TIDM0A28 TIDMJE.
RNS Number : 5651U
Prosus NV
25 November 2019
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF
THAT JURISDICTION
PROSUS N.V.
(formerly named Myriad International Holdings N.V)
Incorporated in the Netherlands
Legal Entity Identifier: 635400Z5LQ5F9OLVT688
ISIN: NL0013654783
Euronext Amsterdam and JSE Share code: PRX
("Prosus")
25 November 2019
STATEMENT REGARDING JUST EAT PLC (JUST EAT) CIRCULAR
The Boards of Prosus N.V. (Prosus) and MIH Food Delivery
Holdings B.V. (MIH) note the publication earlier today of Just
Eat's circular and Takeaway.com's announcement in response to MIH's
cash offer for Just Eat (the Prosus Offer). Neither of these
documents change Prosus's view that the Prosus Offer is superior to
the Takeaway.com Offer and removes the downside risk for
shareholders in Just Eat, a business that requires substantial
investment to defend its position and capitalise on its long-term
opportunity.
Prosus continues to believe that Just Eat's proposed combination
with Takeaway.com will not fully or effectively address the
investment needs of Just Eat in the areas of product, technology,
marketing and own delivery capabilities.
Prosus will continue to engage with Just Eat shareholders to
outline its reasons for recommending that Just Eat Shareholders
reject the Takeaway.com combination. Prosus urges Just Eat
Shareholders to accept the Prosus Offer as soon as possible and, in
any event, by no later than the First Closing Date, being 1.00pm
(London time) on 11 December 2019.
Bob van Dijk, CEO of Prosus, said:
"While historically Just Eat has been a strong business, today
it is at an important inflection point. Just Eat's board is now
acknowledging the increased investment required and the impact that
this will have on their profit pool, but in our view continues to
underestimate the severity of the competitive pressure and the
urgency of the investment need. We continue to believe that the
Takeaway.com offer represents significant risk to Just Eat
shareholders based on Takeaway.com's very high multiple and the
level of investment required to address what customers now
expect.
We continue to believe our offer is the right one for Just Eat
shareholders and provides compelling and certain value."
Enquiries:
Investor Enquiries +1 347 210 4305
Eoin Ryan, Head of Investor Relations
Media Enquiries +44 207 251 3801
Sarah Ryan, International Media Relations
Finsbury (PR adviser to Prosus)
J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Financial adviser
to Prosus and MIH) +44 20 7742 4000
Charles Harman
Barry Weir
Bill Hutchings
James Robinson
Chris Wood
Morgan Stanley & Co International plc (Financial
adviser to Prosus and MIH)
Mark Rawlinson
Gergely Voros
Enrique Perez-Hernandez
Laurence Hopkins
Ben Grindley +44 207 425 8000
Finsbury (PR adviser to Prosus) +44 207 251 3801
Rollo Head
Guy Lamming
Allen & Overy LLP is retained as legal adviser to Prosus and
MIH.
25 November 2019
Hoofddorp, the Netherlands
Important notice related to financial advisers
J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment
banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove (J.P. Morgan Cazenove) and
which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA
in the United Kingdom, is acting as financial adviser exclusively
for Prosus and MIH and no one else in connection with the Offer and
will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the
Offer and shall not be responsible to anyone other than Prosus or
MIH for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P.
Morgan Cazenove, or for providing advice in relation to the Offer
or any matter referred to in this announcement. Neither J.P. Morgan
Cazenove nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty,
liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect,
whether in contract, in tort, in delict, under statute or
otherwise) to any person who is not a client of J.P. Morgan
Cazenove in connection with this announcement, any statement
contained herein, the Offer or otherwise.
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (Morgan Stanley),
which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA
in the United Kingdom, is acting as financial adviser exclusively
for Prosus and MIH and no one else in connection with the matters
set out in this announcement. In connection with such matters,
Morgan Stanley, its affiliates and their respective directors,
officers, employees and agents will not regard any other person as
their client, nor will they be responsible to any other person for
providing the protections afforded to their clients or for
providing advice in connection with the contents of this
announcement or any other matter referred to herein.
Further information
This announcement is provided for information purposes only. It
is not intended to and does not constitute or form part of, an
offer, invitation, inducement or the solicitation of an offer to
purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or
otherwise dispose of or exercise rights in respect of any
securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval of an offer
to buy securities in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Offer or
otherwise nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of any
securities pursuant to the Offer in any jurisdiction in
contravention of any applicable laws.
The Offer is subject to English law and to the applicable
requirements of the City Code, the Panel, the Listing Rules, the
London Stock Exchange and the FCA.
