16 September 2019
UIL LIMITED
(LEI Number: 213800CTZ7TEIE7YM468)
Transfer to the Specialist Fund Segment
Publication of Circular
Further to the announcement on 26 July 2019, the Board of UIL Limited ("UIL" or the "Company") announces that it has today published a circular (the "Circular") in respect of the proposed transfer of all of its ordinary shares to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment of the London Stock Exchange. The Circular contains a notice convening a special general meeting of the Company to be held at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda at 9.00 a.m. (Bermuda time) on Wednesday, 9 October 2019.
The text of the Chairman's letter and the expected timetable of principal events, extracted from the Circular, are set out below.
A copy of the Circular will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM and on the Company's website: www.uil.limited.
Terms used and not defined in this announcement bear the meaning given to them in the Circular published today.
Chairman's letter
"To the holders of Ordinary Shares and Depositary Interests
Proposed cancellation of admission to the Premium Segment of the Official List and transfer to the Specialist Fund Segment of the London Stock Exchange
Notice of Special General Meeting
1. INTRODUCTION
The Board announced earlier today proposals to transfer to the Specialist Fund Segment of the London Stock Exchange which will require application for the admission of the entire issued share capital of the Company to the Specialist Fund Segment and the cancellation of the admission of the Company's Ordinary Shares on the Premium Segment of the Official List.
Capitalised terms used in this letter and the rest of this document are defined in Part III on
pages 9 and 10 of this document.
2. REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED CANCELLATION AND TRANSFER
The Company announced on 26 July 2019 that the number of Ordinary Shares which are deemed by the Listing Rules to be held in public hands was very close to the minimum 25 per cent. threshold. The Listing Rules provide that shares are not considered to be held in public hands if they are held by persons (or persons in the same group or persons acting in concert) who have an interest in 5 per cent. or more of a listed company's share capital as well as shares held by directors of a listed company. As at the Latest Practicable Date, the total number of Ordinary Shares held in public hands for the purposes of the Listing Rules was 21,738,004, representing 24.62 per cent. of the Company's total issued ordinary share capital.
The percentage of Ordinary Shares held in public hands has reduced principally as a result of the Company regularly buying back its Ordinary Shares and share purchases by the Directors and members of the portfolio management team. As previously announced, the Board has concluded that it would be in Shareholders' best interests for the Company to continue to have the flexibility to buy back its own shares. Following further consideration since the announcement made on 26 July 2019, the Board has also now concluded that it would be in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders to transfer the listing of the Ordinary Shares from the Premium Segment to the Specialist Fund Segment, which does not have any formal requirement for the minimum number of Ordinary Shares which must be held in public hands.
The proposed transfer to the Specialist Fund Segment will require the cancellation of the existing listing of the Ordinary Shares on the Premium Segment and to trading on the Main Market and an application for admission of the Ordinary Shares to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment.
The Proposed Cancellation and Transfer will have no impact on the zero dividend preference shares which have been issued by the Company's subsidiary, UIL Finance Limited, as these shares will remain listed on the Standard Segment of the Main Market.
3. LISTING RULE REQUIREMENTS
Under LR 5.2.5 of the Listing Rules, the cancellation of the Company's admission to the Premium Segment of the Official List requires the Company to obtain the prior approval for such cancellation of not less than: (i) 75 per cent. of all Shareholders; and (ii) as the Company has a controlling shareholder, a simple majority of the Independent Shareholders (being all Shareholders other than General Provincial Life Pension Fund Limited, the Company's majority shareholder which holds 54,851,533 Ordinary Shares, and the other members of the GPLPF Concert Party which in aggregate hold a total of 62,259,821 Ordinary Shares representing 70.52 per cent. of the total voting rights of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date), in each case who vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting. Therefore the Resolution being proposed at the Special General Meeting, to be held at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda at 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 9 October 2019, to approve the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer is being proposed as a special resolution and will be carried out by way of a poll (see paragraph 8 below for further information). If the Resolution is passed, the Board proposes to make an application to the FCA and the London Stock Exchange respectively for the cancellation of the Company's listing on the Premium Segment and its trading on the Main Market and an application to the London Stock Exchange for admission of the Ordinary Shares to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment.
Accordingly, Shareholders are being asked to vote on the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer and this circular has been prepared in accordance with LR 5.2.5 of the Listing Rules for the purpose of convening the special general meeting at which Shareholders' approval of the Resolution will be sought. The purpose of this letter is also to outline the reasons for, and provide further information on, the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer, and explain why the Board considers the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer to be in the best interests of the Company and Shareholders as a whole and why the Board recommends that you vote in favour of the Resolution.
4. IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED CANCELLATION AND TRANSFER
The Specialist Fund Segment is a segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange which is designed to appeal to alternative funds and sophisticated investors. As at the Latest Practicable Date, a total of 42 closed ended investment funds were listed on the Specialist Funds Segment, with a total market capitalisation of over £12 billion and an average market capitalisation of approximately £300 million (Source: London Stock Exchange, August 2019).
