1. MARKET OVERVIEW
1.1 Please give a brief overview of the public M&A
market in your jurisdiction
The public M&A market in Ireland has been relatively quiet
in 2010/2011. The last large-value completed public M&A deal in
Ireland was the $1.2 billion recommended offer by scheme of
arrangement (see section 2.1, below, for an explanation of this
term) for SkillSoft Plc by a private equity consortium consisting
of Berkshire Partners, Bain and Advent, in which Mason Hayes &
Curran acted for the bidders and William Fry acted for the target,
completed in June 2010. Subsequent to that, despite a number of
abortive processes, the only completed public M&A transactions
have been the EUR 93 million recommended offer by scheme of
arrangement by US private equity firm Spectrum Equity for Trintech
Plc, the EUR 217 million recommended offer by BAE Systems for
Norkom Group Plc, the recommended offer by scheme of arrangement
for Oglesby & Butler which was valued at only EUR 4.3 million
and the recommended offer, valued at £44 million, by CR Bard
for Clearstream Technologies Plc. The number of scheme of
arrangement based offers has continued to exceed the number of
conventional tender offers for reasons which are discussed below.
There have been no hostile offers since the unsuccessful bid by
Ryanair for Aer Lingus announced in December 2008.
There have been few new wholly or largely domestic new entrants to
either the Irish Stock Exchange or other markets and three
financial institutions, Allied Irish Banks, Irish Life &
Permanent (owner of the Permanent TSB Bank) and Anglo Irish Bank
which were previously of substance on the Irish Stock Exchange are
either almost wholly state-owned (AIB and IL&P) or wholly
state-owned and de-listed and in a run-down mode (Anglo) due to
state recapitalisation measures rather than conventional M&A
activity. The other main Irish listed bank, Bank of Ireland, has
escaped outright state-ownership due to a substantial private
equity investment.
1.2 What are the main laws and regulations which govern the conduct of public M&A activity in your jurisdiction?
The key laws and regulations governing takeover offers for public companies in Ireland (which for these purposes are companies that have securities admitted to listing and trading on a market, rather than companies that are simply incorporated or registered as public companies) are as follows:
- the Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997; and
- the European Communities (Takeover Bids (Directive 2004/25/EC)) Regulations 2006 (the Takeover Bids Regulations).
Further detailed rules are made under the Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997 for the conduct of takeovers and substantial acquisitions of securities:
- the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997, Takeover Rules, 2007 (the Irish Takeover Rules or the Rules); and
- Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997, Substantial Acquisition Rules, 2007 (the Substantial Acquisition Rules).
1.2.1 What entities are covered?
In summary, the Irish Takeover Rules apply to the following companies:
- any Irish-incorporated public limited company or other Irish-incorporated body corporate, any of whose securities are authorised for trading (or have been so authorised within ifve years prior to the relevant takeover proposal) on a market regulated by a 'recognised stock exchange' - in this case, the Irish Stock Exchange; and
- any Irish-incorporated public limited public limited company, any securities of which are authorised to be traded, or have been so authorised within five years prior to the relevant takeover proposal, on the London Stock Exchange (eg, the Main Market or AIM), the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.
The rules that apply to a takeover offer may also be affected by
whether or not it has securities admitted to trading on a regulated
market in Ireland as deifned by EC Directive 93/22 (a
'regulated market') (in Ireland, the only such market is
the Main Securities Market of the Irish Stock Exchange).
1.2.2 Who is the regulator?
The Irish Takeover Panel is the entity established to monitor
and supervise takeovers so as to ensure compliance by relevant
companies with the
provisions of the Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997 and the Irish
Takeover Rules.
1.3 Other than in relation to anti-trust, are there other
applicable regulations such as exchange and investment
controls?
Exchange controls were abolished in Ireland with effect from 31
December 1992. Particular regimes apply to acquisition of
controlling interests in
regulated ifnancial institutions and airlines, but subject to
particular regulated industry provisions, as an open economy,
Ireland does not impose other restrictive provisions on foreign
ownership or control generally in respect of public
companies.
2. PREPARATION AND PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT
2.1 What are the main structural means of obtaining
control of a public company? If there is more than one, what are
the key advantages and disadvantages of each route? Is one route
more commonly used than others?
The principal legal means for obtaining control of a public company in Ireland are as follows:
- a public offer to acquire securities of a directive company (as defined below) under Regulation 23 of the Takeover Bids Regulations to acquire all of the equity securities of the company, by which the acquirer of 90 per cent or more can squeeze out the minority (a 'directive company offer'); or
- a public offer to acquire securities of a non-directive company (as deifned below) under section 204 of the Companies Act 1963, by which the acquirer of 80 per cent or more can squeeze out the minority (a 'non-directive company offer'); or
- a scheme of arrangement under section 201 of the Companies Act 1963 to formalise a proposal to vary the rights of shareholders by passing a 75 per cent shareholder vote in each affected class of the target company (a 'scheme of arrangement').
