PROPOSED MERGER AND OFFERS
Mobeus Income & Growth VCT plc (LEI:
213800HKOSEVWS7YPH79) (MIG)
Mobeus Income & Growth 2 VCT plc (LEI:
213800LY62XLI1B4VX35) (MIG 2)
Mobeus Income & Growth 4 VCT plc (LEI: 213800IFNJ65R8AQW943) (MIG
4)
The
Income & Growth VCT plc (LEI: 213800FPC15FNM74YD92)
(I&G)
(together the Companies and each a Company)
18
June 2024
RECOMMENDED PROPOSALS RELATING TO:
·
merger of the
Companies from four into two;
·
offers for
subscription following completion of the merger;
·
related party
transactions with Gresham House; and
·
related
matters.
SUMMARY
On 28 February 2024, the boards of
the Companies (together the Boards and each a Board) announced that they had entered
into discussions regarding the possibility of merging the four
Companies into two (Merger)
to achieve, amongst other things, cost savings, administration
efficiency and simplicity, and would, subject to agreement in
principle to implement the Merger by all Boards, put proposals to
the shareholders of their respective Companies (Shareholders) so as to be able to
implement the Merger. The Boards are pleased to advise that
agreement in principle has been reached. The Merger is conditional
upon certain conditions (including the approval of Shareholders)
being satisfied.
The Companies have today issued a
joint circular (Circular)
setting out proposals for, amongst other things, the Merger,
alongside a prospectus being published by MIG and I&G
(Prospectus). The Circular
includes notice for general meetings of the Companies to be
convened on 18 July 2024 and 26 July 2024 (General Meetings and each a
General
Meeting).
If the Merger proceeds, MIG 2 would
be merged into MIG and MIG 4 would be merged into I&G. MIG and
I&G are referred to as the Acquirer VCTs (and each an Acquirer VCT) and MIG 2 and MIG 4 are
referred to as the Target
VCTs (and each a Target
VCT). The Merger will be effected pursuant to schemes
of reconstruction under section 110 of Insolvency Act 1986. Under
each scheme, the assets and liabilities of the relevant Target VCT
would be transferred to its relevant Acquirer VCT in consideration
for new ordinary shares of 1p each in that Acquirer VCT to be
issued directly to the Target VCT's Shareholders (Schemes and each a Scheme). A merger solely on this basis
will be outside the provisions of the Takeover Code. The number of
new Shares to be issued in an Acquirer VCT (Consideration Shares) will be
calculated by reference to the respective net asset values of that
Acquirer VCT and its relevant Target VCT. The merger of MIG and MIG
2 will not proceed without the merger of I&G and MIG 4, and
vice versa.
In connection with the Merger, it is
proposed that each Acquirer VCT's arrangements with its investment
adviser, Gresham House Asset Management Limited (Gresham House), will be amended
reflective of being an enlarged Acquirer VCT (the Enlarged Acquirer VCTs (and each an Enlarged Acquirer VCT)). The fees under
the investment adviser's agreement will be amended to reflect the
Merger, alongside providing for a new initial one year term. In
addition, a revised performance incentive arrangement will replace
the existing arrangement. These revised arrangements with Gresham
House are also conditional on implementation of the Merger. These
arrangements, together with the maximum promoter's fee which may be
paid to Gresham House in respect of the Enlarged Acquirer VCT's
Offer (as detailed below) and the reduction for 12 months of
Gresham House's management fees under the investment adviser's
agreement linked to certain Offer proceeds, also constitute
'related party transactions' for each Acquirer VCT under the
Listing Rules (Gresham House, as investment adviser, being a
related party of an Acquirer VCT for the purposes of the Listing
Rules) and require the approval of the Acquirer VCT's Shareholders
under the Listing Rules.
As the Acquirer VCTs are required to
issue a prospectus in connection with the Merger, it is proposed
that each Acquirer VCT also takes the opportunity to raise further
funds through an offer for subscription (Offers and each an Offer) open to existing and new
investors. The Offers are conditional on, and will open following,
implementation of the Merger.
