VIVO ENERGY PLC - Recommended cash offer for Vivo Energy plc

Recommended cash offer for Vivo Energy plc

Vivo Energy plc
(Incorporated in England and Wales)
(Registration number: 11250655)
(Share code: VVO)
LEI: 213800TR7V9QN896AU56
ISIN: GB00BDGT2M75


NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO ANY
JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT
LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

17 January 2022

                                   RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER

                                                   for

                             Vivo Energy plc (the “Company” or “Vivo”)

                                                   by

                                            VIP II Blue B.V.

    (a newly formed company (“BidCo”), being a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Vitol
Investment Partnership II Limited, itself being an investment vehicle advised by employees of
                                        the Vitol Group)

  to be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the UK Companies Act
                                       2006 (the “Act”)

     APPROVAL BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK OF THE SCHEME DOCUMENT

Shareholders are referred to the Company announcement released on 25 November 2021, wherein it
was announced that the boards of Vivo and BidCo had reached an agreement on the terms of a
recommended cash offer for all of the issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of the Company
not already owned by the Existing Vitol Shareholders (the “Offer”), as well as the Company
announcement released on 17 December 2021 regarding the publication of the scheme circular
(“Scheme Document”) to Vivo Shareholders, Underlying SA Shareholders, and for information only,
persons with information rights. The Offer will be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of
arrangement under Part 26 of the Act.

Capitalised terms used in this announcement, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as
set out in the Scheme Document.

FinSurv approval

Vivo is pleased to announce that the Financial Surveillance Department of the South African Reserve
Bank (“FinSurv”) has approved the Scheme Document detailing the Offer and the subsequent
cancellation of the secondary inward listing of the Vivo shares on the securities exchange operated by
the JSE Limited to take effect after the Effective Date of the Scheme (expected to occur in the third
quarter of 2022).

Next steps and timetable

To become effective, the Scheme will require, amongst other things, the approval of the requisite
majority of eligible shareholders to (i) vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and (ii) pass a
Special Resolution at the General Meeting. Notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting,
which will be held at St. Ermin’s Hotel, 2 Caxton Street, London SW1H 0QW on Thursday, 20 January
2022, are set out in the Scheme Document. The Court Meeting will commence at 2.00 p.m. (London
time) (4.00 p.m. SAST) and the General Meeting at 2.15 p.m. (London time) (4.15 p.m. SAST) (or as
soon thereafter as the Court Meeting concludes or is adjourned).
It is important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast so
that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair and reasonable representation of opinion of
the Scheme Shareholders. Whether or not Vivo Shareholders intend to participate in the
Meetings in person via the Virtual Meeting Platform, Vivo Shareholders are strongly advised to
submit proxy appointments and voting instructions for the Court Meeting and the General
Meeting as soon as possible, using any of the methods (by post, online or electronically through
CREST) and before the deadlines set out in the Scheme Document.

Underlying SA Shareholders are strongly urged to provide voting instructions to their CSDP or
broker (as applicable) in accordance with the terms of the custody agreement entered into with
their CSDP or broker. If required, a form of instruction is available on Vivo’s website at
www.vivoenergy.com. Please note that the Underlying SA Shareholder is responsible for confirming
that this form of instruction meets the requirements of the custody agreement entered into between the
Underlying SA Shareholder and the CSDP or broker (as applicable).

The Scheme Document contains a current expected timetable of principal events for the implementation
of the Scheme. Subject to the approval of shareholders and the Court, and to the satisfaction or waiver
by BidCo of the other Conditions set out in the Scheme Document, the Scheme is expected to become
effective in the third quarter of 2022.