A company qualiifes as a 'directive company' if it is
company that has securities admitted to trading on a regulated
market in Ireland (the Main Market of the Irish Stock Exchange) and
the circumstances speciifed in Regulation 6 of the Takeover Bids
Regulations apply to it; otherwise it is a 'non-directive'
company. Directive company offer and non-directive company offers
are for convenience both referred to generically as
'takeover
offers' below.
It is also possible in theory to use either of the following legal
means to obtain control of a public company, though in practice
neither has ever been used for this purpose in connection with a
company subject to the Irish Takeover Rules:
- a merger with one or more EEA companies by acquisition or by
formation of a new company under the European Communities
(Cross-
Border Mergers) Regulations 2008 (a 'cross-border merger'); or - a merger with another Irish-incorporated public limited company
under the European Communities (Mergers and Divisions of
Companies)
Regulations 1987 (a 'Third Directive merger').
These merger types are derived from EU law and each involves the
transfer of the target company's assets and liabilities to an
acquirer and the
dissolution of the target company.
The advantages and disadvantages of offers and schemes of
arrangement can be summarised as follows:
Different levels of approval are required to obtain
actual control of the target
With a takeover offer, the bidder requires more than 50 per cent
acceptances to obtain control of the target company, and either 80
per cent (a directive company offer) or 90 per cent (a
non-directive company offer) offer acceptances to achieve a
squeeze-out.
A scheme of arrangement requires the approval of 75 per cent in
value and a majority by number of the target company's
shareholders who vote (whether in person or by proxy) at the
relevant shareholders' meeting to approve the scheme. A single
nominee shareholder with multiple accounts for beneficial owners is
one shareholder for this purpose (eg, a depositary which holds
shares subject to a deposit agreement in connection with traded
ADRs for example). Shareholder non-responsiveness can make the
required majority for a scheme relatively easier to obtain. If a
large number of shareholders do not vote, the approval of
substantially less than 75 per cent of all shareholders will in
effect be required, and this can be a feature which is relevant in
an offer for a company with a large but average small value retail
shareholder base.
Although it is technically possible to structure a partial takeover
as a scheme of arrangement, schemes of arrangement do not typically
allow the acquisition of control, followed by the squeeze-out of
minorities to be completed in two steps. This is a one-stage
process.
An offer provides a quicker timeframe for acquiring
effective control
Under the minimum timeframe for a simple agreed offer under the
Irish Takeover Rules, the first closing date is 21 days from the
sending of the offer document (subject to extension by application
to the Irish Takeover Panel in the case of US requirements for
target companies that are listed on NASDAQ or NYSE, if applicable)
(Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 31.1). However, it can be longer (up to
60 days) if a competing offer is made (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule
31.4).
The quickest timetable for a scheme is somewhat longer: the minimum
length of time between sending the scheme document and the scheme
becoming effective would be in the region of 8 weeks. In addition,
even if the scheme document can be prepared at the same time as the
announcement of the bid (this is the announcement of a ifrm
intention to make an offer, which is known colloquially called the
'Rule 2.5 Announcement', by reason of the relevant Rule),
it is less likely that the scheme document can be sent on the same
day as the announcement, given the requirement to obtain the
court's permission to convene the necessary shareholders'
meeting. An offer document (if it is ready) can be sent on the same
day as the Rule 2.5 announcement. Furthermore, scheme timetables
are themselves subject to the timetables of the High Court and in
particular the court vacation periods in which no regular sittings
take place.
A scheme of arrangement provides a quicker timeframe for
acquiring 100 per cent control and access to target cash and assets
after the offer has become unconditional
Immediately upon a scheme becoming effective (which occurs upon
delivery of an office copy of the court order to the Registrar of
Companies for registration - Companies Act 1963, section 201(5)),
the bidder will acquire 100 per cent of the target company.
In the case of an offer (directive or non-directive company),
acquisition of 100 per cent control after the offer has gone
unconditional may take several weeks as dissident minority
shareholders in the target company have the right, during such
period, to apply to the court to object to their shares in the
target being compulsorily acquired on certain discretionary grounds
(Companies Act 1963, section 204(1)) and in the case of a directive
company, on certain technical grounds (Regulation 27 of the
Takeover Bids Regulations).
A 100 per cent shareholding is likely to be acquired in a shorter
timeframe under a scheme than under the compulsory acquisition
procedure involved under an offer. Furthermore, there is no
possibility of a challenge to a statutory squeeze-out of the
non-assenting minority and there is no
necessity to wait for the statutory challenge period of one month
to expire.