THE
MERGER
Benefits of the Merger
The Boards consider that the
interests of Shareholders as a whole would be better served by
merging the Companies. A merger of the Companies into one single
VCT was considered, however, due to the potential additional
burdens of a single VCT of that size, in particular the additional
costs and requirements of being a full-scope alternative investment
fund and potential VCT compliance complications in relation to
aggregated holdings, the Boards believe merging the four Companies
into two is more beneficial.
The Merger is expected to bring a
number of benefits for Shareholders:
·
Annual cost savings of approximately £798,387
(£344,858 in respect of MIG/MIG 2 and £453,529 in respect of
I&G/MIG 4), a saving that will be ongoing after the Merger
payback period.
·
A payback period of under 18 months based on the
estimated Merger costs and annual cost savings
post-Merger.
·
Enlarged Acquirer VCTs with enlarged net assets
(approximately £146.47 million for MIG and £191.26 million for
I&G) and reduced normal annual expenses as a percentage of the
Enlarged Acquirer VCT's net assets (approximately 2.6% of MIG's
expected enlarged net assets and approximately 2.4% of I&G's
expected enlarged net assets). These figures take into account the
expected cost savings but ignore the Offers.
·
Amalgamation of the Companies' portfolios and
operations for more efficient management and administration, with
the same policies and procedures applying to the Enlarged Acquirer
VCTs, increasing Gresham House's ability to focus on investment and
portfolio management.
·
Enlarged Acquirer VCTs better positioned to meet
regulatory requirements, provide greater liquidity in their Shares
and more easily consider investment realisations and liquidity
events for Shareholders to support dividend payments, by being a
larger VCT with a reduced cost base which, therefore, maximises the
ability to provide returns to Shareholders.
·
A product offering that will reduce complexity of
understanding for existing Shareholders by reducing the number of
VCTs from four to two (a number of Shareholders are invested across
multiple Companies, which the Boards are aware causes confusion,
and further, a significant number of investors hold Shares in each
of the Companies, and so the Boards expect a material reduction in
administration and complication for shareholders through holding
investments in two Companies compared to four), as well as for new
investors which supports further fundraising.
As the Companies have the same
advisers, materially the same objectives, strategy, policies and
procedures, and significant overlap within the investment
portfolios, as well as its investor base, the proposed Merger
should be achievable without major disruption to the Companies or
Shareholders.
Merger costs and cost savings
The estimated total Merger costs are
£1,119,123 (including professional fees, FCA vetting fees, stamp
duty, VAT and the costs of winding up the Target VCTs). The costs
of the Merger will be split proportionately between the Companies
by reference to their respective Merger net assets (ignoring the
Merger costs), save that the post-Merger Acquirer VCT costs
relating to the payment of stamp duty on the transfer of stampable
assets from the relevant Target VCT and listing fees in respect of
the Consideration Shares will be allocated between the Acquirer VCT
and the relevant Target VCT (and split proportionately between them
by reference to their respective Merger net assets (ignoring Merger
costs)).
The pre-Merger and projected
post-Merger normal annual running costs (these being normal
expenses excluding exceptional items, performance incentive fees
and trail commission) are set out below:
|
Pre-Merger annual running
costs*
|
% of pre-Merger Acquirer VCT
and Target VCT net assets**
|
Post-Merger annual running
costs*
|
% of post-Merger Acquirer VCT
expected net assets***
|
Expected annual cost
saving
|
MIG/MIG 2
|
£4,183,393
|
2.9%
|
£3,838,535
|
2.6%
|
£344,858
|
I&G/MIG 4
|
£5,111,472
|
2.7%
|
£4,657,943
|
2.4%
|
£453,529
|
* Based on
annualised running costs as at 31 March 2024.
** As at 31 March 2024
(unaudited) and adjusted for dividends paid (actual) and declared
(estimated) after that date.
*** Based on the aggregate net
assets of the Companies as at 31 March 2024 (unaudited), adjusted
for dividends paid (actual) and declared (estimated) after 31 March
2024 and expected Merger costs (but ignoring the
Offers).
Based on the amount of estimated
Merger costs to be borne by MIG and MIG 2 of approximately £504,894
(inclusive of VAT) and the expected annual cost savings of
£344,858, such Merger costs would be recovered in under 18
months.
Similarly, based on the amount of
estimated Merger costs to be borne by I&G and MIG 4 of
approximately £614,229 (inclusive of VAT) and the expected annual
cost savings of £453,529, such Merger costs would also be recovered
in under 18 months.
