Ensor Holdings PLC Strategic Review and Commencement of Formal Sale Process
May 27 2015 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMESR
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR
FROM, ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE
RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
27 May 2015
Ensor Holdings plc ("Ensor" or "Company")
Strategic review and commencement of Formal Sale Process
Ensor today announces that it is launching a review of strategic options open
to the Company to maximise value for shareholders including a potential sale of
the Company. The Company has therefore decided to initiate discussions relating
to a sale of the Company under the framework of a "formal sale process" in
accordance with Note 2 on Rule 2.6 of the City Code on Takeover and Mergers
(the "Code"), under which the Board of Ensor (the "Board") is able to have
discussions with third parties interested in such a transaction on a
confidential basis.
The Company is currently in separate discussions in relation to the disposal of
Ensor Building Products Limited which if concluded would allow the Company to
increase its focus on physical security products with strong cash flow from its
packaging business. Over the course of the last year significant progress has
been made within each of Ensor's operating businesses, which was reflected in
the first half trading to 30 September 2014. During that six month period, the
Company reported a sales increase of 11% to GBP17.0 million and an operating
profit increase of 98% to GBP1.46 million. The strength of the balance sheet
also improved with the minimal gearing reported at the half year now having
become net cash balances. Trading in the second half of the financial year has
continued in line with the Board's expectations and growing order books provide
optimism for trading prospects. The Company expects to announce preliminary
results on 10 June 2015.
With this greater focus of the Company's activities and stronger financial
position, the Board considers that now is an appropriate time and it is in the
best interests of the Company's shareholders to seek to sell the Company by
means of a formal sale process. This process includes the possibility of an
offer being made for the Company although there can be no certainty that an
offer will be made. Whilst the Board believes that the Company has a secure
future as an independent business, the Board has taken this decision in order
to seek to unlock and crystallise value for shareholders whilst safeguarding
the interests of all stakeholders.
The Company has appointed BDO LLP ("BDO") as financial adviser to conduct the
sale process. Parties with a potential interest in making an offer for the
Company should contact BDO (contact details are set out below).
Any interested party will be required to enter into a non-disclosure agreement
with the Company on reasonable terms satisfactory to the Board and on the same
terms, in all material respects, as the other interested parties, before being
permitted to participate in the process. Following execution of an agreed
non-disclosure agreement, the Company intends to provide interested parties
with information materials on the Company. Following receipt of the materials,
interested parties shall be invited to submit proposals to the Company.
Interested parties who submit an acceptable proposal will be invited into the
next phase of the process.
The Board reserves the right to alter any aspect of the process as outlined
above or to terminate it at any time and will make further announcements as
appropriate. The Board reserves the right to reject any approach or terminate
discussions with any interested party or participant at any time.
The Takeover Panel has granted a dispensation from the requirements of Rules
2.4(a), 2.4(b) and 2.6(a) of the Code such that any interested party
participating in the formal sale process will not be required to be publicly
identified as a result of this announcement (subject to note 3 to Rule 2.2 of
the Code) and will not be subject to the 28 day deadline referred to in Rule
2.6(a), for so long as it is participating in the formal sale process.
Interested parties should note Rule 21.2 of the Code, which will prohibit any
form of inducement fee or other offer-related arrangement, and that the Company
has not requested any dispensation from this prohibition under Note 2 of Rule
21.2, although it reserves the right to do so in the future.
This announcement is not an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer
under Rule 2.7 of the Code and there can be no certainty that any offers will
be made as a result of the formal sale process, that any sale will be
concluded, nor as to the terms on which any offer will be made.
Following this announcement, the Company is now considered to be in an "offer
period" as defined in the Code, and the dealing disclosure requirements listed
below will apply.
The Company will make a further announcement when appropriate.
In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the Code, the Company confirms that it has
29,895,976 ordinary shares of 10p each in issue and admitted to trading on AIM
under the UK ISIN GB0003186409.
Enquiries:
Ensor Holdings plc
Roger Harrison / Marcus Chadwick Tel: +44 (0) 161 945 5953
BDO LLP (Financial Adviser)
John Stephan / Simon Ling Tel: +44 (0) 121 352 6200
Westhouse Securities (Nominated adviser and Broker)
Robert Finlay Tel: +44 (0) 20 7601 6100
Notes to editors
Ensor is a products and services group focused on the manufacturing and supply
of physical security products and packaging. The group comprises stand-alone
businesses located on their own sites, trading nationally and internationally.
Physical security products
Ellard Limited is a market leader in the design, manufacture and distribution
of a wide range of electric drives and controls to suit all types of
industrial, commercial and domestic doors. The company also offers a
comprehensive range of gate and barrier automation solutions.
OSA Door Parts Limited is a trade supplier and manufacturer of energy saving
industrial doors, steel hinged door sets and insulated garage doors to meet all
building regulation requirements and fully compliant with European standards.
The company has a substantial market share in the UK.
Technocover Limited is a specialist designer, manufacturer and installer of
accredited physical security products used for the protection of Critical
National Infrastructure assets operated by UK and European Utility Companies,
including water, energy and communications.
Packaging
Wood's Packaging Limited provides specialist packaging solutions, especially to
the retail furniture industry, developing its products in the UK and sourcing
through the group's China office.
This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of
any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise
acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether
pursuant to this announcement or otherwise.
The 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 the 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, 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 Takeover 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
A copy of this announcement will be made available at http://www.ensor.co.uk/
no later than 12:00 noon (London time) on 28 May 2015 (being the business day
following the date of this announcement) in accordance with Rule 30.4 of the
Code. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not
incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.
BDO LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Ensor Holdings plc (as
financial adviser) and no one else in connection with the matters referred to
in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than for Ensor
Holdings plc for providing the protections afforded to clients of BDO LLP nor
for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this
announcement.
The directors of Ensor accept responsibility for the information contained in
this announcement. To the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all
reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in
this announcement for which they are responsible is in accordance with the
facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such
information.
END
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