Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

CISI - Corporate Finance Regulation > Takeover Code > Flashcards

Takeover Code Flashcards

1
Q

What firms does the UK takeover code oversee?

A
  • Registers offers for shares in companies which are:
    o UK registered and trade on a UK regulated market; or
    o UK plcs (not traded on a regulated market) if centrally managed and controlled from the UK
    o Private companies if centrally managed and controlled from the UK and which have been fully listed in past ten years
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Who monitors adherence to the takeover code?

A
  • Takeover panel monitors adherence to the rules
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What sanctions are there for breach of the code?

A

o Sanctions
 Private or public censure
 Cold shouldering

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the six general principles of the takeover code?

A

1) Equivalent treatment of security-holders
2) Sufficiency of time and information for offeree security-holders
3) Offeree board must uphold nterest of the company as a whole
4) Prevention of false markets
5) Offeror care and responsibility relating to offer consideration, ensuring it can fulfil in full any cash consideration
6) Prohibition against unreasonable hindering of offeree company during takeover bid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is announcement day?

A
  • Once a firm offer has been announced, the offeror has 28 days in which to post the offer document, giving full details of their offer to offeree shareholders, and make this available to offeree employees and pension scheme trustees
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What happens on day 0?

A
  • The publication day is the day on which the offer document is sent to the offeree’s shareholders, which must be no later than 28 days from the firm announcement date
  • Can only be published before 14 days following firm announcement if you have consent of the offeree company board
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

When should the first defence document by published?

A

No later than day 14

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What should be contained in the first defence document in the context of both a recommended offer and a hostile offer?

A

Defence document contains the director’s response to the offer document, recommending that the shareholders reject the offer and explaining the reasons why. Should be published no later than Day 14.

-In a recommended offer, the document includes a letter by the company chairman to the company shareholders, setting out a recommendation that shareholders accept the offer, and including the Rule 3 adviser’s opinion.
-In a hostile offer, the offeree board must instead send a defence document to all shareholders by the 14th day after the publication day, i.e. by day 14.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the minimum acceptance period for an offer under the UK takeover code?

A

Day 21 – Minimum Acceptance Period
An offer must initially be open for acceptance until the later of day 21 and the date on which the offer becomes or is declared unconditional

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What happens the day after day 21?

A

Acceptance Announcements

Announce the level of acceptances by 08.00 on the business day following day 21 and every seven days thereafter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the latest date for timetable suspension due to regulatory clearance?

A

day 37

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What happens on day 39?

A

Day 39: Last day for the offeree board to announce or disclose any additional information or disclose any material new opinions. If any such announcement is made afterwards, the days are reset.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the latest date that an offeror may amend their offer?

A

Day 46: Offeror may amend its offer up to day 46. Following this date, the offeror must not buy shares in the market above the offer price (as this would trigger a revised offer)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What happens on day 53?

A

Day 53: Last day for a competing offer to be made, when a publicly identified potential offerer might make a competing offer. The potential offeror must either:
- Announce a firm intention to make an offer in line with Rule 2.7
- Announce that it does not intend to make an offer, so Rule 2.8 applies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What happens on day 60?

A

Day 60: Except with consent of panel, all conditions of offer must be satisfied or waiver, or the offer must lapse by midnight on day 60.W

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What happens on day 74?

A

Day 74: Assuming the offer is unconditional on day 60, then day 74 is the earliest day on which the offer may close

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

In a takeover, what is a long-stop date?

A

Latest date takeover will be effective or offer will be withdrawn if acceptance level or regulatory clearance has not been achieved

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

In the context of takeover timelines, what is an acceleration statement?

A

Acceleration statement: Brings forward the last day offer could become unconditional from Day 60, must be at least 14 days from issuing the statement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is an Acceptance Condition Invocation Notice (ACIN)?

A

Bidder must give at least 14 days notice to invoke the acceptance condition to lapse if insufficient acceptance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

After a successful bid, when must all consideration be settled?

A
  • Consideration for a successful bid must be settled within 14 days of the bid going unconditional in all respects
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

After a bid, how long are no purchases of shares by offeror at above the offer price in the post bid period allowed?

A

(six months)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is rule 35 (restrictions following offers)?

A

Restrictions following offers

  • If an offeror has previously failed with an offer, it cant come back with a new offer within a 12 month period
23
Q

What is rule 2.1?

A

Absolute secrecy and security before announcmenet

24
Q

What is rule 2.2?

A

Defines what announcements can be made

Either ‘firm intention’ or ‘in-talks’ or ‘no intention to bid’

25
Q

What triggers the offer period?

A

The announcment of a potential approach

26
Q

When are takeover announcements required?

A
  • Firm intention to offer
  • Mandatory bid is triggered
  • Following an approach from a potential offeror, either:
    o Untoward movement in share price
    o Or rumour and speculation
  • Extension of talks beyond a resitcted few
  • ‘Put up or shut up’ (Rule 2.6) within 28 days of start of offer period. If ‘shut up’ – no bid for six months
27
Q

What should be the contents of a firm intention announcement?