If the Merger is not approved and/or
effected and the benefits of the Merger not realised, the costs
incurred to put forward the Merger proposals to Shareholders of
approximately £376,000 will nonetheless have been incurred by the
Companies and will be split proportionately between the Companies
by reference to their respective net assets (ignoring such Merger
costs).
The
Schemes
The Merger will be implemented
through the Schemes as follows:
·
each Target VCT will be placed into members'
voluntary liquidation pursuant to a scheme of reconstruction under
section 110 of IA 1986;
·
all of the assets and liabilities of the Target
VCT will be transferred to the relevant Acquirer VCT in
consideration for the issue of Consideration Shares in that
Acquirer VCT (which will be issued directly to the Target VCT
Shareholders); and
·
the Target VCTs will subsequently be wound
up.
Implementation of the Merger will
require resolutions to be proposed at the General Meetings as well
as other conditions as set out in the Scheme terms in the
Circular.
Whilst there will only be one
General Meeting of the Acquirer VCTs, at which Shareholders of the
Acquirer VCTs will be invited to consider and vote in favour of the
Merger and authorise the issue of Consideration Shares pursuant to
the Merger, there will be two General Meetings for each of the
Target VCTs. At the first General Meeting of a Target VCT, its
Shareholders will be invited to approve the Merger and authorise
the liquidators to implement its Scheme and, at the second General
Meeting of a Target VCT, its Shareholders will be invited to pass a
resolution to wind up the Target VCT and cancel the listing of the
its shares.
If a shareholder in a Target VCT
does not vote in favour of the Merger and expresses his dissent in
writing then he may require the liquidators to purchase his shares
at their break-value price (this being an estimate of the amount he
would receive in an ordinary winding up of the Target VCT if all of
the assets had to be realised). The break-value price is expected
to be significantly below the net asset value of a Target VCT
share.
In addition to the approval of
Shareholders being sought at the Meetings, each Scheme is
conditional upon (amongst other things):
·
the other Scheme becoming
unconditional;
·
notice of dissent not being received from the
relevant Target VCT's Shareholders who hold more than 10% in
nominal value of the issued share capital of the Target
VCT;
·
the Acquirer VCT confirming to Target VCT, and
vice versa, that it has not received any notice of any claims,
proceedings or actions of whatever nature threatened or commenced
which the Board of the other Company regards as material;
and
·
the Acquirer VCT and the Target VCT maintaining
their VCT status.
Subject to the above, the Scheme
shall become effective immediately after the passing of the
resolution for the winding up of the Target VCT to be proposed at
the Target VCT's Second General Meeting. If it becomes effective,
the Scheme shall be binding on all Acquirer VCT Shareholders and
Target VCT Shareholders and all persons claiming through or under
them.
If the conditions have not been
satisfied by 30 September 2024, the Merger will not
proceed.
Merger illustration
In terms of the proposed number of
Consideration Shares to be issued if the Merger proceeds, this will
be calculated based on a relative net assets basis, by reference to
the formulas contained in the Circulars.
Had the Merger been completed on the
basis of the Scheme examples set out in the Circulars (which are
based on the unaudited net assets of the Companies as 31 March 2024
(this being the latest date to which the Companies have published
unaudited NAVs), in each case adjusted for dividends paid (actual)
and declared (estimated) since 31 March 2024):
·
the number of MIG Consideration Shares that would
have been issued to MIG 2 Shareholders would have been 102,266,005
(1.05760372 MIG Consideration Shares for every MIG 2 share held).
The MIG Consideration Shares would, on this basis, have represented
approximately 38.4% of the post-Merger enlarged share capital of
MIG; and
·
the number of I&G Consideration Shares that
would have been issued to MIG 4 Shareholders would have been
115,589,890 (0.99940062 I&G Consideration Shares for every MIG
4 share held). The I&G Consideration Shares would, on this
basis, have represented approximately 41.8% of the post-Merger
enlarged share capital of I&G.
The Acquirer VCT Consideration
Shares would have been issued to all Target VCT Shareholders pro
rata to their holdings in the Target VCT (assuming no dissenting
Target VCT Shareholders).