Enquiries:


Vivo Energy plc                                                  +44 20 3034 3735

Giles Blackham
Head of Investor Relations
Rob Foyle
Head of Communications

J.P. Morgan Cazenove                                             +44 20 7742 4000
(Joint financial adviser and corporate broker to Vivo)

Dwayne Lysaght
James Janoskey
Richard Walsh

Rothschild & Co (Joint financial adviser to Vivo)                +44 20 7280 5000

John Deans
Edoardo Fassati

Numis Securities (Corporate broker to Vivo)                      +44 207 260 1000

Stuart Dickson
George Price

JSE Sponsor:

J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited

Tulchan Communications (public relations adviser to Vivo) +44 207 353 4200

Martin Robinson
Harry Cameron

Akin Gump LLP is acting as legal adviser to BidCo. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is acting as
legal adviser to Vivo. Bowmans is acting as legal adviser to BidCo as to South African Law and
Werksmans is acting as legal adviser to Vivo as to South African law.




                                                                                                    
Important notices relating to financial advisers

HSBC, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the “PRA”) and regulated by the
PRA and the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for
Vitol and BidCo and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other
than Vitol and BidCo for providing the protections afforded to clients of HSBC nor for giving advice in
relation to the Offer or any matter or arrangement referred to in this announcement. Neither HSBC, nor
any of its group undertakings or 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 HSBC in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or
otherwise. HSBC has given, and not withdrawn, its consent to the inclusion in this announcement of the
references to its name in the form and context in which they appear.

J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan
Cazenove (“J.P. Morgan Cazenove”), is authorised in the United Kingdom by the PRA and regulated
in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA. J.P. Morgan Cazenove is acting as financial adviser
exclusively for Vivo and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and
will not regard any other person as its client in relation to such matters and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Vivo for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or its
affiliates, or for providing advice in relation to any matter or arrangement referred to herein.

J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited is acting exclusively as JSE sponsor to Vivo and
no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement, and will be subject to the
requirements imposed on such a sponsor under the JSE Listings Requirements.

N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited (“Rothschild & Co”), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in
the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Vivo and no one else in connection with the matters
described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Vivo for providing the
protections afforded to clients of Rothschild & Co nor for providing advice in connection with any matter
referred to herein. Neither Rothschild & Co nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers,
employees or agents) 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, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Numis Securities Limited (“Numis”), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as Corporate Broker exclusively for Vivo and no one else in
connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its
client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Vivo for providing the protections afforded to clients of Numis, nor for providing advice in relation to any
matter referred to herein.

This announcement is for information purposes only. It is not intended to and does not constitute, or
form part of, any offer or invitation or the solicitation of any offer to sell or purchase any securities or the
solicitation of any offer to otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any security
pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. The Offer shall be made solely by means of the Scheme Document,
which, together with the Forms of Proxy and the Form of Election (if applicable), shall contain the full
terms and conditions of the Offer, including details of how to vote in respect of the Offer. Any vote in
respect of, acceptance or other response to the Offer should be made only on the basis of the
information contained in the Scheme Document read in its entirety.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent document.

Overseas Shareholders

The availability of the Offer to Vivo Shareholders who are not resident in and citizens of the United
Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or of which
they are citizens. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of,
and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions. Any failure to comply
with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Offer
disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person. Further details
in relation to Overseas Shareholders are contained in the Scheme Document.



                                                                                                            
Unless otherwise determined by BidCo or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable
law and regulation, the Offer will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted
Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. Copies of this announcement and
any formal documentation relating to the Offer are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly,
mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and
persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or
otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render
invalid any related purported acceptance in respect of the Offer. The Offer may not be made directly or
indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or any means or 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 and
the Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities.

In accordance with the Takeover Code, normal United Kingdom market practice and Rule 14e-5(b) of
the US Exchange Act, HSBC and its respective affiliates will continue to act as exempt principal trader
in Vivo securities on the London Stock Exchange. These purchases and activities by exempt principal
traders which are required to be made public in the United Kingdom pursuant to the Takeover Code will
be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange
website at www.londonstockexchange.com. This information will also be publicly disclosed: (i) in the
US to the extent that such information is made public in the United Kingdom, and (ii) in South Africa, on
the Stock Exchange News Service of the JSE, to the extent that it is reported to a Regulatory Information
Service on the London Stock Exchange’s website.

This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law, the Takeover
Code, the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no. 596/2014, the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) no.
596/2014 (as it forms part of the laws of the UK by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
(as amended)), the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, and the Listing Rules, and
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 of England and
Wales.