As a segment of the Main Market, the Specialist Fund Segment is an EU regulated market and therefore the Company will continue to be subject to the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (as implemented in the UK through FSMA), the Market Abuse Regulation and the Admission and Disclosure Standards of the London Stock Exchange. However, following the cancellation of the Company's listing on the Premium Segment, the Listing Rules (and certain provisions of the DTRs) applicable to closed-ended investment companies which are listed on the Premium Segment under Chapter 15 of the Listing Rules will cease to apply to the Company.
Notwithstanding this, the Directors intend that, as a matter of best practice and good corporate governance, the Company will conduct its affairs in accordance with the following key provisions of the Listing Rules and the DTRs in such manner as they would apply to the Company were it still admitted to the Premium Segment under Chapter 15 of the Listing Rules. In particular, the Company intends to continue to comply with the following:
· the Listing Principles and the Premium Listing Principles set out in Chapter 7 of the Listing Rules;
· the following provisions of Chapter 9 of the Listing Rules: (i) Listing Rule 9.3 (Continuing obligations: holders); (ii) Listing Rule 9.5 (Transactions); (iii) Listing Rule 9.6.4 to Listing Rule 9.6.21 other than Listing Rule 9.6.19(2) and Listing Rule 9.6.19(3) (Notifications); (iv) Listing Rule 9.7A (Preliminary statement of annual results and statement of dividends); and (v) Listing Rule 9.8 (Annual financial report);
· in relation to any transaction which would constitute a "related party transaction" as defined in the DTRs, DTR 7.3 under which, inter alia, any "material" related party transaction will require an announcement to be made via an RIS providing certain information relating to the relevant transaction by no later than the time the terms of the transaction are agreed. For these purposes, a transaction will be considered material where any percentage ratio resulting from the application of the class tests in Annex 1 to DTR 7 is 5 per cent. or more. However, Listing Rule 11 which requires independent shareholder approval of certain related party transactions (as defined in the Listing Rules) will no longer apply to the Company;
· in relation to the purchase of its own shares, the provisions of Listing Rules 12.4.1 and 12.4.2 by adopting a policy consistent with such provisions;
· the following provisions of Chapter 13 of the Listing Rules: (i) Listing Rule 13.3 (Contents of all circulars); (ii) Listing Rule 13.4 (Class 1 circulars); (iii) Listing Rule 13.5 (Financial information in Class 1 Circulars); (iv) Listing Rule 13.7 (Circulars about purchase of own equity shares); and (v) Listing Rule 13.8 (Other circulars); and
· the following provisions of Chapter 15 of the Listing Rules: (i) Listing Rule 15.4.2 to Listing Rule 15.4.11 (Continuing obligations); (ii) Listing Rule 15.5.2 (Transactions); and (iii) Listing Rule 15.6 (Notifications and periodic financial information).
Admission to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment will not affect the way in which Shareholders buy or sell the Ordinary Shares. Ordinary Shares that are held in uncertificated form through Depositary Interests will continue to be held and dealt through in CREST. Share certificates representing Ordinary Shares held in certificated form will continue to be valid and no new share certificates will be issued.
The Board intends that there will be no alteration to the standards of reporting and governance which the Company maintains currently and the Company will continue to apply the principles and recommendations of the UK Code on Corporate Governance and the AIC's Code, as described in the Company's annual report and accounts. In particular, the Company will maintain its existing Audit & Risk Committee and Management Engagement Committee.
It is emphasised that the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer will have no impact on the existing assets and liabilities of the Company and the Company will continue to pursue the same investment objective and investment policy following admission of the Ordinary Shares to the Specialist Fund Segment.
5. RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TRADING ON THE SPECIALIST FUND SEGMENT
Although the Company intends to apply for all of the Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment in connection with the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer, there can be no assurance that an active or liquid trading market for the Ordinary Shares will develop or, if developed, that it will be maintained following such admission.
Investment in shares traded on the Specialist Fund Segment may have limited liquidity and may experience greater price volatility than shares listed on the Main Market. Limited liquidity and high price volatility may result in Shareholders being unable to sell their Ordinary Shares at a price that would result in them recovering their original investment.
Typical investors in companies which are admitted to the Specialist Fund Segment are expected to be institutional, professional and knowledgeable investors (including those who are professionally advised) who understand, or have been advised of, the potential risk of investing in companies admitted to the Specialist Fund Segment. However the Company will continue to conduct its business and affairs as it has done while admitted to the Premium Segment and the Board does not anticipate any higher degree of investment risk as a result of the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer.
Whilst the Company intends to comply voluntarily with certain of the Listing Rules as described above, it should be noted that the FCA will not monitor the Company's voluntary compliance with such Listing Rules nor will it impose sanctions in respect of any failure of such compliance by the Company.
6. DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED CANCELLATION AND TRANSFER
In order to effect the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer, the Company will require, inter alia, Shareholder approval of the Resolution at the Special General Meeting to be held at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda at 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 9 October 2019. The Notice of the Special General Meeting sets out the terms of the Resolution which will be proposed at the Special General Meeting as a special resolution in order to approve the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer. As described above, in accordance with the Listing Rules, the Resolution is subject to approval being obtained from not less than: (i) 75 per cent. of all Shareholders; and (ii) as the Company has a controlling shareholder, a simple majority of the Independent Shareholders, in each case who vote in person or by proxy at a general meeting.
Assuming the Resolution is passed, the Company will apply to cancel the listing of its Ordinary Shares on the Premium Segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market and will seek admission of its Ordinary Shares to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment of the London Stock Exchange.
It is expected that the last day of dealings in the Ordinary Shares on the Main Market will be 6 November 2019 and the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer will take effect at 8.00 a.m. on 7 November 2019, being not less than 20 Business Days from the passing of the Resolution. Accordingly, admission of the Ordinary Shares to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment is expected to take place, and dealings in Ordinary Shares are expected to commence on the Specialist Fund Segment, at 8.00 a.m. on 7 November 2019.
7. CONSEQUENCES OF THE RESOLUTION NOT BEING PASSED
In the event that the Resolution is not passed, while the Company's Ordinary Shares would initially remain listed on the Premium Segment, the Company would not be in compliance with the Listing Rule provisions regarding the number of Ordinary Shares in public hands as referred to above.
In light of the Company's stated objective of being able to continue to buy back its Ordinary Shares, the number of Ordinary Shares in public hands is likely to continue to reduce and in such situation there is a high risk that the Company's listing of its Ordinary Shares will be suspended and subsequently cancelled by the Financial Conduct Authority. In such circumstances, the Ordinary Shares would cease to be tradeable on the London Stock Exchange and this would have a material adverse effect on the liquidity of the Ordinary Shares and ability of Shareholders to sell them. Shareholders are therefore urged to vote in favour of the Resolution in accordance with the Directors' recommendation.
8. THE SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
A notice convening the Special General Meeting to be held at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda at 9.00 a.m. (Bermuda time) on Wednesday, 9 October 2019 is set out in Part IV at the end of this document at which the Resolution to approve the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer will be proposed as a special resolution.
In order to allow for votes to be counted on the Resolution both in respect of all Shareholders (where a 75 per cent. majority in favour is required) and by the Independent Shareholders (where a simple majority is required), the voting on the Resolution at the Special General Meeting will be carried out by way of a poll.
9. ACTION TO BE TAKEN
Shareholders who hold Ordinary Shares in certificated form
Shareholders who hold their Ordinary Shares in certificated form will find enclosed with this document a Form of Proxy for use in relation to the Special General Meeting. Whether or not you intend to be present at the Special General Meeting, Shareholders are requested to complete and return the Form of Proxy so as to be received by the Company's Registrars, Computershare Investor Services (Bermuda) Limited, c/o The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the Special General Meeting.
Submitting a Form of Proxy will not preclude a Shareholder from attending the Special General Meeting and voting in person should they so wish.
Shareholders who hold Ordinary Shares through Depositary Interests
Shareholders who hold their Ordinary Shares through Depositary Interests will find enclosed a Form of Instruction for use in respect of the Special General Meeting to instruct the DI Depositary how to vote on their behalf. Such Shareholders are requested to complete and return the Form of Instruction so as to be received by the Depositary, Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY by not later than 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 4 October 2019.
Savings Plan Participants
Savings Plan Participants will find enclosed a Form of Direction for use at the Special General Meeting to indicate the way in which they wish their votes to be cast at the Special General Meeting.
Savings Plan Participants are requested to complete and return a Form of Direction so as to be received by Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY by not later than 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 30 September 2019.
10. IRREVOCABLE UNDERTAKINGS
The Directors have received irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Resolution from GPLPF and Permanent Mutual Limited in respect of their respective holdings of 54,851,533 Ordinary Shares and 6,712,477 Ordinary Shares (representing in aggregate 69.73 per cent. of the total voting rights as at the Latest Practicable Date).
11. RECOMMENDATION
The Board considers the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer to be in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the Special General Meeting, as the Directors intend to do in respect of their own personal beneficial holdings which amount to 1,209,132 Ordinary Shares (representing 1.37 per cent. of the existing issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Burrows
Chairman"
Expected Timetable of Principal Events
Event |
2019 |
Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Direction from Savings Plan Participants |
1.00 p.m. on 30 September |
Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Instruction from holders of Depositary Interests |
1.00 p.m. on 4 October |
Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy |
1.00 p.m. on 7 October |
Special General Meeting to approve the Resolution |
9.00 a.m. (Bermuda time) on 9 October |
Expected date upon which the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer will become effective |
The Company will give at least 20 Business Days' notice by an RIS announcement of the date that the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer will become effective and the earliest date on which the Proposed Cancellation and Transfer can become effective is 7 November 2019 |
Name of contact and telephone number for enquiries:
ICM Limited +44(0)1372 271486
Charles Jillings / Alastair Moreton
