3
pence in cash for each Ubiquity Share values the entire existing
issued share capital of Ubiquity at approximately (pnds stlg)69.3
million and the entire issued and to be issued share capital of
Ubiquity at approximately (pnds stlg)76.4 million. After adjusting
for the assumed proceeds from the exercise of options over Ubiquity
Shares, the value of the Offer is approximately (pnds stlg)74.3
million. - The Offer Price represents an 86.5 per cent. premium to
20 pence per share, being the Closing Price of a Ubiquity Share on
20 December 2006, being the last Business Day prior to the
announcement by Ubiquity that it was in discussions with a third
party in relation to a possible offer. - The Ubiquity Directors,
who have been so advised by Citigroup, consider the terms of the
Offer to be fair and reasonable and therefore unanimously recommend
that the Ubiquity Shareholders accept the Offer. In providing its
advice, Citigroup has taken into account the commercial assessments
of the Ubiquity Directors. - Those Ubiquity Directors who hold
Ubiquity Shares have provided irrevocable undertakings to accept
the Offer in respect of all of their own beneficial shareholdings
of Ubiquity Shares, (and, where applicable, of their connected
persons) amounting, in aggregate, to 4,105,880 Ubiquity Shares,
representing, as at the date of this announcement, approximately
2.21 per cent. of the entire existing issued share capital of
Ubiquity. These undertakings will continue to be binding even in
the event of a higher competing offer for Ubiquity, unless the
Offer lapses or is withdrawn. - Avaya has also received irrevocable
undertakings to accept, or procure the acceptance of, the Offer
from the holders of 77,773,118 Ubiquity Shares, representing, in
aggregate, approximately 41.88 per cent. of Ubiquity's entire
existing issued share capital. These undertakings will continue to
be binding even in the event of a higher competing offer for
Ubiquity, unless the Offer lapses or is withdrawn. - Avaya has also
received irrevocable undertakings to accept, or procure the
acceptance of, the Offer from the holders of 18,235,300 Ubiquity
Shares, representing, in aggregate, approximately 9.82 per cent. of
Ubiquity's entire existing issued share capital. This undertaking
will cease to be binding in the event that (i) the Offer Document
is not despatched on or before 09 February 2007, or (ii) a
competing offer of at least 42 pence for each Ubiquity Share is
announced within ten days of the posting of the Offer Document. -
In addition, a non-binding letter of intent to accept the Offer has
been obtained from a shareholder of Ubiquity in respect of a total
of 7,504,325 Ubiquity Shares beneficially held by them,
representing a further 4.04 per cent of Ubiquity's entire existing
issued share capital. - Accordingly, Avaya has received, in
aggregate, irrevocable undertakings to accept, or procure the
acceptance of the Offer, and a non-binding letter of intent to
support, the Offer, from Ubiquity Shareholders in respect of
107,618,623 Ubiquity Shares, representing approximately 57.95 per
cent. of Ubiquity's entire existing issued share capital.
Commenting on the Offer, Micky Tsui, vice president of global
communications solutions of Avaya Inc. said: "We believe that the
addition of Ubiquity's next generation software platform to Avaya's
portfolio will help customers and developers enhance the
integration of communications technologies and business processes.
We believe that Ubiquity bridges a wide range of fragmented
technologies that cost customers' money, time and speed-to-market."
Ian McLaren, Chief Executive of Ubiquity, said: "The offer by Avaya
marks an important milestone in the development of Ubiquity. We
believe that there are strong synergies between Ubiquity's core
software platform, service creation framework and applications and
Avaya's portfolio of enterprise products. As part of the Avaya
group, we believe that Ubiquity will be well positioned to gain
access to Avaya's customer base and the resources to exploit the
opportunities we see in the emerging telecommunications
marketplace." This summary should be read in conjunction with, and
is subject to, the full text of the following announcement.
Appendix 2 to this announcement contains the sources and bases of
certain information used in this summary and in the following
announcement. Appendix 3 to this announcement contains definitions
of certain terms used in this summary and the following
announcement. The Offer will be subject to the Conditions and to
the full terms and conditions to be set out in the Offer Document
and (in respect of certificated Ubiquity Shares) the Form of
Acceptance. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell
or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy any
security, nor is it a solicitation of any vote or approval in any
jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of
the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdiction
in contravention of applicable law. The Offer will be made solely
by means of the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance
accompanying the Offer Document, which together will contain the
full terms and conditions of the Offer, including details of how
the Offer may be accepted. Avaya and Ubiquity urge Ubiquity
Shareholders to read the Offer Document when it becomes available
because it will contain important information relating to the
Offer. Credit Suisse, which is authorised and regulated in the
United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting
exclusively for Avaya and no-one else in connection with the Offer
and is not advising any other person and will accordingly not be
responsible to anyone other than Avaya for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Credit Suisse nor for providing
advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this announcement
or any other matter referred to herein. Citigroup, which is
authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial
Services Authority, is acting for Ubiquity and no-one else in
connection with the Offer and is not advising any other person and
will accordingly not be responsible to anyone other than Ubiquity
for providing the protections afforded to clients of Citigroup nor
for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this
announcement or any other matter referred to herein. The
availability of the Offer to Ubiquity 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. Such persons (including, without
limitation, nominees, trustees and custodians) should inform
themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory
requirements of their jurisdictions. Further details in relation to
overseas Ubiquity Shareholders will be contained in the Offer
Document. Any person (including, without limitation, nominees,
trustees and custodians) who would, or otherwise intend to, forward
this announcement, the Offer Document and/or the Form of Acceptance
or any accompanying document to any jurisdiction where to do so
would violate the laws in that jurisdiction should refrain from
doing so and seek appropriate professional advice before taking any
action. US AND CANADIAN SHAREHOLDERS OF UBIQUITY SHOULD NOTE THAT
THE OFFER IS MADE FOR THE SECURITIES OF A NON-US OR CANADIAN
COMPANY. THE OFFER IS SUBJECT TO THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS OF A
COUNTRY THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF THE UNITED STATES OR
CANADA. THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION RELATING TO UBIQUITY INCLUDED IN
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACCOUNTING
STANDARDS THAT MAY NOT BE COMPARABLE TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
US OR CANADIAN COMPANIES. Copies of this announcement and any
formal documentation relating to the Offer are not being and must
not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded,
distributed or sent in, into or from (including, without
limitation, electronically or telephonically) any jurisdiction
where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. Persons
receiving this announcement (including custodians, nominees and
trustees) must not mail or otherwise distribute or send this
announcement in, into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would
violate the laws in that jurisdiction. Forward Looking Statements
This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
1995. These statements are based on the current expectations of the
management of Avaya and Ubiquity and are naturally subject to
uncertainty and changes in circumstances. The forward-looking
statements contained herein include statements about the expected
effects on Ubiquity and Avaya of the Offer, the expected timing and
scope of the Offer, anticipated earnings enhancements, estimated
cost savings and other synergies, other strategic options and all
other statements in this announcement other than historical facts.
Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements
typically containing words such as "intends", "expects",
"anticipates", "targets", "estimates", "believes" and words of
similar import and the negative thereof. 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, which as
such, are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks
and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements as a result of the various
factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the
satisfaction of the conditions to the Offer and Avaya's ability to
successfully integrate the operations and employees of Ubiquity, as
well as additional factors, such as changes in economic conditions,
changes in the level of capital investment, success of business and
operating initiatives and restructuring objectives, customers'
strategies and stability, changes in the regulatory environment,
the ability to integrate Ubiquity's products with, and leverage
Ubiquity's products in the development of, Avaya's products,
dependence on new product development, the successful and timely
introduction of new products, risks related to inventory, the mix
of products and services, customer demand for products and
services, control of costs and expenses, the ability to attract and
retain qualified employees, the ability to form and implement
alliances, fluctuations in interest and exchange rates, the outcome
of litigation, government actions and natural phenomena such as
floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. Other unknown or unpredictable
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements. Neither Avaya nor Ubiquity
undertakes any obligation to update publicly or revise
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
Dealing Disclosure Requirements Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of
the City Code, if any person is, or becomes, "interested" (directly
or indirectly) in one per cent. or more of any class of "relevant
securities" of Ubiquity, all "dealings" in any "relevant
securities" of Ubiquity (including by means of an option in respect
of, or a derivative referenced to, any such "relevant securities")
must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time)
on the London business day following the date of the relevant
transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which
the Offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances,
lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the "offer period"
otherwise ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an
agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire
an "interest" in "relevant securities" of Ubiquity, they will be
deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3. Under the
provisions of Rule 8.1 of the City Code, all "dealings" in
"relevant securities" of Ubiquity by Avaya or Ubiquity, or by any
of their respective "associates", must be disclosed by no later
than 12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day following
the date of the relevant transaction. A disclosure table, giving
details of the companies in whose "relevant securities" "dealings"
should be disclosed, and the number of such securities in issue,
can be found on the Panel's website at
http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/. "Interests in securities"
arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure,
whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of
securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an
"interest" by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or
by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to,
securities. Terms in quotation marks are defined in the City Code,
which can also be found on the Panel's website. If you are in any
doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a "dealing"
under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel. 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 IN THAT JURISDICTION 12 January 2007 Recommended Cash
Offer of 37.3 pence in cash for each Ubiquity Share to be made by
Avaya International Enterprises Limited a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Avaya Inc. for Ubiquity Software Corporation plc 1. Introduction
The Boards of Avaya and Ubiquity announce the terms of a
recommended cash offer, to be made by Avaya, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Avaya Inc., for the entire issued and to be issued
share capital of Ubiquity. The Ubiquity Directors, who have been so
advised by Citigroup, consider the terms of the Offer to be fair
and reasonable. In providing its advice, Citigroup has taken into
account the commercial assessments of the Ubiquity Directors.
Accordingly, the Ubiquity Directors unanimously recommend that
Ubiquity Shareholders accept the Offer. Those Ubiquity Directors
who hold Ubiquity Shares, and their connected persons, have
irrevocably undertaken to accept the Offer in respect of their own
beneficial holdings of, in aggregate, 4,105,880 Ubiquity Shares,
representing, as at the date of this announcement, approximately
2.21 per cent. of the entire existing issued share capital of
Ubiquity. 2. The Offer The Offer, which will be subject to the
Conditions and to the full terms and conditions to be set out in
the Offer Document and (in respect of certificated Ubiquity Shares)
the Form of Acceptance, will be made by Avaya on the following
basis: for each Ubiquity Share 37.3 pence in cash The Offer values
the entire existing issued share capital of Ubiquity at
approximately (pnds stlg)69.3 million and the entire issued and to
be issued share capital of Ubiquity at approximately (pnds
stlg)76.4 million. After adjusting for the assumed proceeds from
the exercise of options over Ubiquity Shares, the value of the
Offer is approximately (pnds stlg)74.3 million. The Offer Price
represents an 86.5 per cent. premium to 20 pence per share being
the Closing Price of a Ubiquity Share on 20 December 2006, being
the last Business Day prior to the announcement by Ubiquity that it
was in discussions with a third party in relation to a possible
offer for Ubiquity. The Offer extends to all Ubiquity Shares
unconditionally allotted while the Offer remains open for
acceptance (or such earlier date as Avaya may, subject to the City
Code, decide). The Ubiquity Shares will be acquired pursuant to the
Offer by Avaya fully paid and free from liens, equities, mortgages,
charges, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and other third party
rights or interests of any nature whatsoever and together with all
rights now or hereafter attaching thereto, including all voting
rights and the right to receive and retain all dividends and other
distributions announced, declared, made or paid on or after the
date of this announcement together with all interest accrued
thereon. Where the aggregate amount payable to any Ubiquity
Shareholder upon acceptance of the Offer in respect of their
aggregate shareholding would otherwise include a fraction of a
penny, the amount will be rounded up to the nearest whole penny.
There are no agreements or arrangements to which Avaya is a party
which relate to the circumstances in which it may or may not invoke
or seek to invoke a Condition of the Offer. Details of the
Conditions and certain further terms of the Offer are set out below
and in Appendix 1 to this announcement. 3. Recommendation The
Ubiquity Directors, who have been so advised by Citigroup, consider
the terms of the Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing
advice to the Ubiquity Directors, Citigroup has taken into account
the commercial assessments of the Ubiquity Directors. Accordingly,
the Ubiquity Directors unanimously recommend that the Ubiquity
Shareholders accept the Offer, as those Ubiquity Directors who hold
shares in Ubiquity have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of
all of their own beneficial shareholdings (and, where applicable,
of their connected persons) in Ubiquity Shares amounting, in
aggregate, to 4,105,880 Ubiquity Shares, representing approximately
2.21 per cent. of the entire existing issued share capital of
Ubiquity. 4. Background to, and reasons for, the Recommendation The
Board of Ubiquity believes that the Offer delivers substantial
value for Ubiquity Shareholders, recognising both the attractive
growth potential of Ubiquity's business and the level of investment
otherwise required to deliver this growth. The Ubiquity Directors
believe that the telecoms industry is beginning to migrate its
services from legacy network infrastructures towards new, all-IP
(Internet Protocol) networks. The Ubiquity Directors anticipate
that these new infrastructures will enhance the ability of network
operators and service providers to deliver new services to their
customers, whilst reducing operating costs. Ubiquity's software
products are compliant with the new, standards-based IP network
architecture being adopted and have been selected by a number of
network operators and service providers and by their equipment
vendors to form part of their new service development and delivery
infrastructure. As well as delivering benefits for existing network
operators and service providers, the transition to all-IP network
architectures is also creating opportunities for large enterprises
that increasingly manage their own internal communications
services. Ubiquity's software products are starting to generate
interest from such enterprises and from their equipment and service
vendors. To date, Ubiquity has invested in growing what it
considers to be the key software engineering capabilities and
intellectual property to exploit the growth opportunity presented
by the telecoms industry's transition to the new all-IP
architectures. The Ubiquity Directors believe that Ubiquity's core
software product, the SIP A/S, is one of the leading software
platforms for the development and delivery of SIP end-user
applications. Ubiquity has also launched two end-user IP
applications for voice and conferencing services, and has set up a
third-party developer network to stimulate the development and
roll-out of new services on Ubiquity's software platform. The Board
of Ubiquity also considers that the future growth potential of the
business can be delivered most effectively as part of a larger
entity, which can bring to bear the increasing level of resources
required to exploit all of the opportunities that Ubiquity is
currently facing. In particular, the Ubiquity Directors believe
that the opportunities that are emerging in the enterprise
communications sector will require technical and distribution
resources on a scale that Ubiquity by itself cannot currently
deploy. Avaya is a leading vendor in the global enterprise
communications market. The Ubiquity Directors believe that there is
strong strategic and operational fit between Avaya's range of
IP-based products and services and Ubiquity's service development
and delivery platform. As part of Avaya, the Ubiquity Directors
believe that Ubiquity will significantly benefit from having access
to a broader distribution platform, an enlarged base of existing
customers, in particular in the enterprise segment, and the
requisite financial and technical resources to exploit this
opportunity. Avaya believes that by acquiring Ubiquity, Avaya will
add to its product and service offering to its enterprise customers
and that this will also enhance its presence in the telecoms
carrier market. The Board of Ubiquity therefore believes that the
level of the Offer, which represents a substantial premium to the
Closing Price of a Ubiquity Share on 20 December 2006, being the
last Business Day prior to the announcement by Ubiquity that it was
in discussions with a third party in relation to a possible offer
for Ubiquity, reflects the long-term growth potential of the
Ubiquity business when combined with Avaya. As such, the Board of
Ubiquity unanimously recommends that Ubiquity Shareholders accept
the Offer as the Ubiquity Directors (and their connected persons)
have irrevocably undertaken so to do in respect of their own
beneficial interests in Ubiquity Shares comprising, in aggregate,
4,105,880 Ubiquity Shares, representing approximately 2.21 per
cent. of Ubiquity's existing entire issued share capital. 5.
