VVO Vivo Energy Plc

TIDMVVO

RNS Number : 6733T

Vivo Energy PLC

26 July 2022

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

26 July 2022

RECOMMED CASH OFFER

for

Vivo Energy plc

by

VIP II Blue B.V.

(a newly formed company ("BidCo"), being a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Vitol Investment Partnership II Limited, itself being an investment vehicle advised by employees of the Vitol Group)

to be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the UK Companies Act 2006 (the "Act")

CANCELLATION OF LISTING

On 25 November 2021, the boards of Vivo Energy plc (the "Company" or "Vivo") and BidCo announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer for all of the issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of the Company not already owned by the Existing Vitol Shareholders (the "Offer"). The Offer is to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Act (the "Scheme"). Full details of the Offer are set out in the Scheme Document published on 17 December 2021 (the "Scheme Document").

Further to the announcement made by Vivo on 25 July 2022 that the Scheme has become effective in accordance with its terms, Vivo confirms that each of the listing of Vivo Shares on the premium listing segment of the Official List and the admission to trading of Vivo Shares on the main market of the London Stock Exchange were cancelled with effect from 8.00 a.m. today.

It is expected that the listing of Vivo Shares on the JSE will be cancelled with effect from 29 July 2022.

Terms defined in the Scheme Document dated 17 December 2021 have the same meanings in this announcement.

Enquiries:

BidCo +44 20 7973 4230 /

+44 7525 403796

Andrea Schlaepfer

Head of Corporate Communications

   HSBC (Financial adviser to BidCo)                                            +44 20 7991 8888 

Keith Welch

Alex Thomas

James Novelli

Joe Weaving

   Brunswick LLP (public relations adviser to BidCo)                   +44 20 7404 5959 

Patrick Handley

Vivo Energy plc +44 20 3034 3735

Giles Blackham

Head of Investor Relations

Rob Foyle

Head of Communications

   J.P. Morgan Cazenove                                                              +44 20 7742 4000 

(Joint financial adviser and corporate broker to Vivo)

Dwayne Lysaght

James Janoskey

Richard Walsh

   Rothschild & Co (Joint financial adviser to Vivo)                      +44 20 7280 5000 

John Deans

Edoardo Fassati

   Numis Securities (Corporate broker to Vivo)                             +44 207 260 1000 

Stuart Dickson

George Price

JSE Sponsor:

J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited

   Tulchan Communications (public relations adviser to Vivo)   +44 207 353 4200 

Martin Robinson

Harry Cameron

Akin Gump LLP is acting as legal adviser to BidCo as to English law. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is acting as legal adviser to Vivo as to English Law. Bowmans is acting as legal adviser to BidCo as to South African Law and Werksmans is acting as legal adviser to Vivo as to South African law.

Important notices relating to financial advisers

HSBC, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the "PRA") and regulated by the PRA and the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Vitol and BidCo and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Vitol and BidCo for providing the protections afforded to clients of HSBC nor for giving advice in relation to the Offer or any matter or arrangement referred to in this announcement. Neither HSBC, nor any of its group undertakings or 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 HSBC in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise. HSBC has given, and not withdrawn, its consent to the inclusion in this announcement of the references to its name in the form and context in which they appear.

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 in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA. J.P. Morgan Cazenove is acting as financial adviser exclusively for Vivo and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to such matters and will not be responsible to anyone other than Vivo for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or its affiliates, or for providing advice in relation to any matter or arrangement referred to herein.

J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited is acting exclusively as JSE sponsor to Vivo and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement, and will be subject to the requirements imposed on such a sponsor under the JSE Listings Requirements.

N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co"), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Vivo and no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Vivo for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rothschild & Co nor for providing advice in connection with any matter referred to herein. Neither Rothschild & Co nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) 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 Rothschild & Co in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Numis Securities Limited ("Numis"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as Corporate Broker exclusively for Vivo and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Vivo for providing the protections afforded to clients of Numis, nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to herein.

This announcement is for information purposes only. It is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation or the solicitation of any offer to sell or purchase any securities or the solicitation of any offer to otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any security pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. The Offer shall be made solely by means of the Scheme Document, which, together with the Forms of Proxy and the Form of Election (if applicable), shall contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer, including details of how to vote in respect of the Offer. Any vote in respect of, acceptance or other response to the Offer should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document read in its entirety.