The Offer is being implemented solely pursuant to the terms of
the Offer Document (or, in the event that the Offer is to be
implemented by means of a Scheme, the Scheme Document), which,
together with the Form of Acceptance (in the case of certificated
Just Eat Shares), contains the full terms and conditions of the
Offer, including details of how to accept the Offer. Just Eat
Shareholders are advised to read the Offer Document (including the
related Form of Acceptance) (and/or, in the event that the Offer is
to be implemented by way of a Scheme, the Scheme Document) in full
as it contains important information in relation to the Offer. Any
decision in respect of the Offer or other response in relation to
the Offer, by Just Eat Shareholders should be made only on the
basis of the information contained in those documents (and/or, in
the event that the Offer is to be implemented by way of a Scheme,
the Scheme Document). Just Eat Shareholders are advised to read the
formal documentation in relation to the Offer carefully.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus
exempted document.
Overseas shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement
in, and the availability of the Offer to persons who are residents,
citizens or nationals of, jurisdictions other than England and
Wales and the Netherlands may be restricted by law and regulation
and therefore any persons into whose possession this announcement
comes who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than
the United Kingdom and the Netherlands should inform themselves
about and observe any applicable requirements. In particular, the
ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or
the Netherlands, or who are subject to the laws of another
jurisdiction, to participate in the Offer or to accept or procure
the acceptance of the Offer, may be affected by the laws of the
relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Just Eat
Shareholders who are in any doubt regarding such matters should
consult an appropriate independent financial adviser in their
relevant jurisdiction without delay. Any failure to comply with
such requirements may constitute a violation of the laws and/or
regulation of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, the companies and other persons
involved in the Offer disclaim any responsibility or liability for
any violation of such restrictions by any person.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying
with English law and the City Code, the Market Abuse Regulation and
the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the 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 England and Wales and/or the
Netherlands.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by Just Eat
Shareholders may be a taxable transaction under applicable
national, state and local, as well as foreign and other tax laws.
Each Just Eat Shareholder is urged to consult their independent
professional adviser regarding the tax consequences of the Offer
applicable to him.
Unless otherwise determined by MIH or required by the City Code,
and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Offer is not
being made and will not be made available directly or indirectly
in, into or from or by any use, means, 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 or where to do so would
violate the laws of that jurisdiction. No person may accept or
procure the acceptance of the Offer by any use, means,
instrumentality of, or from within, any Restricted Jurisdiction or
where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction, and the
Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means,
instrumentality or facilities or, from or within a Restricted
Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction, if to do so would
constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction.
Accordingly, copies of this announcement
and any documentation relating to the Offer are not being, and
must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed, transmitted or
otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any
Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction where to do so
would violate the laws of that jurisdiction and persons receiving
such documents (including agents, custodians, nominees and
trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send
them in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any other
jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that
jurisdiction. If the Offer is implemented by way of a Scheme
(unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), no
person may vote in favour of the Scheme by any use, means,
instrumentality or form and the Offer will not be capable of
acceptance from or within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other
jurisdiction, if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws
of that jurisdiction.
Further details in relation to Just Eat Shareholders who are
resident in, ordinarily resident in, or citizens of, jurisdictions
outside England and Wales are contained in the Offer Document.
Notice to US investors
The Offer is being made to Just Eat Shareholders resident in the
United States in reliance on, and compliance with, the applicable
US tender offer rules, including Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act,
and Regulation 14E thereunder. The Offer is being made in the
United States by MIH and no one else.
The Offer relates to the shares of a UK incorporated company and
is subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, which
are different from certain United States disclosure and procedural
requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer
timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments.
Furthermore, the payment and settlement procedure with respect
to the Offer will comply with the relevant United Kingdom rules,
which differ from US payment and settlement procedures,
particularly with regard to the date of payment of
consideration.
In accordance with normal UK practice and consistent with Rule
14e-5(b) under the US Exchange Act, MIH, certain affiliated
companies and their nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may make
certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares in Just
Eat other than pursuant to the Offer, before or during the period
in which the Offer remains open for acceptance (or, if the Offer is
implemented by way of a Scheme, until the date on which the Scheme
becomes effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn). If such
purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made they would be
made outside the United States either in the open market at
prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices
and would comply with applicable law, including, to the extent
applicable, the US Exchange Act. Any information about such
purchases will be disclosed as required in the UK and the Unites
States, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and
will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at
www.londonstockexchange.com. In addition, in accordance with normal
UK practice and consistent with Rule 14e-5(b) under the US Exchange
Act, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Morgan Stanley & Co.
International plc and their affiliates may continue to act as
exempt principal traders in Just Eat Shares on the London Stock
Exchange and engage in certain other purchasing activities
consistent with their respective normal and usual practice and
applicable law. Any information about such purchases will be
disclosed as required in the UK and the United States, will be
reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available
on the London Stock Exchange website at
www.londonstockexchange.com. To the extent that such information is
made public in the United Kingdom, it will also be publicly
disclosed in the United States.
The receipt of consideration by a US holder for the transfer of
its Just Eat Shares pursuant to the Offer may be a taxable
transaction for United States federal income tax purposes and under
applicable United States state and local, as well as non-US and
other, tax laws. Each Just Eat 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 federal, state and local, as well as
non-US and other, tax laws.