Current trading for Ubiquity On 21 December 2006, Ubiquity
announced that its revenue for the year ending 31 December 2006
("YE 2006") would be significantly below the current range of
market expectations, due to a number of material new contracts that
it expected to sign towards the end of that period being delayed
until 2007. Ubiquity's revenue growth, at this stage of its
development, is driven primarily by signing new large-scale
software deployment contracts with major telecoms service
providers. During the first half YE 2006, Ubiquity signed two new
software supply contracts with BT and Global Crossing, which
accounted for approximately two-thirds of Ubiquity's total first
half YE 2006 revenue of (pnds stlg)6.1 million. The remaining
revenue in the first half was generated by approximately 40 other
active projects, comprising smaller-scale software licence sales,
as well as support and maintenance and professional services
charges. In the second half of YE 2006, one smaller scale new
deployment contract was signed and a number of active projects
generated additional software licence, support and maintenance and
professional services revenues. However, contrary to previous
expectations, Ubiquity did not sign any major new deployment
contracts in the second half of YE 2006. As a result, Ubiquity's
revenue for YE 2006 is expected to be approximately (pnds stlg)8
million, which will be materially below the current range of market
expectations. At this stage, a meaningful portion of the contracts
initially envisaged to be signed in the second half of YE 2006 are
still being negotiated and the Ubiquity Directors believe that a
meaningful portion of these contracts will be signed in the first
half of 2007. However, there can be no guarantee that all or any of
these contracts will be concluded. 6. Background to, and reasons
for, the Offer The Avaya Directors believe that: - the Acquisition
will accelerate Avaya's value proposition to its customers by
providing a single platform that can deliver scalable, distributed
communications applications for both service providers and
enterprises; - Ubiquity's technologies represent a leading solution
for service providers to quickly develop and deploy innovative and
scalable applications and services to bridge a wide range of
currently non- integrated technologies; - by integrating Ubiquity's
SIP-based application servers, development tools and integration
technology with Avaya's existing communications solutions, Avaya
can provide the opportunity for .Net and J2E developers to leverage
a single platform to integrate communications services into
business processes and applications; and - Ubiquity brings with it
a highly talented group of employees, including a number of whom
are educated in next-generation communications technologies. 7.
Information on Ubiquity Ubiquity is a public limited company
registered in the United Kingdom and quoted on the AIM Market of
the London Stock Exchange. Ubiquity develops and markets SIP-based
communications software for fixed and mobile communications service
providers, systems integrators, independent software vendors and
channel partners. Ubiquity's range of products has been developed
to take advantage of the telecommunications industry's migration
towards all-IP networks, which will enable carriers and service
providers to offer a wider range of advanced services to their
customers, at lower cost. Ubiquity's core product is the SIP A/S
and associated application creation capability, which enables
telecommunications carriers and service providers to develop and
deploy multiple "converged" services combining voice, video and
data. Ubiquity has also developed and launched two end-user IP
applications, for voice and conferencing, and has set up a
third-party developer network to stimulate development and roll-out
of new services on the SIP A/S. Founded in 1993, Ubiquity began
developing the SIP A/S in 1999 and was admitted to trading on AIM
in May 2005. Ubiquity is headquartered in Cardiff and has
operations in California and Ottawa, as well as representation in
Japan and China. For the six months ended 30 June 2006, Ubiquity
reported revenues from continuing operations of (pnds stlg)6.1
million (2005: (pnds stlg)3.5 million), an operating loss from
continuing operations of (pnds stlg)4.4 million (2005: loss of
(pnds stlg)4.3 million) and basic and diluted loss per share of 2.0
pence (2005: loss of 6.1 pence). As at 30 June 2006, Ubiquity had
net assets of (pnds stlg)16.4 million (2005: (pnds stlg)22.0
million). For the year ended 31 December 2005, Ubiquity reported
revenues of (pnds stlg) 7.5 million (2004: (pnds stlg) 5.3
million), an operating loss of (pnds stlg) 9.2 million (2004: loss
of (pnds stlg)6.5 million) and basic and diluted loss per share of
5.0 pence (2004: loss of 44.0 pence). As at 31 December 2005,
Ubiquity had net assets of (pnds stlg)19.6 million (2004: (pnds
stlg) 5.8 million). 8. Information on Avaya Avaya is a company
formed under the laws of Ireland and is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Avaya Inc. Avaya Inc. is a leading provider of communications
solutions, comprised of equipment hardware, software and services
that aim to help enterprises transform their businesses by
redefining the way they work and interact with their customers,
employees, business partners, suppliers and others. Avaya Inc.'s
strategy is to evolve its communication solutions into intelligent
communications. A key component of its strategy is to leverage its
substantial experience and expertise in traditional voice
communications systems to capitalise on the transition of these
traditional voice systems to the adoption of IP telephony
solutions. Avaya Inc. believes its comprehensive suite of IP
telephony solutions, communications applications and appliances, as
supported by its global services organisation and extensive network
of business partners, transforms the enterprise communications
system into a strategic asset for businesses, by enabling them to
communicate to "anyone, at any place, at any time and in any way"
they choose. Avaya Inc. supports its broad customer base with
comprehensive global services offerings that enable its customers
to plan, design, implement, integrate, monitor and manage their
communications networks. Avaya Inc. believes its global services
organisation is an important consideration for customers purchasing
its products and applications and is a source of significant
revenue for Avaya Inc., primarily from maintenance contracts. The
skilled professionals of Avaya Inc.'s services organisation,
together with its network of business partners and its ability to
diagnose customer network faults remotely, can provide
24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week service to its customers around the
world. Avaya Inc.'s end-to-end portfolio of services offerings
provides a single point of accountability. For the year ended 30
September 2006, Avaya Inc. reported revenues of US$5.1 billion
(2005: US$4.9 billion), operating income of US$263 million (2005:
US$298 million) and basic earnings per share of US$0.43 (2005:
US$1.95). As at 30 September 2006, Avaya had total stockholders'
equity of US$2,086 million (2005: US$1,961 million). 9. Management
and employees Avaya will ensure that the existing employment
rights, including accrued pension rights, of the employees of
Ubiquity will be fully safeguarded upon the completion of the
Offer. Avaya values highly the skills, knowledge and expertise of
Ubiquity's management and employees and Avaya has given
considerable thought to the compensation which would be made
available to Ubiquity management and employees upon completion of
the Offer. In order to ensure that a number of important Ubiquity
employees are incentivised to remain with Ubiquity and develop the
business going forward, Avaya intends, upon completion of the
Offer, to offer retention awards to certain Ubiquity employees.
Within this group are three Ubiquity Directors and five other
senior individuals (together, the "Senior Individuals"). Avaya has
already approached the Senior Individuals regarding their proposed
remuneration including their retention awards and possible
remuneration including their bonus arrangements. Further details of
these arrangements are as follows: Individual Proposed Retention
Target Bonus as % of Award (US$) Base Salary
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ian McLaren, Chief Executive Officer 572,022 40% Michael Doyle,
Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer 2,000,000 25% Five
other senior individuals 2,850,000 up to 25% Total 5,422,022 n/a It
is proposed that Chris Burke, Ubiquity's current non-executive
Chairman, will enter into a one year consultancy agreement with a
member of the Avaya Group, pursuant to which he will be paid a
consultancy fee of US$400,000. The precise terms and conditions of
this consultancy agreement have yet to be finalised. It is proposed
that Ian McLaren's retention award will be paid in cash at the end
of year one. Michael Doyle's retention award will be paid one third
in cash at the end of year one, one third in cash and one sixth in
Avaya restricted stock units (RSUs) at the end of year two and the
final instalment in RSUs at the end of year three. Discussions with
other employees who may be eligible for retention awards will take
place as soon as practicable, which may not be until the Offer has
become or been declared unconditional in all respects. In most
cases, including with respect to Michael Doyle and Ian McLaren,
cash retention awards will be subject to employee performance
conditions which will be measured according to defined criteria for
each of the employees eligible for an award. With certain
exceptions, including those noted above, the awards would be
typically payable over two years. Citigroup has reviewed the
proposed remuneration arrangements and in its opinion the proposed
retention awards and possible bonus arrangements for the Senior
Individuals are fair and reasonable insofar as Ubiquity's
shareholders are concerned. 10. Irrevocable Undertakings Avaya has
received undertakings to accept or procure the acceptance of the
Offer, and confirmations of intent to support the Offer, in respect
of a total of 107,618,623 Ubiquity Shares, representing
approximately 57.95 per cent. of the entire existing issued share
capital of Ubiquity as set out below: - those Ubiquity Directors
who hold Ubiquity Shares have undertaken to accept the Offer in
respect of their beneficial holdings of Ubiquity Shares (and, where
applicable, their connected persons) by no later than 3.00 p.m. on
the seventh day after the despatch of the Offer Document, being
4,105,880 Ubiquity Shares, representing approximately 2.21 per
cent. of Ubiquity's entire existing issued share capital, further
details of which are set out in paragraph 7 of Appendix 2 to this
announcement. All of these undertakings remain binding, even in the
event of a higher competing offer for Ubiquity, unless the Offer
lapses or is withdrawn; - Avaya has also received irrevocable
undertakings to accept, or procure the acceptance of, the Offer
from the holders of 77,773,118 Ubiquity Shares, representing, in
aggregate, approximately 41.88 per cent. of Ubiquity's entire
existing issued share capital, further details of which are set out
in paragraphs 8 to 13 of Appendix 2 to this announcement. These
undertakings will continue to be binding even in the event of a
higher competing offer for Ubiquity, unless the Offer lapses or is
withdrawn; - Avaya has also received an irrevocable undertaking to
accept, or procure the acceptance of, the Offer from the holder of
18,235,300 Ubiquity Shares, representing, in aggregate,
approximately 9.82 per cent. of Ubiquity's entire existing issued
share capital, further details of which are set out in paragraphs
14 of Appendix 2 to this announcement. This undertaking will cease
to be binding in the event that (i) the Offer Document is not
despatched on or before 09 February 2007, or (ii) a competing offer
of at least 42 pence for each Ubiquity Share is announced within
ten days of the posting of the Offer Document; and - a non-binding
letter of intent to accept the Offer has been obtained from a
shareholder of Ubiquity in respect of a total of 7,504,325 Ubiquity
Shares beneficially held by them, representing a further 4.04 per
cent. of Ubiquity's entire existing issued share capital, further
details of which are set out in paragraph 15 of Appendix 2 to this
announcement. 11. Financing of the Offer The cash consideration
payable to Ubiquity Shareholders under the terms of the Offer will
be funded using the existing cash resources of Avaya. Credit Suisse
confirms that it is satisfied that the necessary cash resources are
available to Avaya sufficient to satisfy full acceptance of the
Offer. 12. Implementation Agreement Avaya Inc. has entered into an
Implementation Agreement with Ubiquity under which Ubiquity has
undertaken, amongst other things, and subject to certain conditions
and exceptions: not to solicit, encourage or initiate another offer
for Ubiquity and to notify Avaya Inc. of any approach concerning
such an offer; to provide Avaya Inc. with the opportunity to match
any other offer for Ubiquity prior to Ubiquity accepting,
recommending or approving such other offer; and to pay Avaya Inc.