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

Overseas Shareholders

The availability of the Offer to Vivo Shareholders who are not resident in and citizens of the United Kingdom or South Africa may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or of which they are citizens. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or South Africa 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 Offer disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person. Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders are contained in the Scheme Document.

Unless otherwise determined by BidCo or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Offer will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. 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 or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported acceptance in respect of the Offer. The Offer may not be made directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities.

In accordance with the Takeover Code, normal United Kingdom market practice and Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, HSBC and its respective affiliates will continue to act as exempt principal trader in Vivo securities on the London Stock Exchange. These purchases and activities by exempt principal traders which are required to be made public in the United Kingdom pursuant to the Takeover Code will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com. This information will also be publicly disclosed: (i) in the US to the extent that such information is made public in the United Kingdom, and (ii) in South Africa, on the Stock Exchange News Service of the JSE, to the extent that it is reported to a Regulatory Information Service on the London Stock Exchange's website.

This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law, the Takeover Code, the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014, the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014 (as it forms part of the laws of the UK by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended)), the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, and the Listing Rules, and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of England and Wales.

The information contained in this announcement constitutes factual information as contemplated in section 1(3)(a) of the South African Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 37 of 2002, as amended ("Fais Act") and should not be construed as an express or implied advice, recommendation, guide or proposal that any particular transaction in respect of the Offer, is appropriate to the particular investment objectives, financial situations or needs of a shareholder or offeree, and nothing in this announcement should be construed as constituting the canvassing for, or marketing or advertising of, financial services in South Africa. BidCo is not a financial services provider licensed as such under the Fais Act.

Nothing in this announcement should be viewed, or construed, as "advice", as that term is used in the South African Financial Markets Act, 19 of 2012, as amended.

Notice to U.S. investors in Vivo

The Offer relates to shares of a UK company and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under the laws of England and Wales. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act.

Accordingly, the Offer is expected to be made subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom and to schemes of arrangement under the laws of England and Wales which differ from the disclosure and other requirements of the United States tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. Neither the US Securities Exchange Commission, nor any securities commission of any state of the United States, has approved the Offer, passed upon the fairness of the Offer or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

However, if BidCo were to elect (with the consent of the Panel) to implement the Offer by means of a takeover offer, such takeover offer shall be made in compliance with all applicable United States laws and regulations, including any applicable exemptions under the US Exchange Act. Such a takeover would be made in the United States by BidCo and no one else.

In the event that the Offer is implemented by way of a takeover offer, in accordance with normal United Kingdom practice, BidCo or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares or other securities of Vivo outside of the United States, other than pursuant to the Offer, until the date on which the Offer and/or Scheme becomes effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase shall be disclosed as required in the UK, shall be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and shall be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com. This information will also be publicly disclosed in South Africa, on Stock Exchange News Service of the JSE, to the extent that it is reported to a Regulatory Information Service on the London Stock Exchange's website.

Each Vivo Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Offer applicable to them, including under applicable United States state and local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws.

Financial information relating to Vivo included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has been or shall have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

Vivo is organised under the laws of a country other than the United States. Some or all of the officers and directors of Vivo, respectively, are residents of countries other than the United States. In addition, most of the assets of Vivo are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for US shareholders of Vivo to effect service of process within the United States upon Vivo or its officers or directors or to enforce against them a judgment of a US court predicated upon the federal or state securities laws of the United States.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Offer, and other information published by BidCo contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of BidCo about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement include statements relating to the expected effects of the Offer on BidCo, the Vitol Group, the Vivo Group and Vivo (including their future prospects, developments and strategies), the expected timing and scope of the Offer and other statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject to", "budget", "projects", "strategy", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Although BidCo believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, BidCo can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. 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.

These factors include, but are not limited to: the ability to complete the Offer; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and shareholder approvals; future market conditions; changes in general economic and business conditions; the behaviour of other market participants; the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction not being realised as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions in the countries in which each of the Vitol Group and the Vivo Group operates; weak, volatile or illiquid capital and/or credit markets; changes in tax rates; interest rate and currency value fluctuations; the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which each of the Vitol Group and the Vivo Group operates; and changes in laws or in supervisory expectations or requirements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. Neither BidCo, nor any persons acting in concert with it, nor any of its associates or directors, officers or advisers, provide any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. You are cautioned not to place any reliance on these forward-looking statements. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations, BidCo is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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END

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 26, 2022 03:05 ET (07:05 GMT)