Result of the Placing

30th Apr 2025 07:38

RNS Number : 7936G
Videndum PLC
30 April 2025
 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION OR FORWARDING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. FURTHER, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.

For immediate release

30 April 2025

Videndum plc

("Videndum", the "Company" or the "Group")

Result of the Placing

Videndum, the international provider of premium branded hardware products and software solutions to the content creation market, announces the successful completion of the non-pre-emptive placing of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company announced earlier today (the "Placing").

A total of 9,330,310 new ordinary shares of 20 pence each in the capital of the Company (the "Placing Shares") have been placed by Investec at a price of 85 pence per Placing Share (the "Placing Price"). The Placing and the Director Subscriptions successfully raised gross proceeds of approximately £8 million (before expenses and fees). The Placing was oversubscribed with support from Videndum's existing shareholders.

The Placing Price represents a 24.3 per cent. premium to the closing price on 29 April 2025 (being the last practicable day prior to the date of this Announcement). The Placing Shares and the Director Subscription Shares being issued represent approximately 9.99 per cent of the existing issued ordinary share capital of Videndum on the date of this Announcement.

Applications have been made (i) to the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") for admission of the Placing Shares and the Director Subscription Shares to the equity shares (commercial companies) category of the Official List; and (ii) to London Stock Exchange plc for admission of the Placing Shares to trading on its main market for listed securities (together, "Admission"). Admission is expected to take place at 8.00 a.m. on 2 May 2025 and dealings in the Placing Shares and the Director Subscriprion Shares are expected to commence at 8.00 a.m. on 2 May 2025.

Settlement for the Placing Shares, and the Director Subscription Shares, and Admission are expected to take place on or before 5.00 p.m. on 2 May 2025. The Placing is conditional upon, among other things, Admission becoming effective. The Placing is also conditional upon the Placing Agreement not being terminated in accordance with its terms.

The Placing Shares and the Director Subscription Shares, when issued, will be fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with each other and with the existing ordinary shares of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue.

Total Voting Rights

Following Admission, the total number of shares in issue in Videndum will be 103,613,404 ordinary shares of 20 pence each. There are no shares held in treasury therefore, following Admission, the total number of shares with voting rights in the Company is 103,613,404 ordinary shares of 20 pence each. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. The ISIN number of the Placing Shares and the Director Subscription Shares is GB0009296665.

Director participation

In conjunction with the Placing, the following directors of the Company have agreed to subscribe for the number of Director Subscription Shares in the capital of the Company at the Placing Price opposite their names as set out below:

Name

Number of Director Subscription Shares to be subscribed

Stephen Harris

35,297

Graham Oldroyd

11,764

Richard Tyson

11,764

Anna Vikstrom Persson

11,764

Eva Lindqvist

11,764

Total

82,353

Capitalised terms used but not defined in this Announcement shall have the meanings given to them in the launch announcement in respect of the Placing released by the Company earlier today.

For further information, please contact:

Videndum plcStephen Harris, Executive ChairmanSean Glithero, Interim Chief Financial OfficerGeorgina Kreysa, Group Communications Manager

+44 (0) 20 8332 4600

N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited (Financial Advisor)

Ravi Gupta

John Byrne

Shannon Nicholls

+44 20 7280 5000

Investec Bank plc (Financial Advisor, Underwriter, Sole Bookrunner and Joint Corporate Broker)

Christopher BairdDavid FlinWill Brinkley

+44 20 7597 5970

 

This Announcement should be read in its entirety. In particular, you should read and understand the information provided in the "Important Notices" section of this Announcement.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

This Announcement and the information contained herein is restricted and not for release, publication, transmission, distribution or forwarding, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which publication, release or distribution would be unlawful (each a "Restricted Territory"). This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not an offer to sell or issue, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, acquire or subscribe for shares in the capital of the Company in any Restricted Territory or any other state or jurisdiction. This Announcement has not been approved by the FCA or the London Stock Exchange, nor is it intended that it will be so approved. Any failure to comply with the restrictions set out in this Announcement may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdictions.

The Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or under the securities law or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold, pledged, taken up, exercised, resold, renounced, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States absent registration under the US Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or any other jurisdiction of the United States. Accordingly, the Placing Shares will be offered and sold only outside of the United States in "offshore transactions" pursuant to Regulation S under the US Securities Act and otherwise in accordance with applicable laws.

No public offering of securities is being made in the United States, the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

The Placing and the Placing Shares have not been approved, disapproved or recommended by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other regulatory authority in the United States, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Placing Shares. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in any Restricted Territory or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of any Restricted Territory.

No public offering of securities is being made in the United States, the United Kingdom, the EEA or elsewhere. All offers of the Placing Shares will be made pursuant to an exemption under the EU Prospectus Regulation or the UK Prospectus Regulation (as applicable) from the requirement to produce a prospectus. This Announcement is being distributed to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply.

No prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained in this Announcement and no such prospectus is required to be published under the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as amended from time to time (the "Prospectus Regulation") or the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"). Persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. This Announcement is being communicated and distributed to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply.

Members of the public are not eligible to take part in the Placing. This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein are for information purposes only and are directed at and my only be communicated to (a) in the European Economic Area ("EEA"), persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Prospectus Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/1129) ("Qualified Investors"); and (b) in the United Kingdom, at Qualified Investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation who are also (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); (ii) high net worth bodies corporate, unincorporated associations and partnerships and trustees of high value trusts as described in Article 49(2) of the Order; or (c) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons").

This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Persons distributing this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. Any investment or investment activity to which this Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. This Announcement does not itself constitute an offer for sale or subscription of any securities in the Company.

