1 July 2021
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE
INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION
NO. 596/2014 ("MAR") WHICH IS PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED. UPON THE
PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, SUCH INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW
CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
Westminster Group Plc
('Westminster', the 'Group' or the
'Company')
£1.5m Convertible Loan Note
Agreement
Westminster Group Plc (AIM:
WSG), a leading supplier of managed services and technology-based
security solutions worldwide, is pleased to
announce that it has entered into an agreement for a Convertible
Loan Note ("CLN") facility with Pantheon A Family Office Limited
(the "Lender") to raise up to £1.5 million for ongoing specific
contract financing and working capital.
Under the terms of CLN, which has a
term of three years (the "Term"), the Company will issue 10 £100k
freely transferable notes to draw down £1 million immediately, with
a further £500k available at the Company's request and Lender's
discretion. The Company will pay a 10% coupon per annum, payable
monthly on funds drawn down, but with an initial six-month
deferment of interest payments. The Lender has the right to convert
the principal amount of the notes into ordinary shares of 0.1p each
in the capital of Westminster ("Ordinary Shares"), in multiples of
£100k at any time after 12 months from drawdown, at a fixed
conversion price of 3p per share (representing a premium of
approximately 22.45% to the middle-market closing price on 28 June
2024), subject to orderly market arrangements on any subsequent
disposals.
The value of outstanding CLNs will
be secured by a debenture subordinate to any charge created by the
Company's UK lending banks. Any outstanding CLNs at the end of the
Term will be repaid in cash. The CLN contains market standard terms
and covenants for such a project financing facility linked to the
financing of specific projects. Upon conversion the Lender will
enter into a Management Agreement with the Company under which the
Lender agrees to support reasonable recommendations and decisions
of the Board and if there are any outstanding CLNs the Company has
agreed not to issue further new Ordinary Shares without the
Lender's approval, with such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld.
The Company was advised on the
transaction by Pantheon International Advisors ("Pantheon") and
under the terms of its engagement, Pantheon will receive a cash
commission fee of 6% of funds drawn down under the facility,
deferred for six-months. Pantheon will also receive 1 million
warrants over Ordinary Shares with an exercise price of 10p each
for a term of three years.
Peter Fowler, Chief Executive of Westminster,
said:
"We have previously announced that the Company
had engaged with specialist corporate advisors to secure
project-based debt capital to assist in the delivery of the
Company's opportunities and contract awards. I am delighted,
therefore, to secure this funding from the investor concerned who
has been extremely supportive of Westminster's business model and
shares the board's belief in the Company's growth
prospects."
For further information please
contact:
Strand Hanson Limited (Financial & Nominated
Adviser)
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James Harris
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020 7409 3494
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Ritchie Balmer
Richard Johnson
Zeus
Capital Limited (Broker)
Louisa Waddell
Simon Johnson
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020 3829 5000
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Walbrook (Investor Relations)
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Tom Cooper
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020 7933 8780
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Joe Walker
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Nick Rome
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Westminster@walbrookpr.com
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Notes:
Westminster Group plc is a
specialist security and services group operating worldwide via an
extensive international network of agents and offices in over 50
countries.
Westminster's principal activity is
the design, supply and ongoing support of advanced technology
security solutions, encompassing a wide range of surveillance,
detection (including Fever Detection), tracking and interception
technologies and the provision of long-term managed services
contracts such as the management and running of complete security
services and solutions in airports, ports and other such facilities
together with the provision of manpower, consultancy and training
services. The majority of its customer base, by value, comprises
governments and government agencies, non-governmental organisations
(NGO's) and blue-chip commercial organisations.
The Westminster Group Foundation is
part of the Group's Corporate Social Responsibility
activities. www.wg-foundation.org
The Foundation's goal is to support
the communities in which the Group operates by working with local
partners and other established charities to provide goods or
services for the relief of poverty and the advancement of education
and healthcare particularly in the developing world.
The Westminster Group Foundation is a
Charitable Incorporated Organisation, CIO, registered with the
Charities Commission number 1158653.