A
  • Terms of offer
  • Identity of offeror
  • Deal related agreements (e.g. break fees/inducement, these require panel consent)
  • Financial adviser’s confirmation of sufficient cash for offer
  • Needs to be announced to panel and Regulatory Information Service
  • Offeree and Offeror must also subsequently disclose details on shares in issuance and holdings (by 9:00 on business day following announcement) – Rule 2.9
  • Offeree board (and offeror under certain circumstances) must seek competent independent advice on the offer – Rule 3
28
Q

What are opening position disclosures?

A
  • Offeree, offeror, and any holder of 1% or more in either offeror or offeree must declare holdings within ten business days of start of offer period
  • Includes options, conversion rights, derivatives, or any other agreement to buy or sell securities
29
Q

If a holder has 1% or more of shares outstanding, when do they have to declare additional transactions if a firm is under offer?

A
  • Offeree, offeror, and any holder of 1% or more in either offeror or offeree must declare transactions in either company’s securities by 12:00pm on T + 1 (or 3:30pm if not connected to the bid parties)
30
Q

What is rule 6 in the context of pricing restrictions?

A

o Rule 6: Any shares bought in three months before bid?
 Minimum price is highest paid in last three months

31
Q

What is rule 11 in the context of pricing restrictions?

A

o Rule 11: 10% stake bought in 12 months before bid?
 Minimum price is highest paid in last 12 months: cash offer required

32
Q

Are profit forecasts mandatory?

A
  • Profit forecasts not obligatory by either offeror or offeree
33
Q

If a profit forecast is made, what must it include?

A
  • Profit forecasts must include:
    o Report from auditors and advsers (Rule 28)
    o Full disclosure of assumptions
34
Q

Are the offeree board allowed to take frustrating action?

A
  • Offeree board may not take action which frustrates the ability of shareholders to accept offer
    o Additional share issuance
    o Inducement agreement (break fee) unless panel approves
35
Q

After a hostile approach, what is the offeree board allowed to do in defence?

A
  • Permitted to publish a defence document or seek an alternative purchaser; ‘white knight’. Can also lobby for referral to the CMA
36
Q

What is rule 5., which restricts acquisitions of shares

A
  • General prohibition against:
    o Acquiring more than 30% of a company via market purchases (‘gaining control’)
    o Acquiring any more shares if have a holding between 30-50% (‘consolidationg control’)
  • Breach of Rule 5 gives rise to a mandatory bid (Rule 9)
37
Q

What happens if there is a breach of rule 5?

A

Gives rise to a mandatory bid (rule 9)

38
Q

When are the exemptions from rule 9?

A

A mandatory bid is not required when:
- Acquisition approved by independent shareholders (known as ‘a whitewash’)
- Corporate restructuring/share buyback
- Immediately prior to or during an offer
- Purchase from a single shareholder and if it the only purchase in a seven day period

39
Q

Who regulates competition?

A

CMA

40
Q

What does the CMA do?

A

o Promotes competition for consumer benefit in the UK
o Investigates mergers that may restrict competition
 Initial Phase 1 investigation may lead to…
 More detailed Phase 2 investigation and final determination

41
Q

What happens when CMA decisions are appealed?

A
  • Appeals against CMA decisions are addressed to Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT)
42
Q

Who investigates anti-competitive mergers in the EU?

A
  • Directorate General for Competition (DG Comp) will investigate potentiatlly anti-competitive mergers in the EU
43
Q

What powers does the NSI act give the UK government?

A
  • The National Security and Investment (NSI) Act gives the UK government powers to review mergers on national security grounds for ‘relevant enterprises’ e.g. defence companies, if either of the below conditions for the target company are met:
    o UK turnover > £1m
    o Market share > 25%
44
Q

What are the conditions for the UK government to be able to review a merger on national security grounds?

A

If either of the below conditions for the target company are met:
o UK turnover > £1m
o Market share > 25%

45
Q

Who considers takeovers in the context of pensions?

A
  • The Pensions Regulator (TPR) considers if a takeover of a UK company would be detrimental to its occupational pension scheme, known as a ‘Type A event’
  • The pension scheme trustees should safeguard their members’ interests in the event of a takeover
46
Q

When can the UK government intervene in transactions?

A

Under national security grounds, or…

  • UK government can intervene in transactions where one of the companies produces certain military or technological products and has a turnover £1m or greater
47
Q

What industries have industry regulators?

A
  • Utilities (energy, telecoms, and water) and newspapers have industry regulators who may refer a bid to the commission
48
Q

What % shareholding is deemed to give effective control according to Takeover Panel?

A

30% - the level of ownership that is deemed ‘effective control’ is ownership of at least 30%.

At this level, a mandatory offer/bid is required

49
Q

In terms of timeline, what is the length of time that a potential bidder cannot bid for after declaring they will not, and what is the length of time that a previously failed bidder must wait in order to rebid?

A

Potential bidder - must wait 6 months

Failed bidder - Must wait 12 months

50
Q

In a takeover, is it the offeror or offeree who has to disclose holdings in the other?

A

Offeror must disclose how much they hold of the target

51
Q

What is the latest day on which the timetable can be suspended due to outstanding regulatory clearrance?

A

Day 37

52
Q

Who has the responsibility to prepare an insider list?

A

The issuer of a security

53
Q

xxx

A

xxx

CISI - Corporate Finance Regulation (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions