Sophos Group Plc Delisting Announcement (7619E)

TIDMSOPH

RNS Number : 7619E

Sophos Group Plc

03 March 2020

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION (IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY) IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

3 March 2020

DE-LISTING AND CANCELLATION OF TRADING OF SOPHOS SHARES

Further to the announcement made by Sophos Group plc ("Sophos") and Surf Buyer Limited on 2 March 2020, Sophos today announces that, following an application by Sophos, the Financial Conduct Authority has cancelled the listing of Sophos Shares on the premium listing segment of the Official List and the London Stock Exchange has cancelled the trading of Sophos Shares on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities, in each case with effect from 8:00 a.m. (London time) today, 3 March 2020.

Capitalised terms used but not otherwise defined in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the scheme document published on 8 November 2019 in relation to the recommended cash offer by Surf Buyer Limited (a company owned by funds managed and/or advised by Thoma Bravo, LLC) for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Sophos, effected by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006.

Enquiries:

 
 Sophos Group plc                           Tel: +44 (0) 12 3555 9933 
  Kris Hagerman, Chief Executive Officer 
  Derek Brown, Vice President Investor 
  Relations 
 Tulchan Communications (financial PR       Tel: +44 (0)20 7353 4200 
  adviser to Sophos) 
  James Macey White 
  Matt Low 
 J.P. Morgan Cazenove (lead financial       Tel: +44 (0)20 7742 4000 
  adviser and corporate broker to Sophos) 
  Gary Weiss 
  Bill Hutchings 
  James Robinson 
  Chris Wood 
 Lazard (financial adviser and Rule         Tel: +44 (0)20 7187 2000 
  3 adviser to Sophos) 
  Cyrus Kapadia 
  Philippe Noël 
 UBS AG London Branch (corporate broker     Tel: +44 (0)20 7567 8000 
  and financial adviser to Sophos) 
  Jonathan Rowley 
  David Roberts 
 Finsbury (PR adviser to Bidco and Thoma    Tel: +44 (0)20 7251 3801 
  Bravo) 
  Faeth Birch 
  Edward Simpkins 
 Goldman Sachs (financial adviser to 
  Bidco and Thoma Bravo) 
  Ward Waltemath                             Tel: +1 212 902 1000 
  Mark Sorrell                               Tel: +44 (0)20 7774 1000 
  Chris Emmerson                             Tel: +44 (0)20 7774 1000 
  Jimmy Bastock (Corporate Broking)          Tel: +44 (0)20 7774 1000

Important notices

Goldman Sachs International, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the United Kingdom, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (together, "Goldman Sachs") are acting exclusively for Bidco and Thoma Bravo as financial advisers and no one else in connection with the Acquisition, this announcement or any matter referred to herein and will not be responsible to anyone other than Bidco and Thoma Bravo for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs, nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition, this announcement or any matter referred to herein. Neither Goldman Sachs nor any of Goldman Sachs' subsidiaries, affiliates or branches owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct, indirect, consequential, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Goldman Sachs in connection with the Acquisition, this announcement, any matter referred to herein or otherwise.

J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove ("J.P. Morgan Cazenove"), is authorised in the United Kingdom by the PRA and regulated by the PRA and the FCA. J.P. Morgan Cazenove is acting as financial adviser exclusively for Sophos and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Sophos for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or its affiliates, or for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter or arrangement referred to herein.

Lazard & Co., Limited ("Lazard"), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Sophos and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Sophos for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or any other matter referred to herein. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lazard in connection with the Acquisition, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

UBS AG London Branch ("UBS") is authorised and regulated by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. It is authorised by the PRA and subject to regulation by the FCA and limited regulation by the PRA in the United Kingdom. UBS is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Sophos and no one else for the purpose of the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Sophos for providing the protections offered to clients of UBS nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

Further information

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Sophos in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Acquisition will be implemented solely pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of an Offer, the Offer Document), which contains the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition. Each Shareholder is urged to consult his independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to him.

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

Overseas Shareholders

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

The availability of the Acquisition to Sophos Shareholders who are not resident in and citizens of the UK may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or of which they are citizens. It is the responsibility of any person outside the United Kingdom into whose possession this announcement comes to satisfy themselves as to the full observance of the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in connection with the Acquisition, including the obtaining of any governmental, exchange control or other consents which may be required and/or compliance with other necessary formalities which are required to be observed and the payment of any issue, transfer or other taxes or levies due in such jurisdiction. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons who are not resident in the UK should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.

The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder of Sophos Shares as consideration for the transfer of its Sophos Shares pursuant to the Scheme will be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and may also be a taxable transaction under applicable state and local tax laws, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each US holder of Sophos Shares is strongly advised to consult an appropriately qualified independent professional tax adviser immediately with respect to the tax consequences of the Scheme.

Overseas shareholders should consult their own legal and tax advisers with respect to the legal and tax consequences of the Scheme.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

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March 03, 2020 03:00 ET (08:00 GMT)

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