ENLARGED ACQUIRER VCTS
Board Composition
The relevant Acquirer VCT Board and
Target VCT Board have considered what the size and the composition
of their Enlarged Acquirer VCT's Board should be following the
Merger. The following Board compositions are proposed:
Current MIG Board
|
Current MIG 2 Board
|
Post-Merger MIG Board
|
Clive Boothman (Chair)
Lucy Armstrong
Bridget Guérin
|
Ian Blackburn (Chair)
Sarah Clark
Sally Duckworth
|
Clive Boothman (Chair)
Ian Blackburn
Lucy Armstrong
Sarah Clark
|
Current I&G Board
|
Current MIG 4 Board
|
Post-Merger I&G Board
|
Maurice Helfgott (Chair)
Justin Ward
Nemone Wynn-Evans
|
Graham Paterson (Chair)
Christopher Burke
Lindsay Dodsworth
|
Maurice Helfgott (Chair)
Graham Paterson
Justin Ward
Nemone Wynn-Evans
|
The post-Merger MIG Board reflects
the intended retirement of Bridget Guérin and Sally Duckworth. If
the Merger is not implemented, those retirements are expected to
continue and the MIG Board and, as applicable, the MIG 2 Board
will, in those circumstances, seek the appointment of new directors
reflecting those retirements. The MIG Board and the MIG 2 Board
consider the post-Merger MIG Board composition to be a good balance
of ongoing directors from both Companies, with complementary
skills.
The I&G Board and the MIG 4
Board have each been refreshed in recent years, replacing retiring
directors. The post-Merger I&G Board reflects a composition of
ongoing directors from both Companies, with complementary skills.
If the Merger is not implemented, the I&G Board and the MIG 4
Board will remain unchanged.
Management and Administration Arrangements
The management and administration
fee arrangements which currently apply to the relevant Acquirer VCT
and Target VCT, as well as those proposed for the relevant Enlarged
Acquirer VCT, are set out below.
MIG and MIG
2
|
Current MIG
|
Current MIG 2
|
Post-Merger MIG
|
Annual management and administration
fees
|
Amount equal to 2.0% per annum of
net assets, plus an annual fixed fee of £120,000, subject to annual
RPI increases* (currently £134,168)
|
Amount equal to 2.0% per annum of
net assets, plus an annual fixed fee of £104,432, subject to annual
RPI increases* (currently £113,589)
|
Amount equal to 2.0% per annum of
net assets**, plus an annual fixed fee of £185,818, subject to
annual RPI increases*
|
Annual expenses cap***
|
3.60% of net
assets (excluding irrecoverable VAT,
exceptional items and performance incentive fees)
|
3.60% of net
assets (excluding irrecoverable VAT,
exceptional items and performance incentive fees)
|
3.0%
of net assets (excluding exceptional items, performance incentive fees
and trail commission)
|
I&G and MIG
4
|
Current I&G
|
Current MIG 4
|
Post-Merger I&G
|
Annual management and administration
fees
|
Amount equal to 2.4% per annum of
net assets, 0.4% of such fee being subject to an annual maximum
payment of £170,000 (currently fixed at £170,000 as the cap is in
operation)
|
Amount equal to 2.0% per annum of
net assets, plus an annual fixed fee of £107,827, subject to annual
RPI increases* (currently £115,440)
|
Amount equal to 2.0% per annum of
net assets**, plus an annual fixed fee of £214,080, subject to
annual RPI increases*
|
Annual expenses cap***
|
3.25% of net
assets (excluding exceptional items,
performance incentive fees and trail commission)
|
3.40% of net
assets (excluding irrecoverable VAT,
exceptional items and performance incentive fees)
|
3.0%
of net assets (excluding
exceptional items, performance incentive fees and trail
commission)
|
* Further RPI
increases were waived in 2013 (and will post-Merger remain waived)
until otherwise agreed with the relevant Board.
** In the event that a Company utilises its over-allotment
facility, Gresham House has agreed to reduce its management fees
for the relevant Company for the 12 month period commencing on the
start of the first calendar quarter following the close of the
Company's Offer by an amount equal to 1.0% of any net funds raised
by that Company under its over-allotment facility. If a Company's
over-allotment facility is fully subscribed, and assuming the
maximum amount of Offer costs of 3.0% on such funds raised applies,
the net proceeds would be £9.7 million. Gresham House's management
fee of an amount equal to 2.0% per annum of net assets would be
£97,000 (i.e. 1.0% of £9.7 million) for that 12 month
period.
