Additional information
Ageas continues to carefully assess the Proposed Transaction with a disciplined focus on the strategic and financial rationale, and there can be no certainty that an offer will be made, even if the pre-conditions are satisfied or waived.
This announcement does not constitute an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code. The announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Ageas of a number of pre-conditions, including, among others, completion of satisfactory due diligence by Ageas and reciprocal due diligence by Direct Line, receipt of irrevocable undertakings from each member of the Direct Line Board of Directors who holds Direct Line shares and Direct Line shareholders to vote in favour of the Improved Possible Offer, agreement of the detailed terms of the Improved Possible Offer and the unanimous and unqualified recommendation of the Board of Direct Line. Ageas reserves the right to waive in whole or in part any pre-conditions.
In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, Ageas is required, by not later than 5.00 pm (London time) on 27 March 2024, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Direct Line in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that Ageas does not intend to make an offer for Direct Line, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline can only be extended with the consent of the UK Takeover Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.
BofA Securities (Lead Financial Adviser to Ageas SA/NV) +44 (0) 20 7628 1000
Jonathan Alpert
Geoff Iles
Marcus Jackson
Benjamin Ries
Sid Rishi
Deutsche Bank AG (Financial Adviser to Ageas SA/NV) +44 (0) 20 7545 8000
Marie-Soazic Geffroy
Hubert Vannier
Derek Shakespeare
Inigo de Areilza
Charles Farquhar
FGS Global (PR Adviser to Ageas SA/NV) +44 (0) 20 7251 3801 / Ageas-UK@fgsglobal.com
James Leviton
Chris Sibbald
Linklaters LLP is acting as legal adviser to Ageas.
Merrill Lynch International ("BofA Merrill Lynch"), which is authorised by the UK Prudential Regulatory Authority and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and the UK Prudential Regulatory Authority, is acting exclusively for Ageas and for no one else in connection with the possible offer for Direct Line and will not be responsible to anyone other than Ageas for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement.
Deutsche Bank AG is a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany with its principal office in Frankfurt am Main. It is registered with the local district court (Amtsgericht) in Frankfurt am Main under No HRB 30000 and licensed to carry on banking business and to provide financial services. The London branch of Deutsche Bank AG is registered as a branch office in the register of companies for England and Wales at Companies House (branch registration number BR000005) with its registered branch office address and principal place of business at 21, Moorfields, London EC2Y 9DB. Deutsche Bank AG is subject to supervision by the European Central Bank (ECB), Sonnemannstrasse 22, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht or BaFin), Graurheindorfer Strasse 108, 53117 Bonn and Marie-Curie-Strasse 24-28, 60439 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. With respect to activities undertaken in the United Kingdom, Deutsche Bank AG is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. It is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of Deutsche Bank AG's authorisation and regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from Deutsche Bank AG on request.
Deutsche Bank AG, acting through its London branch ("Deutsche Bank") is acting as a financial adviser to Ageas and no-one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Ageas for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Bank, nor for providing advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement or any other matter referred to in this announcement.
Disclosure requirements of the Code