an inducement fee of (pnds stlg)692,700 in the event that Ubiquity
recommends another offer for Ubiquity or if any such other offer is
successful. Avaya Inc. has confirmed to the Ubiquity Board that it
would not make the Offer without entering into this Implementation
Agreement. 13. Ubiquity Share Option Schemes The Offer will extend
to any Ubiquity Shares unconditionally allotted or issued whilst
the Offer remains open for acceptance (or by such earlier date as
Avaya may, subject to the City Code, decide), pursuant to the
exercise of options granted under the Ubiquity Share Option Schemes
or otherwise. To the extent that the options under the Ubiquity
Share Option Schemes are not so exercised, and if the Offer becomes
or is declared unconditional in all respects, Avaya will make
appropriate proposals to holders of options under the Ubiquity
Share Option Schemes. Details of these proposals are expected to be
sent to members of the Ubiquity Share Option Schemes in due course.
14. Overseas Ubiquity Shareholders The availability by the Offer to
persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected
by the laws of their relevant jurisdiction. Such persons should
inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or
regulatory requirements of their jurisdiction. Further details in
relation to overseas Ubiquity Shareholders will be contained in the
Offer Document. The Offer will be made for the securities of a
non-US company. The Offer will be made in accordance with the
requirements of the City Code and will be subject to disclosure and
other procedural requirements that are different from those under
US law. Any financial statements included or incorporated in this
announcement and to be included or incorporated in the Offer
Document may have been prepared in accordance with non-US
accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial
statements of US companies. The Offer Document and (in respect of
certificated Ubiquity Shares) the accompanying Form of Acceptance
will contain important information about the Offer. Avaya and
Ubiquity urge Ubiquity Shareholders resident in the United States
to read the Offer Document and (in respect of certificated Ubiquity
Shares) the Form of Acceptance in their entirety before any
decision is made as to the Offer. Neither Avaya nor Ubiquity make
any representation as to the adequacy or fairness of the Offer. 15.
Disclosure of interests in Ubiquity As at 11 January 2007, the last
practicable date prior to this announcement, save for the
irrevocable undertakings referred to in paragraph 10 of this
announcement, neither Avaya nor, so far as Avaya is aware, any
person acting in concert with Avaya had an interest in or right to
subscribe for relevant securities of Ubiquity or had any short
position in relation to relevant securities of Ubiquity (whether
conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise),
including any short position under a derivative, any agreement to
sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person
to purchase or take delivery of any relevant securities of
Ubiquity, has borrowed or lent any Ubiquity Shares (save for any
borrowed shares which have been either on-lent or sold) or has any
arrangement in relation to Ubiquity Shares. For these purposes,
"arrangement" includes any agreement to sell or any delivery
obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take
delivery and borrowing or lending of Ubiquity Shares. An
"arrangement" also includes any indemnity or option arrangement,
any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, of whatever
nature relating to Ubiquity Shares which may be an inducement to
deal or refrain from dealing in such securities. "Interest"
includes any long economic exposure, whether conditional or
absolute, to changes in the price of securities and a person is
treated as having an "interest" by virtue of the ownership or
control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or
derivative referenced to, securities. In the interests of secrecy
prior to this announcement, Avaya has not made any enquiries in
this respect of certain parties who may be deemed by the Panel to
be acting in concert with it for the purposes of the Offer.
Enquiries of such parties will be made as soon as practicable
following the date of this announcement and any material disclosure
in respect of such parties will be included in the Offer Document.
16. Compulsory Acquisition, Cancellation of Admission to Trading on
AIM and Re-registration If Avaya receives acceptances of the Offer
in respect of, and/or otherwise acquires, 90 per cent. or more of
the Ubiquity Shares to which the Offer relates (and in the case
where the Ubiquity Shares to which the Offer relates are voting
shares, not less than 90 per cent. of the voting rights carried by
those shares) and assuming that all other conditions of the Offer
have been satisfied or waived (if they are capable of being
waived), Avaya intends to exercise its rights pursuant to the
provisions of the Act to acquire the remaining Ubiquity Shares to
which the Offer relates on the same terms as the Offer. Assuming
the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects and
subject to any applicable requirements of the London Stock
Exchange, Avaya intends to procure the making of an application by
Ubiquity to the London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of
admission to trading on AIM of the Ubiquity Shares. If this
cancellation occurs, it will significantly reduce the liquidity and
marketability of any Ubiquity Shares not assented to the Offer. It
is anticipated that the cancellation of admission to trading will
take effect no earlier than the expiry of 20 Business Days after
Avaya has acquired or agreed to acquire 75 per cent. of the voting
rights attaching to the Ubiquity Shares. It is also proposed that
following the Offer becoming or being declared unconditional in all
respects and after the cancellation of the admission to trading of
Ubiquity Shares on AIM, Ubiquity will be re-registered as a private
company under the relevant provision of the Act. 17. General The
Offer will be made on the terms and subject to the Conditions set
out herein and in Appendix 1 to this announcement, and to be set
out in the Offer Document and (in respect of the certificated
Ubiquity Shares) the accompanying Form of Acceptance. These will be
posted to Ubiquity Shareholders and, for information only, to
participants in the Ubiquity Share Option Schemes (other than to
persons with addresses in Restricted Jurisdictions), as soon as
practicable and in any event within 28 days of the date of this
announcement unless agreed otherwise with the Panel. The Offer and
acceptance thereof will be governed by English law. The Offer will
be subject to the applicable requirements of the City Code, the
Panel and the London Stock Exchange. The bases and sources of
certain financial information contained in this announcement are
set out in Appendix 2 to this announcement. Certain terms used in
this announcement are defined in Appendix 3 to this announcement.