***
Any excess over these caps will be rebated by the
Investment Adviser.
The fixed element of the annual
management and administration fee for the Acquirer VCT post-Merger
will increase to reflect the Enlarged Acquirer VCTs, but represents
a reduction from the pre-Merger fees of £133,299 in aggregate
across the Companies (£61,939 in respect of MIG and MIG 2, and
£71,360 in respect of I&G and MIG 4). In addition, the annual
expenses cap in respect of each Acquirer VCT post-Merger will be
reduced to 3.0% of net assets, with the items currently excluded
from the calculation across the Companies rationalised for the
enlarged Acquirer VCTs.
In addition, and in consideration of
Gresham House having agreed to take responsibility for the payment
of annual trail commission in respect of the Offers (and any future
offers), as well as absorbing some of the costs in putting
proposals to Shareholders through its responsibility for the costs
of the Offers (and thereby reducing the Merger costs), it is
proposed that the appointment of Gresham House under each
investment advisers' agreement is subject to a new initial period
to 30 September 2025, which coincides with the accounting date for
I&G and that proposed for MIG post-Merger.
The above changes will be effected
through amendments to each Acquirer VCT's investment adviser's
agreement with Gresham House (IAA
Amendments).
Performance Incentive Fee Arrangements
The Companies each have different
performance incentive fee arrangements. The Boards have concluded
that it would be better to replace the existing performance
incentive arrangements with revised, and common, performance
incentive fee arrangements for the Enlarged Acquirer VCTs
(Revised PIF).
The Boards are of the view that
appropriate performance incentive fee arrangements should align the
interests of an investment adviser with those of shareholders.
Equally, the Boards also believe that performance incentive fee
arrangements should properly incentivise an investment adviser to
generate enhanced returns for shareholders by being achievable,
with appropriate reward for such enhanced performance.
The Boards also recognise that, in
the context of a highly competitive market for attracting and
retaining investment professionals, well-constructed performance
incentive fee arrangements enable an investment adviser to hire and
retain appropriately experienced and skilled staff to continue to
deliver above average shareholder returns.
All of the Boards have been involved
in the construction of the proposed Revised PIF and support it
replacing the existing arrangements of the Enlarged Acquirer
VCTs.
Under the Revised PIF, a performance
incentive fee would be payable by the Enlarged Acquirer VCT to Gresham House in respect of each Financial Period commencing on or after 1
October 2024 where the Enlarged Acquirer VCT has achieved an
average annual NAV total return per Share over a five year period
(Average Total Return) in excess of an average annual hurdle over
that five year period (Average Annual Hurdle).
If the Average Annual Hurdle is met
in respect of a Financial Year, Gresham House would be entitled to
an amount equal to 15% of the amount by which the Average Total
Return exceeds the Average Annual Hurdle on a Per Share Basis, but
subject to the Annual PIF Cap.
For these purposes:
'Financial Period' means each financial period of the Enlarged Acquirer VCT (save that, for
the purposes of MIG, a financial period prior to the Financial
Period commencing on 1 October 2024 will be
assumed to be a 12 month period ended on 30
September in each year reflecting the proposed change to its
accounting reference date).
'Average Total Return' means the
movement in NAV per Acquirer VCT Share over a period covering the
relevant Financial Period and the four preceding Financial Periods
(Five Year Period), plus cumulative dividends per Acquirer VCT
Share paid during that Five Year Period, divided by
five.
'Average Annual Hurdle' means an average
annual return across the Five Year Period on the NAV per Share at
the beginning of the Five Year Period of the higher of (i) 6% per
annum and (ii) the weighted average of the Bank of England base
rate plus 2% at the end of each month during the Five Year
Period.
'Per Share Basis' means the average
number of Acquirer VCT Shares in issue during the Five Year Period
(mean average of the Financial Year-end positions during the
relevant Five Year Period), and, in respect of Financial Periods
prior to the Merger having taken place, taking into account the
Target VCT's share capital on an equivalent basis and the number of
Consideration Shares that would have been in issue based on the
Merger Ratio (so as to give an average historic Enlarged Acquirer
VCT position).