No action has been taken by the Company, and/or Investec that would permit an offering of such shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and Investec to inform themselves about, and to observe, such restrictions.

The contents of this Announcement are not to be construed as legal, business, financial or tax advice. Each investor or prospective investor should consult his, her or its own legal adviser, business adviser, financial adviser or tax adviser for legal, financial, business or tax advice. The contents of this Announcement have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Each investor or prospective investor is advised to exercise caution in relation to the Placing.

Persons (including without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual right or other legal obligations to forward a copy of this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.

This Announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of, the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Investec, or by any of its partners, directors, officers, employees, advisers, consultants, affiliates or agents nor by Rothschild & Co nor by any of its Rothschild & Co Affiliates as to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.

Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement.

The Placing Shares to be issued or sold pursuant to the Placing will not be admitted to trading on any stock exchange other than the London Stock Exchange.

This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with applicable law and regulation in the United Kingdom 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 and regulations of any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

Notice to all investors

Investec is authorised by the Prudential Regulatory Authority ("PRA") and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA. Investec is acting solely for Videndum and is acting for no one else in connection with the Placing and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this Announcement) as a client in relation to the Placing and will not be responsible to anyone other than Videndum for providing the protections afforded to its clients, nor for providing advice in connection with the Placing or any other matter, transaction or arrangement referred to herein.

None of the information in this Announcement has been independently verified or approved by Investec or any of its partners, directors, officers, employees, advisers, consultants, agents or affiliates. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed upon Investec by FSMA, neither Investec nor any of its subsidiary undertakings, affiliates or any of their directors, officers, employees, consultants, advisers or agents accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever (whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise) for the contents of the information contained in this Announcement (including, but not limited to, any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the information or any opinions) or for any other statement made or purported to be made by or on behalf of Investec or any of its partners, directors, officers, employees, advisers, consultants, agents or affiliates in connection with Videndum or the Placing Shares or the Placing and nothing in this Announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or future. Investec accepts no liability or responsibility for any loss, costs or damage suffered or incurred howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from any use of this Announcement or its content or otherwise in connection therewith or any acts or omissions by the Company. Investec and its subsidiary undertakings, affiliates or any of its directors, officers, employees, advisers and agents accordingly disclaims to the fullest extent permitted by law all and any responsibility and liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which it might otherwise have in respect of this Announcement or any such statement and no representation, warranty, express or implied, is made by Investec or any of its partners, directors, officers, employees, advisers, consultants, agents or affiliates as to the accuracy, completeness or sufficiency of the information contained in this Announcement.

In connection with the Placing, Investec and any of its affiliates, acting as investors for their own accounts, may subscribe for or purchase Placing Shares as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell or otherwise deal for their own accounts in such Placing Shares and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Placing or otherwise. Accordingly, references to the Placing Shares being offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by Investec and any of its affiliates acting as investors for their own accounts. In addition, Investec or its affiliates may enter into financing arrangements and swaps in connection with which they or their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Placing Shares. Investec has no intention to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

Rothschild & Co, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to the Company and for no‑one else in connection with the Placing and shall not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rothschild & Co, nor for providing advice in connection with the announcement or any matter referred to herein. Neither Rothschild & Co nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) ("Rothschild & Co Affiliates") owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Rothschild & Co in connection with this Announcement or any statement contained herein and none of the information in this Announcement has been independently verified by Rothschild & Co nor by any of its Rothschild & Co Affiliates. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Rothschild & Co nor by any of its Rothschild & Co Affiliates as to the contents of this Announcement.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

This Announcement contains (or may contain) certain "forward-looking statements" with respect to certain of the Company's current expectations and projections about future events. Words such as "believes", "anticipates", "estimates", "expects", "intends", "aims", "potential", "will", "may", "plans", "intends", "would", "could", "considered", "likely", "estimate" and variations of these words and similar future or conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Announcement are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places throughout this Announcement and include statements regarding the Directors' or the Company's intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, operating results, financial condition, prospects, growth, expansion plans, strategies, the industry in which the Group operates and the general economic outlook.

None of the Company, its officers, advisers or any other person gives any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually occur, in part or in whole.

No undue reliance should be placed on any such statements because they speak only as at the date of this announcement and, by their very nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results, and the Company's plans and objectives, to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. No representation or warranty is made that any forward-looking statement will come to pass. No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or profit estimate for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be relied upon as a guide to future performance or should be interpreted to mean that earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company for the current or future financial periods would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings, earnings per share or income, cash flow from operations or free cash flow for the Company. The forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement speak only as of the date of this Announcement.

Neither the Company, nor any member of the Group, nor Investec undertakes any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save in respect of any requirement under applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, FSMA, UK MAR and the FCA's UK Listing Rules and Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules).

This Announcement does not identify or suggest, or purport to identify or suggest, the risks (direct or indirect) that may be associated with an investment in the Placing Shares. Any investment decisions to buy Placing Shares in the Placing must be made solely on the basis of publicly available information, which has not been independently verified by Investec.

UK Product Governance Requirements

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance Requirements") and/or any equivalent requirements elsewhere to the extent determined to be applicable, and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such Placing Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of: (a) retail clients, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("EUWA"); (b) investors who meet the criteria of professional clients as defined in Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; and (c) eligible counterparties, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS"); and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by Directive 2014/65/EU (the "UK Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, "distributors" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements) should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom.

The UK Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, Investec will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the UK Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of COBS 9A and COBS 10A, respectively; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THE FOREGOING, NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE PLACING SHARES IS BEING MADE BY ANY PERSON ANYWHERE AND THE COMPANY HAS NOT AUTHORISED OR CONSENTED TO ANY SUCH OFFERING IN RELATION TO THE PLACING

 

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