ENQUIRIES: Avaya Inc. Investor Relations: Matthew Booher Tel: +1
908-953-7500 Media Relations: Lynn Newman Tel: +1 908-953-8692
Credit Suisse (financial adviser to Avaya) Ian Brown Tel: +44(0)20
7888 8888 Ubiquity Richard Ralph Tel: +44(0)2920 817504 David Boyd
Tel: +44(0)2920 817545 Citigroup (financial adviser to Ubiquity)
William Barter Tel: +44(0)20 7986 6946 Eric Sanschagrin Tel:
+44(0)20 7986 7541 Ralf Pilarczyk Tel: +44(0)20 7986 7470 Financial
Dynamics (financial PR advisers to Ubiquity) James
Melville-Ross/Matt Dixon Tel: +44(0)20 7831 3113 Evolution
Securities Limited (nominated adviser and broker to Ubiquity)
Robert Collins Tel: +44(0)20 7071 4300 This announcement does not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to
subscribe for or buy any security nor is it a solicitation of any
note or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale,
issuance or transfer of the securities referred to in this
announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable
law. The Offer will be made solely by means of the Offer Document
and the Form of Acceptance accompanying the Offer Document, which
together will contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer,
including details of how the Offer may be accepted. Ubiquity and
Avaya urge Ubiquity Shareholders to read the Offer Document when it
becomes available because it will contain important information
relating to the Offer. Credit Suisse, which is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services
Authority, is acting exclusively for Avaya and no-one else in
connection with the Offer and is not advising any other person and
will accordingly not be responsible to anyone other than Avaya for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Credit Suisse nor
for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this
announcement or any other matter referred to herein. Citigroup,
which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Ubiquity
and no-one else in connection with the Offer and is not advising
any other person and will accordingly not be responsible to anyone
other than Ubiquity for providing the protections afforded to
clients of Citigroup nor for providing advice in relation to the
Offer, the content of this announcement or any other matter
referred to herein. The availability of the Offer to Ubiquity
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. Such
persons (including nominees, trustees and custodians) should inform
themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory
requirements of their jurisdictions. Further details in relation to
overseas shareholders will be contained in the Offer Document. Any
person (including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and
custodians) who would, or otherwise intend to, forward this
announcement, the Offer Document and/or the Form of Acceptance or
any accompanying document to any jurisdiction where to do so would
violate the laws in that jurisdiction should refrain from doing so
and seek appropriate professional advice before taking any action.
US AND CANADIAN SHAREHOLDERS OF UBIQUITY SHOULD NOTE THAT THE OFFER
IS MADE FOR THE SECURITIES OF A NON-US OR CANADIAN COMPANY. THE
OFFER IS SUBJECT TO THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS OF A COUNTRY THAT
ARE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA. THE
FINANCIAL INFORMATION RELATING TO UBIQUITY INCLUDED IN THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACCOUNTING
STANDARDS THAT MAY NOT BE COMPARABLE TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
US OR CANADIAN COMPANIES. If the Offer is carried out by way of
offer, the offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in, into
or from any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in
that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and
formal documentation relating to the offer will not be and must not
be, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or
from (including, without limitation, electronically or
telephonically) any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the
laws in that jurisdiction. Persons receiving this announcement
(including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees)
must not mail or otherwise distribute or send this announcement in,
into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws
in that jurisdiction. Forward Looking Statements This announcement
includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995. These statements
are based on the current expectations of the management of Avaya
and Ubiquity and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes
in circumstances. The forward-looking statements contained herein
include statements about the expected effects on Ubiquity and Avaya
of the Offer, the expected timing and scope of the Offer,
anticipated earnings enhancements, estimated cost savings and other
synergies, other strategic options and all other statements in this
announcement other than historical facts. Forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, statements typically
containing words such as "intends", "expects", "anticipates",
"targets", "estimates", "believes" and words of similar import and
the negative thereof. 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, which as such, are not guarantees of
future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and actual
results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements as a result of the various factors. These factors
include, but are not limited to, the satisfaction of the conditions
to the Offer and Avaya's ability to successfully integrate the
operations and employees of Ubiquity, as well as additional
factors, such as changes in economic conditions, changes in the
level of capital investment, success of business and operating
initiatives and restructuring objectives, customers' strategies and
stability, changes in the regulatory environment, the ability to
integrate Ubiquity's products with, and leverage Ubiquity's
products in the development of, Avaya's products, dependence on new
product development, the successful and timely introduction of new
products, risks related to inventory, the mix of products and
services, customer demand for products and services, control of
costs and expenses, the ability to attract and retain qualified
employees, the ability to form and implement alliances,
fluctuations in interest and exchange rates, the outcome of
litigation, government actions and natural phenomena such as
floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. Other unknown or unpredictable
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements. Neither Avaya nor Ubiquity
undertakes any obligation to update publicly or revise
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
Dealing Disclosure Requirements Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of
the City Code, if any person is, or becomes, "interested" (directly
or indirectly) in one per cent. or more of any class of "relevant
securities" of Ubiquity, all "dealings" in any "relevant
securities" of Ubiquity, (including by means of an option in
respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such "relevant
securities") must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 p.m.
(London time) on the London business day following the date of the
relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date
on which the Offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to
acceptances, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the
"offer period" otherwise ends. If two or more persons act together
pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or
informal, to acquire an "interest" in "relevant securities" of
Ubiquity, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose
of Rule 8.3. Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the City Code, all
"dealings" in "relevant securities" of Ubiquity by Avaya or
Ubiquity, or by any of their respective "associates", must be
disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the London
business day following the date of the relevant transaction. A
disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose
"relevant securities" "dealings" should be disclosed, and the
number of such securities in issue, can be found on the Panel's
website at http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/. "Interests in
securities" arise, in summary, when a person has long economic
exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price
of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an
"interest" by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or
by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to,
securities. Terms in quotation marks are defined in the City Code,
which can also be found on the Panel's website. If you are in any
doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a "dealing"
under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel. APPENDIX 1 CONDITIONS
AND CERTAIN FURTHER TERMS OF THE OFFER 1. Conditions of the Offer
The Offer The Offer will comply with the applicable rules and
regulations of the London Stock Exchange and the City Code, will be
governed by English law and will be subject to the jurisdiction of
the courts of England and to the terms and conditions set out
below, in the Offer Document and (in respect of the certificated
Ubiquity Shares) in the Form of Acceptance. The Offer will be
subject to the following conditions: (A) valid acceptances being
received (and not, where permitted, withdrawn) by not later than
3.00 p.m. on the First Closing Date (or such later time(s) and/or
date(s) as Avaya may, subject to the rules of the City Code,
decide) in respect of not less than 90 per cent. (or such lesser
percentage as Avaya may decide) in nominal value of Ubiquity Shares
to which the Offer relates and not less than 90 per cent. (or such
lesser percentage as Avaya may decide) of the voting rights carried
by the Ubiquity Shares to which the Offer relates, provided that
this condition will not be satisfied unless Avaya shall have
acquired, or agreed to acquire, whether pursuant to the Offer or
otherwise, and whether directly or indirectly, Ubiquity Shares
carrying, in aggregate, more than 50 per cent. of the voting rights
then normally exercisable at general meetings of Ubiquity. For the
purposes of this condition: (i) Ubiquity Shares which have been
unconditionally allotted shall be deemed to carry the voting rights
they will carry upon being entered in the register of members of
Ubiquity; and (ii) the expression "Ubiquity Shares to which the
Offer relates" shall be construed in accordance with sections 428
to 430(F) (inclusive) of the Act; and (iii) valid acceptances shall
be deemed to have been received in respect of Ubiquity Shares which
are treated for the purposes of section 428 of the Act as having
