11/25/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/25/2021 10:49
On 17 November 2021, the Takeover Panel (the "Panel") published Panel Bulletin 3 (the "Bulletin") relating to the requirements of Rule 2.10(c) of the Takeover Code (the "Code"). Under Rule 2.10(c), a person who has given an irrevocable commitment or a letter of intent must promptly make an announcement if they become aware that they can no longer comply with the terms of that commitment or letter, or if they no longer intend to comply.
Panel Bulletins were introduced by the Panel Executive in October 2021 to remind practitioners and market participants of how specific provisions of the Code operate in response to issues that the Panel has identified as occurring on live transactions.
In the Bulletin, the Panel Executive stated that it is aware of a number of cases recently in which a shareholder had given a letter of intent to accept an offer or to vote in favour of a scheme of arrangement, but subsequently sold the shares subject to the letter without a prompt announcement being made by either the shareholder or the bidder, contrary to Rule 2.10 of the Code.
The Bulletin contains two key reminders:
For more information on the application of the Code, please contact a member of the C&S team in London who will be able to assist.
The authors would like to thank Maddie Drabble for her contribution to this OnPoint.