'Annual PIF Cap' means an amount equal
to a cap of 1.25% of the Enlarged Acquirer
VCT's net assets as at the end of the
relevant Financial Period.
Any performance incentive fee shall
be calculated and paid in cash within 30 business days following
the date of publication by the Enlarged Acquirer VCT of its annual
report and financial statements for the relevant Financial
Period.
The Revised PIF is designed to
provide an incentive to Gresham House to deliver long-term
over-performance in alignment with the interests of Shareholders.
An annual capped payment, which is measured against a rolling five
year period, requires consistent performance and smooths out any
individual payments.
The five year rolling period is
consistent and aligns with the minimum VCT holding period for
Shareholders to benefit from the income tax reliefs on VCT share
subscriptions, as well as being considered by the Boards to be a
reasonable period against which to benchmark
performance.
Any amount in excess of the PIF Cap
will not, for the avoidance of doubt, be carried forward to any
subsequent calculation period.
The first Financial Period to which
the Revised PIF will apply will be the financial period starting on
1 October 2024. The performance would be measured from 1 October
2020 to 30 September 2025 and, if a payment is due, would be paid
following the publication of the Enlarged
Acquirer VCT's annual report and financial
statements for the year ending 30 September 2025.
The revised arrangements will apply
for an initial period of 12 months and are thereafter terminable by
the Enlarged Acquirer VCT on 12 months' notice. It is the intention
that the Enlarged Acquirer VCT
Boards will keep the Revised PIF under ongoing
review to ensure both continued alignment with the interests of
Shareholders and that intended performance outcomes are
achieved.
Dividend Policy
The Acquirer VCT Boards consider it
appropriate for the Enlarged Acquirer VCTs to adopt an annual
dividend target set as a percentage rather than a fixed pence per
share amount. Accordingly, subject to implementation of the Merger,
the new annual dividend target for each Enlarged Acquirer VCT will
be 7% of its NAV per share at the start of the relevant financial
year.
MIG
Additional Information
Subject to implementation of the
Merger, the accounting reference date of MIG will be changed to 30
September (for consistency with I&G and to remove calendar
year-end administration and audit inefficiencies).
Subject to the Merger being
implemented, the MIG Board, in consultation with the MIG 2 Board,
has decided to implement an equivalent dividend investment scheme in respect of MIG
post-Merger.
OFFERS
As the Acquirer VCTs are required to
prepare a prospectus in connection with the Merger, the opportunity
has been taken to also include offers for subscription in respect
of the Enlarged Acquirer VCTs. This will provide Shareholders and
new investors with the opportunity to invest in the Enlarged
Acquirer VCTs and benefit from the tax reliefs available to
qualifying investors. All of the Boards support the Enlarged
Acquirer VCTs raising further funds.
The amount sought under the Offers
is:
·
MIG Offer: up to £35 million, with an
over-allotment facility for raise up to a further £10 million;
and
·
I&G Offer: up to £35 million, with an
over-allotment facility for raise up to a further £10
million.
The new funds to be raised by each
Enlarged Acquirer VCT will help retain adequate levels of liquidity
to (i) continue to take advantage of new investment opportunities
and fund further expansion of the businesses in its investment
portfolio, (ii) seek the delivery of attractive returns for its
Shareholders, including the payment of dividends, over the medium
term and (iii) buy back its own Shares from those Shareholders who
may wish to sell their Shares.
The form of the Offers will be
similar to previous years; investors will have the choice of
applying to invest equally in both of the Enlarged Acquirer VCTs or
differing amounts in one or both of the Enlarged Acquirer
VCTs.
The Offers will, subject to the
Merger being implemented, open on 2 September 2024 and will close
to applications on 26 March 2025 (unless an Offer is closed earlier
or extended by the relevant Enlarged Acquirer VCT's Board). The
Offers will be withdrawn if completion of the Merger does not
occur.
Each Acquirer VCT currently has
authority from its Shareholders to allot Offer Shares (with
pre-emption rights disapplied), however, such authorities may not
be sufficient for the purposes of its Offer. Pre-emption rights are
rights of first refusal given to existing shareholders when a
company proposes to issue new shares. Each Acquirer VCT is
therefore seeking additional share allotment authorities from its
Shareholders for its Offer at its relevant General
Meeting.
