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

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE"). THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY FIRM OFFER MIGHT BE MADE.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION. 

For immediate release                                                                                                              

15 August 2024

Capital & Regional plc

Extension of PUSU deadlines

On 23 May 2024, the Board of Capital & Regional plc ("Capital & Regional" or the "Company") confirmed that its majority shareholder Growthpoint Properties Limited ("Growthpoint") had received a preliminary expression of interest from NewRiver REIT plc ("NewRiver") in relation to a possible offer in cash and shares for the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of Capital & Regional.

Following an extension announcement by Capital & Regional on 18 July 2024, NewRiver was required, by no later than 5:00 p.m. (UK time) / 6.00p.m. (SA time) on 15 August 2024, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Capital & Regional in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies.

On 19 July 2024, Praxis Group Limited ("Praxis") announced that it was in the early stages of considering whether or not to make a cash offer for the entire issued, and to be issued, share capital of Capital & Regional.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, Praxis is required, by no later than 5:00 p.m. (UK time) / 6.00p.m. (SA time) on 16 August 2024, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Capital & Regional in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies.

To allow the discussions with each of NewRiver and Praxis (each a "Potential Bidder") to continue, the Board of Capital & Regional has requested, and the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Takeover Panel") has consented to, extensions to the date by which each of the Potential Bidders is required to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for the Company or announce that it does not intend to make an offer. Consequently, in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code, each of the Potential Bidders is now required, by not later than 5.00 p.m. (UK time) / 6.00 p.m. (SA time) on 12 September 2024, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Capital & Regional in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer for the Company, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code, each revised deadline may be extended further at the request of the Board of Capital & Regional and with the consent of the Takeover Panel.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(d), this deadline will cease to apply if either Potential Bidder (or any third-party) has announced a firm intention to make an offer for the Company.

There can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made for the Company, nor as to the terms on which any offer will be made.

The Company remains in an 'offer period' in accordance with the rules of the Code and the attention of Capital & Regional shareholders is drawn to the continuing disclosure requirements of Rule 8 of the Code, which are summarised below.

Enquiries:

Capital & Regional plc

Deutsche Numis (Joint Financial Adviser and Joint Broker)

Stifel (Joint Financial Adviser and Joint Broker)

Java Capital (JSE sponsor)

FTI Consulting (PR Adviser)

Further information

Numis Securities Limited ("Deutsche Numis"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Capital & Regional plc and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Capital & Regional plc for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Numis, nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to herein. Neither Deutsche Numis nor any of its affiliates (nor any of 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 Deutsche Numis in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

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

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe such restrictions. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Publication on Website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be available at www.capreg.com/investor-info promptly and in any event by no later than 12 noon on the business day following this announcement. The content of this website is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.