The information contained in this announcement constitutes factual information as contemplated in
section 1(3)(a) of the South African Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 37 of 2002, as
amended (“Fais Act”) and should not be construed as an express or implied advice, recommendation,
guide or proposal that any particular transaction in respect of the Offer, is appropriate to the particular
investment objectives, financial situations or needs of a shareholder or offeree, and nothing in this
announcement should be construed as constituting the canvassing for, or marketing or advertising of,
financial services in South Africa. BidCo is not a financial services provider licensed as such under the
Fais Act.

Nothing in this announcement should be viewed, or construed, as “advice”, as that term is used in the
South African Financial Markets Act, 19 of 2012, as amended.

Notice to U.S. investors in Vivo

The Offer relates to shares of a UK company and is proposed to be effected by means of a scheme of
arrangement under the laws of England and Wales. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of
arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange
Act.

Accordingly, the Offer is expected to be made subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements
and practices applicable in the United Kingdom and to schemes of arrangement under the laws of
England and Wales which differ from the disclosure and other requirements of the United States tender
offer and proxy solicitation rules. Neither the US Securities Exchange Commission, nor any securities
commission of any state of the United States, has approved the Offer, 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.

However, if BidCo were to elect (with the consent of the Panel) to implement the Offer by means of a
takeover offer, such takeover offer shall be made in compliance with all applicable United States laws
and regulations, including any applicable exemptions under the US Exchange Act. Such a takeover
would be made in the United States by BidCo and no one else.



                                                                                                           
In the event that the Offer is implemented by way of a takeover offer, in accordance with normal United
Kingdom practice, BidCo or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make
certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares or other securities of Vivo outside of the
United States, other than pursuant to the Offer, until the date on which the Offer and/or Scheme
becomes effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. These purchases may occur either in the open
market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such
purchases or arrangements to purchase shall be disclosed as required in the UK, shall be reported to
a Regulatory Information Service and shall be available on the London Stock Exchange website at
www.londonstockexchange.com. This information will also be publicly disclosed in South Africa, on
Stock Exchange News Service of the JSE, to the extent that it is reported to a Regulatory Information
Service on the London Stock Exchange’s website.

Each Vivo 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 state
and local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws.

Financial information relating to Vivo included in this announcement and the Scheme Document has
been or shall have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United
Kingdom and may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose
financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States.

Vivo is organised under the laws of a country other than the United States. Some or all of the officers
and directors of Vivo, respectively, are residents of countries other than the United States. In addition,
most of the assets of Vivo are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for US
shareholders of Vivo to effect service of process within the United States upon Vivo or its officers or
directors or to enforce against them a judgment of a US court predicated upon the federal or state
securities laws of the United States.

Publication on website and availability of hard copies

A copy of this Announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26 of the
Takeover Code is and will be available (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in
Restricted Jurisdictions) for inspection free of charge on Vivo’s website at www.vivoenergy.com and
Vitol’s website at www.vitol.com by no later than 12 noon London time on the Business Day following
the Announcement.

Neither the contents of those websites nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks
on those websites is incorporated into, or forms part of, this Announcement.

Vivo Shareholders except Vivo Shareholders on the South African Register may request a hard copy
of this Announcement by contacting Equiniti Limited during business hours on 0371 384 2320 (from
within the UK) or on +44 371 384 2320 (from outside the UK) or by submitting a request in writing to
Equiniti Limited at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA.

Vivo Shareholders on the South African Register may request a hard copy of this Announcement by
contacting JSE Investor Services on 0861 472 644 (from within South Africa) or +27 11 029 0112 (from
outside South Africa) or by submitting a request in writing to JSE Investor Services (Pty) Ltd, 13th Floor,
19 Ameshoff Street Braamfontein, 2001 or PO Box 10462, Johannesburg, 2000.

If you have received this Announcement in electronic form, copies of this Announcement and any
document or information incorporated by reference into this document will not be provided unless such
a request is made.

Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover 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 Takeover 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(s), 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
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.




                                                                                                       

Date: 17-01-2022 09:00:00
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