Gresham House is acting as the
promoter to the Offers and will be paid a fee equal to 3.0% (as
reduced by any applicable discounts in respect of any specific
investor or group of investors) of the amount subscribed by an
investor (Promoter Fee). In
consideration of the promoter's fee, Gresham House has agreed to
meet (whether or not the Offers are opened, which is subject to the
implementation of the Merger) all costs, expenses and charges of,
or incidental to, the Offers (other than any amounts due from the
Enlarged Acquirer VCT in connection with the facilitation of
initial financial adviser charges).
To support funds being raised, and
in the event that a Company utilises its over-allotment facility,
Gresham House has agreed to reduce its management fees (as
detailed above) for the
relevant Company for the 12 month period commencing on the start of
the first calendar quarter following the close of that Company's
Offer by an amount equal to 1.0% of any net funds raised by that
Company under its over-allotment facility (Offer Related Management Fee
Reduction).
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In respect of each Acquirer VCT,
Gresham House, as its investment adviser, is a related party of the
Acquirer VCT under the Listing Rules. The IAA Amendments, Revised
PIF, Promoter Fee and Offer Related Management Fee Reduction are,
therefore, 'related party transactions' for the purposes of the
Listing Rules (Related Party
Transactions) and require the approval of the relevant
Acquirer VCT's Shareholders.
Approval of the Related Party
Transactions is being sought at the General Meeting of the relevant
Acquirer VCT. As a result, each of the Related Party Transactions
with the relevant Acquirer VCT has been entered into conditional on
Shareholder approval at the relevant Acquirer VCT General
Meeting.
EXPECTED TIMETABLES
MIG/MIG 2 Scheme
Expected timetable for MIG
MIG General
Meeting
10.00 a.m. on 18 July 2024
Calculation
Date
after 5.00 p.m. on 18 July 2024
Effective Date for the transfer of
MIG 2 assets and liabilities to MIG
26 July 2024
and the issue of MIG Consideration
Shares pursuant to the MIG/MIG 2 Scheme***
Announcement of the results of the
MIG/MIG 2
Scheme
7.30 a.m. on 29 July 2024
Admission of and dealings in MIG
Consideration Shares
issued
7.30 a.m. on 29 July 2024
pursuant to the MIG/MIG 2 Scheme to
commence
CREST accounts credited with MIG
Consideration Shares
issued
29 July 2024
pursuant to the MIG/MIG 2 Scheme
Certificates for MIG Consideration
Shares issued pursuant to
the
9 August 2024
MIG/MIG 2 Scheme dispatched
Expected timetable for MIG 2
Date from which it is advised that
dealings in MIG 2
Shares
12 July 2024
should only be for cash settlement
and immediate delivery of documents of title
MIG 2 First General
Meeting
10.30 a.m. on 18 July 2024
Calculation
Date
after 5.00 p.m. on 18 July 2024
MIG 2 register of members closed and
Record Date
for
5.00 p.m. on 25 July 2024
MIG 2 Shareholders'
entitlements under the MIG/MIG 2 Scheme
Dealings in MIG 2 Shares
suspended
7.30 a.m. on 26 July 2024
MIG 2 Second General
Meeting
11.30 a.m. on 26 July 2024
Effective Date for the transfer of
the assets and liabilities
of
26 July 2024
MIG 2 to MIG and the issue of MIG
Consideration Shares pursuant to the MIG/MIG 2 Scheme**
Announcement of the results of the
MIG/MIG 2
Scheme
26 July 2024
Cancellation of the MIG 2 Shares'
listing
8.00 a.m. on 23 August 2024
I&G/MIG 4 Scheme
Expected timetable for I&G
I&G General
Meeting
11.00 a.m. on 18 July 2024
Calculation
Date
after 5.00 p.m. on 18 July 2024
Effective Date for the transfer of
MIG 4 assets and liabilities to I&G
26 July 2024
and the issue of I&G
Consideration Shares pursuant to the I&G/MIG 4
Scheme***
Announcement of the results of the
I&G/MIG 4
Scheme
26 July 2024
Admission of and dealings in I&G
Consideration Shares
issued
7.30 a.m. on 29 July 2024
pursuant to the I&G/MIG 4 Scheme
to commence
CREST accounts credited with I&G
Consideration Shares
issued
29 July 2024
pursuant to the I&G/MIG 4 Scheme
Certificates for I&G
Consideration Shares issued pursuant to
the
9 August 2024
I&G/MIG 4 Scheme dispatched
Expected timetable for MIG 4
Date from which it is advised that
dealings in MIG 4
Shares
12 July 2024
should only be for cash settlement
and immediate delivery of documents of title
MIG 4 First General
Meeting
11.30 a.m. on 18 July 2024
Calculation
Date
after 5.00 p.m. on 18 July 2024
MIG 4 register of members closed and
Record Date
for
5.00 p.m. on 25 July 2024
MIG 4 Shareholders'
entitlements under the I&G/MIG 4 Scheme
Dealings in MIG 4 Shares
suspended