It may be difficult for US holders to enforce their rights,
effect service of process within the United States and/or enforce
any claim arising out of the US federal securities laws, since Just
Eat is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. Prosus and
MIH are organised under the laws of the Netherlands and the
majority of the officers and directors of Just Eat, Prosus and MIH
are residents of countries other than the United States. It may not
be possible to sue Prosus, MIH or Just Eat, or any of their
respective directors, officers or affiliates, in a non-US court for
violations of US securities laws. It may be difficult to compel
Prosus, MIH, Just Eat and their respective directors, officers and
affiliates to subject themselves to the jurisdiction and judgment
of a US court.
Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any US
state securities commission has approved or disapproved the Offer,
or 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.
No offer to acquire securities or to exchange securities for
other securities has been made, or will be made, directly or
indirectly, in or into, or by the use of the mails of, or by any
means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce or any
facilities of a national securities exchange of, the United States
or any other country in which such offer may not be made other
than: (i) in accordance with the tender offer requirements under
the Exchange Act, or the securities laws of such other country, as
the case may be; or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from
such requirements.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains certain statements that are or may be
forward-looking statements, including with respect to the Offer.
Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not
based on current or historical facts, but rather on assumptions,
expectations, valuations, targets, estimates, forecasts and
projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks
and uncertainties which could cause actual results, performance or
events to differ materially from the future results, performance or
events expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. All
statements other than statements of historical facts included in
this announcement may be forward-looking statements. Without
limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as
"targets", "plans", "believes", "hopes", "continues", "expects",
"is expected", "objective", "outlook", "risk", "seeks", "aims",
"intends", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could",
"anticipates", "estimates", "will look to", "budget", "strategy",
"would look to", "scheduled", "goal", "prepares", "forecasts",
"cost-saving", "is subject to", "synergy", "projects" or words or
terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, as well as
variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would",
"might", "probably" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such
statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks
and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.
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 and the factors
described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this
announcement could cause actual results and developments to differ
materially from those expressed in or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual results
to differ materially from those projected or implied in any
forward-looking statements. Due to such uncertainties and risks,
readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
announcement. Any forward-looking statements made in this
announcement on behalf of Prosus or MIH are made as of the date of
this announcement based on the opinions and estimates of directors
of Prosus or MIH respectively and no assurance can be given that
such opinions or estimates will prove to have been correct.
No forward-looking or other statements have been reviewed by the
auditors of Prosus, MIH or Just Eat. All forward-looking statements
contained in this announcement and all subsequent oral or written
forward-looking statements attributable to Prosus, MIH or Just Eat
or their respective members, directors, officers, advisers or
employees or any person acting on their behalf are expressly
qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained
or referred to in this section.
Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of
this announcement. None of Prosus, MIH or Just Eat, or any of their
respective members, associates or directors, officers or advisers
and any person acting on behalf of one or more of them, provides
any representation, warranty, assurance or guarantee that the
occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually
occur. Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory
obligations (including under the City Code, the Listing Rules and
the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules), no member of the
Prosus Group is under, or undertakes, any obligation, and each of
the foregoing 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.
No profit forecasts or estimates
No statement in, or referred to in, this announcement or
incorporated by reference into this announcement is intended as or
shall be deemed to be a profit forecast or estimate for any period.
No statement in, or referred to in, this announcement or
incorporated by reference into this announcement should be
interpreted to mean that income of persons (where relevant), cash
flow from operations, free cash flow, earnings or earnings per
share for Just Eat, Prosus or the Enlarged Group (as applicable)
for the current or future financial years would necessarily match
or exceed the historic published cash flow from operations, free
cash flow, earnings, earnings per share or dividend for Just Eat,
Prosus, MIH or Naspers or the Enlarged Group (as applicable).
Disclosure requirements of the City Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the City 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 an 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 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day
following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate,
by no later than 3.30 p.m. (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 City 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, 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 p.m. (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 and availability of hard copies
A copy of this announcement will be made available (subject to
certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted
Jurisdictions), on Prosus's website at
www.Prosus.com/investors/justeat in accordance with Rule 26 of the
City Code. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of the website
is not incorporated into, and does not form part of, this
announcement.
Just Eat Shareholders may request a hard copy of this
announcement by contacting Computershare Investor Services PLC at
Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH during business hours
on 0370 707 1066 (lines are open from 8.30a.m. to 5.30p.m., Monday
to Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales)). If you
have received this announcement in electronic form, copies of this
announcement will not be provided unless such a request is made.
Just Eat Shareholders may also request that all future documents,
announcements and information to be sent to them in relation to the
Offer should be in hard copy form.
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement
or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own
independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker,
bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial
adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are resident in the
United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised
independent financial adviser.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
STRUVVURKUAAUAA
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 25, 2019 08:15 ET (13:15 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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