been acquired or contracted to be acquired by Avaya by virtue of
acceptances of the Offer. (B) the waiting period under any
applicable anti-trust or competition laws of any affected
jurisdictions expiring, and all material related consents,
licences, registrations, or declarations of, or filings with any
competent authority in any such jurisdictions required to be
obtained or made prior to the implementation of such acquisition
having been obtained or made on a basis reasonably satisfactory to
Avaya; (C) no government or governmental or quasi-governmental
authority (whether supranational, national, regional, local or
otherwise) or statutory or regulatory or investigative body or
other authority (including any anti-trust or merger control
authority), court, tribunal, arbitrary body, trade agency,
association, institution or professional or environmental body or
(without prejudice to the generality of all the foregoing) any
other person or body in any jurisdiction (each a "Relevant
Authority") having decided to take, institute, implement or
threaten any action, proceedings, suit, investigation, enquiry or
reference, or made, proposed or enacted any statute, regulation,
order, decision or judgment, or taken any other steps which, in the
reasonable opinion of Avaya, would or might be expected to: (i)
make the Offer, or its implementation, or the proposed acquisition
of any Ubiquity Shares by the Wider Avaya Group or the subscription
by, or allotment to, any member of the Wider Avaya Group of
Ubiquity Shares or any matter arising therefrom or relating
thereto, void, illegal or unenforceable under the laws of any
relevant jurisdiction, or otherwise directly or indirectly,
restrain, prohibit, restrict or delay the Offer, its implementation
or such proposed acquisition by any member of the Wider Avaya Group
or any matter arising therefrom or relating thereto, or material
additional conditions or obligations with respect thereto, or
otherwise challenge or interfere therewith; (ii) result in a delay
in the ability of any member of the Wider Avaya Group, or render
any member of the Wider Avaya Group unable, to acquire all or some
of the Ubiquity Shares or other securities in Ubiquity or require,
prevent or delay a divestiture by any member of the Wider Avaya
Group of any such shares or securities; (iii) require, prevent or
delay the divestiture or surrender by Avaya or any member of the
Wider Avaya Group or by Ubiquity or any of the Wider Ubiquity Group
of all or any material portion of their respective businesses,
assets or properties, or of any consent, licence, permission or
approval necessary to carry on their respective businesses or which
would or might impose any material limitation on the ability of any
of them to conduct all or any material portion of their respective
businesses or to own all or any material portion of their
respective assets or properties; (iv) impose any limitation on the
ability of Avaya or any other member of the Wider Avaya Group or of
the Wider Ubiquity Group to acquire, or to hold or exercise
effectively, directly or indirectly, any rights of ownership in
respect of shares or other securities (or the equivalent) in any
member of the Wider Ubiquity Group or to exercise management
control over Ubiquity or any other member of the Ubiquity Group;
(v) otherwise materially and adversely affect the business, profits
or prospects of any member of the Wider Avaya Group or of the Wider
Ubiquity Group; (vi) except pursuant to Part XIIIA of the Act,
require any member of the Wider Avaya Group or any member of the
Wider Ubiquity Group to acquire, or offer to acquire, any Ubiquity
Shares or other securities (or the equivalent) in any member of the
Wider Ubiquity Group owned by any third party; or (vii) to an
extent which is material in the context of the Wider Ubiquity
Group, result in any member of the Wider Ubiquity Group ceasing to
be able to carry on business under the name which it presently does
so; or (viii) result in any member of the Wider Avaya Group having
to dispose of any shares or other securities (or the equivalent) in
any member of the Wider Ubiquity Group or the Wider Avaya Group,
and all applicable waiting and other time periods during which any
Relevant Authority could decide to take, institute, implement or
threaten any such action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry
or reference or otherwise intervene having expired, lapsed or been
terminated; (D) all necessary filings and applications in
connection with the Offer or its implementation having been made,
all appropriate waiting periods (including extensions thereof) in
respect of the Offer or its implementation under any applicable
legislation or regulations of any jurisdiction having expired,
lapsed or been terminated and all authorisations, orders,
recognitions, grants, consents, licences, confirmations,
clearances, permissions and approvals ("Authorisations") necessary
or reasonably considered necessary or appropriate for or in respect
of the Offer and the proposed acquisition of any Ubiquity Shares or
other securities in, or control of, Ubiquity by the Wider Avaya
Group, or which are necessary for any member of the Wider Ubiquity
Group to carry on its business, having been obtained in terms and
in a form satisfactory to Avaya from all appropriate Relevant
Authorities or other bodies with whom any member of the Wider Avaya
Group or the Wider Ubiquity Group has entered into contractual
arrangements in each case where the absence of such authorisation
is material in the context of the Offer and all such Authorisations
remaining in full force and effect at the time at which the Offer
becomes otherwise unconditional and all appropriate waiting periods
(including extensions thereof) under any applicable legislation and
regulations of any jurisdiction having expired, lapsed or been
terminated and no intimation or notice of an intention to revoke or
not to renew any of the same having been received and all necessary
statutory or regulatory obligations in connection with the Offer
and its implementation in any relevant jurisdiction having been
complied with; (E) save as Disclosed, there being no provision of
any arrangement, agreement, licence, permit, franchise or other
instrument to which any member of the Wider Ubiquity Group is a
party or by or to which any such member or any of their assets is
or are or may be bound, entitled or subject or any circumstance
which, as a consequence of the making of the Offer or the
acquisition or proposed acquisition by any member of the Wider
Avaya Group of some or all of the share capital or other securities
in Ubiquity or because of a change in control or management of
Ubiquity or otherwise, could or might result in (in each case to an
extent which, in the reasonable opinion of Avaya, is material and
adverse in the context of the Wider Ubiquity Group taken as a
whole): (i) any monies borrowed by or other indebtedness (actual or
contingent) of any member of the Wider Ubiquity Group which is not
already repayable on demand being or becoming repayable or being
capable of being declared repayable immediately or prior to the
stated maturity date or repayment date or the ability of any such
member to borrow monies or incur any indebtedness being withdrawn
or inhibited; (ii) the creation of any mortgage, charge or other
security interest over the whole or any material part of the
business, property or assets of any member of the Wider Ubiquity
Group or any such security (whenever arising or having arisen)
becoming enforceable; (iii) any such arrangement, agreement,
licence, permit, franchise or other instrument, or the rights,
liabilities, obligations or interests or business of any member of
the Wider Ubiquity Group under any such arrangement, agreement,
licence, permit, franchise or other instrument, being terminated or
adversely modified or adversely affected or any action being taken
or any obligation arising thereunder; (iv) otherwise than in the
ordinary course of business, any assets or interest of any member
of the Wider Ubiquity Group being or failing to be disposed of or
charged or any right arising under which any such asset or interest
could be required to be disposed of or charged; (v) the interest or
business of any member of the Wider Avaya Group or the Wider
Ubiquity Group in or with any person, firm, company or body (or any
arrangements relating to such interest or business) being
terminated or adversely modified or affected; (vi) any member of
the Wider Ubiquity Group ceasing to be able to carry on business
under any name under which it presently does so; or (vii) the value
of, or the financial or trading position or prospects of, any
member of the Wider Ubiquity Group being prejudiced or adversely
affected; (F) save as Disclosed, no member of the Wider Ubiquity
Group having since 30 June 2006: (i) issued, agreed or authorised
or proposed the issue of additional shares of any class, or
securities convertible into, or rights, warrants or options to
subscribe for or acquire, any such shares or convertible securities
(save as between Ubiquity and its wholly-owned subsidiaries
("Intra- Ubiquity Group Transactions") and save for shares issued
or options or other subscription rights granted under the Ubiquity
Share Option Schemes); (ii) recommended, declared, paid or made or
proposed to recommend, declare, pay or make any bonus, dividend or
other distribution to Ubiquity or a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Ubiquity; (iii) save for Intra-Ubiquity Group Transactions, merged
with any body corporate or acquired or disposed of, or transferred,
mortgaged or charged or created any security interest over, any
assets or any right, title or interest in any asset (including
shares and trade investments), or authorised, proposed or announced
any intention to propose any merger, demerger, acquisition,
disposal, transfer, mortgage, charge or security interest (other
than in the ordinary course of business), in each case to an extent
which is, in the reasonable opinion of Avaya, material and adverse
in the context of the Wider Ubiquity Group taken as a whole; (iv)
issued, authorised or proposed the issue of any debentures or
incurred or increased any indebtedness or contingent liability; (v)
purchased, redeemed or repaid or announced any proposal to
purchase, redeem or repay any of its own shares or other securities
or redeemed or reduced or made any other change to any part of its
share or loan capital; (vi) entered into, or varied, or authorised,
proposed or announced its intention to enter into or vary any
contract, transaction, arrangement or commitment (whether in
respect of capital expenditure or otherwise) which is of a
long-term, onerous or unusual nature or magnitude, or which
involves or is reasonably likely to involve an obligation of a