7.30 a.m. on 26 July 2024
MIG 4 Second General
Meeting
11.45 a.m. on 26 July 2024
Effective Date for the transfer of
the assets and liabilities
of
26 July 2024
MIG 4 to I&G and the issue of
I&G Consideration Shares pursuant to the I&G/MIG 4
Scheme**
Announcement of the results of the
I&G/MIG 4
Scheme
26 July 2024
Cancellation of the MIG 4 Shares'
listing
8.00 a.m. on 23 August 2024
The
Offers
Offers
open
9.00 a.m. on 2 September 2024
First allotment of Offer Shares
expected
1 October 2024
Closing date for Applications
(unless fully subscribed or
closed
5.00 p.m. on 26 March 2025
earlier by the relevant Company's
Board)
following allotment
DOCUMENTS AND AVAILABILITY
A copy of the Circular has been
submitted to the FCA and shall shortly be available for download
from each Company's website referred to below and the National
Storage Mechanism.
A copy of the Prospectus has been
submitted to the FCA and shall shortly be available for download
from each of MIG and I&G's websites referred to below and the
National Storage Mechanism.
Websites:
MIG: www.migvct.co.uk
MIG 2: www.mig2vct.co.uk
I&G:
www.incomeandgrowthvct.co.uk
MIG 4: www.mig4vct.co.uk
National Storage Mechanism:
https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please
contact:
Gresham House Asset Management
Limited
Company Secretary
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7382
0999
The directors of MIG accept
responsibility for the information relating to MIG and its
directors and proposed director contained in this announcement. To
the best of the knowledge and belief of such directors and proposed
director (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is
the case), the information relating to MIG and its directors and
proposed director contained in this announcement, for which they
are solely responsible, is in accordance with the facts and does
not omit anything likely to affect the import of such
information.
The directors of MIG 2 accept
responsibility for the information relating to MIG 2 and its
directors contained in this announcement. To the best of the
knowledge and belief of such directors (who have taken all
reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information
relating to MIG 2 and its directors contained in this announcement,
for which they are solely responsible, is in accordance with the
facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of
such information.
The directors of I&G accept
responsibility for the information relating to I&G and its
directors and proposed director contained in this announcement. To
the best of the knowledge and belief of such directors and proposed
director (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is
the case), the information relating to I&G and its directors
and proposed director contained in this announcement, for which
they are solely responsible, is in accordance with the facts and
does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such
information.
The directors of MIG 4 accept
responsibility for the information relating to MIG 4 and its
directors contained in this announcement. To the best of the
knowledge and belief of such directors (who have taken all
reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information
relating to MIG 4 and its directors contained in this announcement,
for which they are solely responsible, is in accordance with the
facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of
such information.
Shakespeare Martineau LLP, which is
regulated in the United Kingdom by the Solicitors Regulation
Authority, is acting as legal adviser to the Companies and no one
else and will not be responsible to any other person for providing
advice in connection with any matters referred to
herein.
Howard Kennedy Corporate Services
LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
FCA, is acting as sponsor for the Companies (and no-one else) and
will (subject to the responsibilities and liabilities imposed by
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or the regulatory
regime established thereunder) not be responsible to any other
person for providing the protections afforded to customers of
Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP for providing advice in
connection with any matters referred to herein.
This announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of article 7 of Regulation 2014/596/EU
(which forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018) (UK
MAR). Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside
information (as defined in UK MAR) is now considered to be in the
public domain.