nature or magnitude and which, in any event, in the reasonable
opinion of Avaya, is material and adverse in the context of the
Wider Ubiquity Group taken as a whole; (vii) save for
Intra-Ubiquity Group Transactions, implemented, authorised,
proposed or announced its intention to implement or enter into any
reconstruction, amalgamation, commitment, scheme or other
transaction or arrangement otherwise than in the ordinary course of
business; (viii) entered into or made an offer (which remains open
for acceptance) to enter into or vary the terms of any service
agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with any directors
or senior executives or any connected person of any such person
(within the meaning of section 346 of the Act); (ix) waived or
compromised any claim (other than in the ordinary course of
business) and which is, in the reasonable opinion of Avaya,
material and adverse in the context of the Wider Ubiquity Group
taken as a whole; (x) been unable, or admitted in writing that it
is unable, to pay its debts or having stopped or suspended (or
threatened to stop or suspend) payment of its debts generally,
proposed any voluntary winding up or ceased or threatened to cease
carrying on all or a substantial part of its business; (xi) made or
authorised or proposed or announced, an intention to propose, any
material change in its share or loan capital; (xii) entered into
any contract, transaction or arrangement which is or is likely to
be, in the reasonable opinion of Avaya, materially restrictive on
the business of any member of the Wider Avaya Group or the Wider
Ubiquity Group; (xiii) made any material alteration to its
Memorandum or Articles of Association or other incorporation
documents; or (ivx) entered into or made an offer (which remains
open for acceptance) to enter into an agreement or commitment or
passed any resolution or announced or made any proposal with
respect to any of the transactions or events referred to in this
sub- paragraph (F); (G) save as Disclosed, since 30 June 2006 and
prior to the date when the Offer would otherwise become or be
declared unconditional in all respects: (i) there having been no
material and adverse change, and no other circumstance having
arisen which would or, in the reasonable opinion of Avaya, might
reasonably be likely to result in any material and adverse change,
in the business, assets, financial or trading position or profits
of any member of the Wider Ubiquity Group; (ii) there not having
been instituted or remaining outstanding any litigation,
arbitration proceedings, prosecution or other legal proceedings to
which any member of the Wider Ubiquity Group is a party (whether as
claimant or respondent or otherwise) and no such proceedings having
been announced or threatened against any such member and no
investigation by any government or governmental,
quasi-governmental, supranational, statutory, regulatory or
investigative body, authority or court (including any anti-trust or
merger control authority) against or in respect of any such member
or the business carried on by any such member having been
threatened in writing, announced, instituted or remaining
outstanding by, against or in respect of any such member, in each
case to an extent which Avaya reasonably considers is material and
adverse in the context of the Wider Ubiquity Group taken as a
whole; (iii) there having been no receiver, administrative receiver
or other encumbrancer appointed over any of the assets of any
member of the Wider Ubiquity Group or any analogous proceedings or
steps having taken place under the laws of any jurisdiction and
there having been no petition presented or resolution passed for
the administration of any member of the Wider Ubiquity Group or any
analogous proceedings or steps having taken place under the laws of
any jurisdiction, in each case to an extent which Avaya reasonably
considers is material and adverse in the context of the Wider
Ubiquity Group taken as a whole; and (iv) no contingent or other
liability having arisen, become apparent or having been incurred
which would or might reasonably be expected adversely to affect any
member of the Wider Ubiquity Group which is material in the context
of the Wider Ubiquity Group, taken as a whole; (H) save as
Disclosed, Avaya not having discovered prior to the date when the
Offer would otherwise become unconditional in all respects that any
financial, business or other information concerning Ubiquity or the
Wider Ubiquity Group publicly disclosed at any time is misleading,
contains a misrepresentation of fact or omits to state a fact
necessary to make the information contained therein not misleading;
or (I) Avaya not having discovered prior to the date when the Offer
would otherwise become unconditional in all respects that any
member of the Wider Ubiquity Group has not complied with all
applicable legislation and regulations of any jurisdiction, with
regard to the disposal, discharge, spillage, leak or emission of
any waste or hazardous substance or any substance likely to impair
the environment or harm human health or otherwise relating to
environmental matters, or that there has otherwise been any such
disposal, discharge, spillage, leak, or emission (whether or not
the same constituted a non- compliance by any person with any such
legislation or regulations and wherever the same may have taken
place) from any land or other asset now or previously owned,
occupied or made use of by any past or present member of the Wider
Ubiquity Group which would be likely to give rise to any liability
(whether actual or contingent) on the part of any member of the
Wider Ubiquity Group and which is material and adverse in the
context of the Wider Ubiquity Group taken as a whole. 2. Certain
further terms of the Offer Subject to the requirements of the
Panel, Avaya reserves the right to waive, in whole or in part, all
or any of conditions (B) to (I) inclusive. If Avaya is required by
the Panel to make an offer for Ubiquity Shares under the provisions
of Rule 9 of the City Code, Avaya may make such alterations to the
above conditions, including condition (A), as are necessary to
comply with the provisions of that Rule. The Offer will lapse if
the Acquisition, or any matter arising therefrom, is referred to
the UK Competition Commission before 3.00 p.m. on the First Closing
Date or the time and date when the Offer becomes or is declared
unconditional as to acceptances, whichever is the later. Conditions
(B) to (I) inclusive must be fulfilled, be determined by Avaya to
be or remain satisfied or, (if capable of waiver) be waived by
midnight on the twenty-first day after whichever is the later of
the date which is 21 days after the First Closing Date and the date
on which condition (A) is satisfied. Avaya shall be under no
obligation to waive or treat as fulfilled or satisfied any of
conditions (B) to (I) inclusive by a date earlier than the latest
date specified above for the fulfilment or satisfaction thereof
notwithstanding that the other conditions of the Offer may at such
earlier date have been waived or fulfilled or satisfied and that
there are at such earlier date no circumstances indicating that any
such conditions may not be capable of fulfilment or satisfaction.
If the Offer lapses, the Offer will cease to be capable of further
acceptance and Avaya and holders of Ubiquity Shares shall thereupon
cease to be bound by prior acceptances delivered on or before the
time when the Offer lapses. The attention of the holders of
Ubiquity Shares not resident in the United Kingdom is drawn to the
relevant provisions of the formal Offer Document which will be
despatched by Avaya. APPENDIX 2 BASES, SOURCES AND OTHER
INFORMATION Unless otherwise stated in this announcement: 1. The
value attributed to the basic share capital of Ubiquity is based
upon 185,723,431 Ubiquity Shares in issue as at 11 January 2007 2.
The value of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of
Ubiquity is based on the sum of: (i) 185,723,431 Ubiquity Shares in
issue; and (ii) 18,990,291 options granted under the Ubiquity Share
Option Schemes which are currently exercisable if the Offer becomes
or is declared unconditional in all respects and have an exercise
price which is lower than the Offer Price which would therefore be
expected to be exercised in connection with the Offer (representing
the to be issued share capital of Ubiquity) 3. The weighted average
exercise price for each option granted under the Ubiquity Share
Option Schemes is 10.7 pence based on 18,990,291 options. 4. Unless
otherwise stated, the financial information on Ubiquity is
extracted from Ubiquity's annual report and accounts for the year
ended 31 December 2005 and for the year ended 31 December 2004 and
from Ubiquity's interim report and accounts for the six months
ended 30 June 2006 and for the six months ended 30 June 2005.
Unless otherwise stated, the financial information on Avaya is
extracted from Avaya's 10-K for the year ended 30 September 2006.
5. The Closing Price for a Ubiquity Share of 20 pence per share on
20 December 2006 is derived from the AIM Appendix of the Daily
Official List of the London Stock Exchange. 6. Disclosures in
paragraph 15 of this announcement regarding interests in Ubiquity
securities are based on the position as at 11 January 2007, being
the last practicable date prior to this announcement. 7. The
Ubiquity Directors who hold Ubiquity Shares have provided
irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer on the terms
summarised in paragraph 10 of this announcement in respect of their
own beneficial shareholdings in Ubiquity's Shares (and, where
applicable, of their connected persons) as follows:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Number of Ubiquity Shares
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Burke 340,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Doyle 1,452,500 (for himself) 400,000 (for his wife Marion
Doyle)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon Gibson 1,908,936 (for himself) 4,444 (for his wife Sheila
Gibson)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Avaya has received an irrevocable undertaking to accept the
Offer from CapVest Equity Partners L.P. in respect of a total of
44,778,594 Ubiquity Shares. 9. Avaya has received an irrevocable
undertaking to accept the Offer from CapVest Special Partners L.P.
in respect of a total of 1,032,554 Ubiquity Shares. 10. Avaya has
received an irrevocable undertaking to accept the Offer from Wesley
Clover Corporation in respect of a total of 12,405,632 Ubiquity
Shares. 11. Avaya has received an irrevocable undertaking to accept
the Offer from JK&B Capital III, L.P. in respect of a total of
18,382,956 Ubiquity Shares. 12. Avaya has received an irrevocable
undertaking to accept the Offer from JK&B Capital III, Civil
Law Partnership in respect of a total of 195,566 Ubiquity Shares.
13. Avaya has received an irrevocable undertaking to accept the
Offer from JK&B Capital III QIP, L.P. in respect of a total of
977,816 Ubiquity Shares. 14. Avaya has received an irrevocable
undertaking to accept the Offer from Hermes Investment Management
Limited in respect of a total of 18,235,300 Ubiquity Shares. 15.
Avaya has received a non-binding letter of intent to accept the
Offer from Morley Fund Management Limited in respect of a total of
7,504,325 Ubiquity Shares. Morley has reserved its right to
withdraw its proposed acceptance of the Offer in the event a higher
competing offer is forthcoming for Ubiquity. APPENDIX 3 DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply throughout this announcement unless
the context requires otherwise. Acquisition the proposed
acquisition of shares in Ubiquity by Avaya to be effected by means
of the Offer Act the Companies Act 1985, as amended from time to
time AIM the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange plc AIM Rules
the rules governing the admission to, and operation of, AIM as set
out in the AIM Rules for Companies published by the London Stock
Exchange from time to time Avaya Avaya International Enterprises
Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avaya Inc. Avaya Directors or
Avaya Board the directors of Avaya at the date of this announcement
Avaya Inc. Avaya Inc. and its subsidiaries and subsidiary
undertakings Business Day a day, (other than a public holiday,
Saturday or Sunday) on which clearing banks in the City of London,
UK and the City of New York, USA are open for normal business
certificated or in certificated form in relation to a share or
other security, not in uncertificated form (that is, not in CREST)
Citigroup Citigroup Global Markets Limited City Code the City Code
on Takeovers and Mergers Closing Price the closing middle market
quotation of a share as derived from the AIM Appendix of the Daily
Official List Conditions the conditions set out in Appendix 1 to
this announcement connected person as defined in section 346 of the
Act Credit Suisse Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited CREST
the relevant system (as defined in the Regulations) in respect of
which CRESTCo is the operator Disclosed means (a) as disclosed in
Ubiquity's report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2005
and Ubiquity's interim accounts for the six months ended 30 June
2006; (b) as publicly announced by Ubiquity (by the delivery of an
announcement to an authorised Regulatory Information Service prior
to this announcement; (c) as disclosed in this announcement; and
(d) solely for the purposes of the following paragraphs of the
Conditions 1(E) (iii) to (vi) (inclusive), 1(F) (vi), (vii) and
(viii), as otherwise fully and fairly disclosed in writing, or in
the documentation or written information provided, to Avaya or its
advisers by or on behalf of Ubiquity prior to this announcement
First Closing Date the date which is 20 Business Days after the
posting of the Offer Document Form of Acceptance the form of
acceptance and authority for use in connection with the Offer (in
respect of certificated Ubiquity Shares) which will accompany the
Offer Document Ireland the Republic of Ireland Listing Rules the
Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority as amended from time to
time London Stock Exchange London Stock Exchange plc Offer the
proposed recommended cash offer to be made by Avaya on the terms
and subject to the Conditions and to the full terms and conditions
to be set out in the Offer Document and (in respect of certificated
Ubiquity Shares) in the Form of Acceptance, to acquire the Ubiquity
Shares and, where the context admits, any subsequent revision,
variation, extension or renewal thereof Offer Document the document
proposed to be sent to holders of Ubiquity Shares containing, inter
alia, details of the Offer Offer Period the period commencing on
(and including) 20 December 2006 and ending on the First Closing
Date or, if later, on the date on which the Offer becomes or is
declared unconditional as to acceptances or lapses Offer Price 37.3
pence per Ubiquity Share Overseas Shareholders holders of Ubiquity
Shares resident in or nationals or citizens of, jurisdictions
outside the UK or who are nominees of, or custodians, trustees or
guardians for, citizens or nationals of other countries Panel the
Panel on Takeovers and Mergers "p", "pence" or "(pnds stlg)" the
lawful currency of the United Kingdom Regulations the
Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 # 3755)
Regulatory Information Service any of the services set out in
Schedule 12 to the Listing Rules published by the Financial
Services Authority Restricted Jurisdictions jurisdictions in which
the release, publication or distribution of this announcement may
be restricted SIP Session Initiation Protocol, a signalling control
protocol which manages multi-media sessions between different
applications and devices SIP A/S Session Initiation Protocol
Application Server subsidiary and subsidiary undertaking a
"subsidiary" within the meaning of section 736 of the Act
Substantial Interest a direct or indirect interest in 20 per cent.
or more of the equity share capital (as defined in section 744 of
the Act) of an undertaking Ubiquity Directors or Ubiquity Board the
directors of Ubiquity at the date of this announcement Ubiquity or
the Company Ubiquity Software Corporation plc and its subsidiaries
and subsidiary undertakings Ubiquity Shareholders the registered
holders of Ubiquity Shares Ubiquity Share Option Schemes each of
the share option schemes operated by Ubiquity, including; (i) the
Ubiquity Software Corporation PLC 2005 Discretionary Share Option
Plan; (ii) the Ubiquity Software Corporation PLC 2005 Discretionary
Share Option Plan UK Approved Addendum; (iii) the Ubiquity Software
Corporation PLC 2005 Discretionary Share Option Plan ISO Sub-Plan
Addendum; (iv) the Ubiquity Software Corporation PLC 2005
Discretionary Share Option Plan Canadian Approved Addendum; (v) the
Ubiquity Software Corporation Limited UK Employee Share Option Plan
(as amended); (vi) the Ubiquity Software Corporation Limited
Enterprise Management Incentives Sub-plan; (vi) the Ubiquity
Software Corporation Limited Canadian Employee Stock Option Plan;
(viii) the Ubiquity Software Corporation PLC Savings- Related Share
Option Scheme; (ix) the Ubiquity Software Corporation PLC Savings-
Related Share Option Scheme Canadian Approved Addendum; (x) the
Ubiquity Software Corporation Limited U.S. Employee Share Option
Plan; and (xi) the Ubiquity Software Corporation Share Savings Plan
Ubiquity Shares or Shares the existing unconditionally allotted or
issued fully paid ordinary shares of 1.25p each in Ubiquity and any
such further ordinary shares of 1.25p each in Ubiquity which are
unconditionally allotted or issued after the date hereof and before
the date on which the Offer closes (or such earlier date or dates
as Avaya may, subject to the City Code, decide) or pursuant to the
exercise of options under the Ubiquity Share Option Scheme UK or
United Kingdom the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland UKLA or UK Listing Authority the Financial Services
Authority acting as the competent authority for the purposes of
Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 US or United
States the United States of America, its territories and
possessions, any state of the United States and the District of
Columbia US$ US dollars, the lawful currency of the United States
Wider Ubiquity Group Ubiquity or any of its subsidiaries,
subsidiary undertakings, associated undertakings or any joint
venture, partnership, firm or company in which any of them has a
Substantial Interest Wider Avaya Group Avaya or any of its
subsidiaries, subsidiary undertakings, associated undertakings or
any joint venture, partnership, firm or company in which any of
them has a Substantial Interest All references to time in this
announcement are to London time unless otherwise stated. Any
reference to any provision of any legislation shall include any
amendment, modification, re-enactment or extension thereof.
DATASOURCE: Avaya International Enterprises Limited CONTACT:
ENQUIRIES: Avaya Inc.: Investor Relations, Matthew Booher, +1 (908)
953-7500; Media Relations, Lynn Newman, +1 (908) 953-8692; Credit
Suisse(financial adviser to Avaya): Ian Brown, +44(0)20 7888 8888;
Ubiquity: Richard Ralph, +44(0)2920 817504; David Boyd, +44(0)2920
817545; Citigroup (financial adviser to Ubiquity): William Barter,
+44(0)20 7986 6946, Eric Sanschagrin, +44(0)20 7986 7541; Ralf
Pilarczyk, +44(0)20 7986 7470; Financial Dynamics (financial PR
advisers to Ubiquity): James Melville-Ross/Matt Dixon, +44(0)20
7831 3113; Evolution Securities Limited (nominated adviser and
broker to Ubiquity): Robert Collins, +44(0)20 7071 4300
Copyright