In practice, this means that in a scheme takeover, security for
offer ifnancing may be taken over target assets approximately 30-45
days after the scheme becomes effective (to allow for
re-registration of the target as a private company and a ifnancial
assistance whitewash (which is no longer necessary in the UK) and
an offer adds a month to this timetable. This is often regarded as
a signiifcant disadvantage of a scheme by offerors and their
ifnanciers.
A scheme of arrangement is more vulnerable to shareholder opposition
If there is an organised minority opposed to a scheme, the
minority will need less support to be able to block the scheme than
it would need to
prevent an offer becoming unconditional as to acceptances.
One tactic that an opponent of a scheme may adopt is to split their
holding into a large number of different nominee holdings so as to
defeat the majority-in-number requirement. Supporters can do the
same if they are aware of such a tactic. However, the court might
question a supporter's use of such a tactic in considering
whether or not to sanction the scheme and such activity could give
rise to unwelcome consequences under Rule 9 of the Irish Takeover
Rules. Under the Rules the Irish Takeover Panel may impose an
obligation to make a mandatory bid on concert parties who acquire
control at a 30 per cent level or increase the level of that
control.
A scheme of arrangement provides a forum for
opposition
A scheme of arrangement provides an opportunity for public
opposition by a dissenting shareholder in that both a
shareholders' meeting and a court application are required to
sanction a scheme (neither of these are required for a conventional
tender offer). This opposition can be voiced at the
shareholders' meeting convened to consider the scheme or in
person or through counsel at the court hearing to sanction the
scheme. Each of these poses risks. If a dissenter is able to
organise other shareholders to oppose the scheme, the required
level of support at the shareholders' meeting (including the
majority-in-number requirement) may not be obtained. If a dissenter
is able to persuade the court that there was some irregularity in
the scheme or that the court should for some other reason exercise
its discretion not to sanction the scheme, the court would decline
to sanction the scheme and it would not become effective.
If a takeover offer were made by the bidder, the objector's
only forum for public opposition would be a general meeting of the
bidder, if one is required. Ordinarily such a general meeting is
required only in limited circumstances, such as to approve
management participation in the offer in certain instances, or in
certain limited instances where an exception to the requirement for
a mandatory offer is to be approved. The objector would have to
initiate proceedings itself to bring the matter before the court
before a squeeze-out was initiated.
Tactical considerations
In an offer, the bidder initiates and controls the offer
process. In a scheme, the target initiates and controls the scheme
process. The ability to control the manner in which the scheme is
implemented by means of a transaction agreement is qualified and
such an agreement is usually the subject of some negotiation. It is
notable that the Irish Takeover Panel does not at this stage intend
to amend the Irish Takeover Rules to remove the ability of the
parties to put a transaction agreement in place, as is the case
under recent changes to the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers in
the UK, as (we understand) the operation of such agreements has not
proven to be problematic in practice.
Stamp duty and other costs
If the bidder makes an offer for the target company (or the
transaction is implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement
structured as a share transfer, rather than by cancellation) there
would be a stamp duty cost for the bidder of 1 per cent of the
value of the consideration given by the bidder
(although there may be opportunities to mitigate this cost).
No transfer stamp duty tax cost would arise if a scheme of
arrangement structured as a share cancellation is used, since this
does not involve any transfer or agreement to transfer the shares;
instead, the existing shares are cancelled by way of court order
and new shares in the target are issued to the bidder.
2.2 What secrecy and disclosure obligations are placed on
bidders and target companies ahead of any formal announcement of a
bid?
The timing and disclosure of stake building are principally
regulated by the Irish Takeover Rules and the Substantial
Acquisition Rules. For example, whether or not an offer is being
made for a company, a person is restricted from making certain
acquisitions of its securities that would bring it from below 10
per cent to above 15 per cent (but less than 30 per cent, at which
threshold a mandatory bid under the Irish Takeover Rules would be
triggered) of the voting rights within a seven-day period
(Substantial Acquisition Rules, Rule 4).
Similarly certain acquisitions of securities must be disclosed to
the company, the Stock Exchange and the Irish Takeover Panel
(Substantial Acquisition Rules, Rule 6). Certain other acquisitions
and disposals must be notified to the company and made public by
the company under the general rules applicable under the Irish
transposition of the EC Transparency Directive 2004/109
(Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007 (the
Transparency Regulations), Part 5).
The Irish Takeover Rules stipulate that strict conifdentiality must
apply to discussions that may lead to a bid (Irish Takeover Rules,
Rule 2.1). However, an announcement is required to be made in
speciifed circumstances, including where the target is the subject
of rumour and speculation or there is an anomalous movement in its
share price, or where negotiations or discussions are about to be
extended to include more than a very restricted number of people
(Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 2.2). Guidance from the Irish Takeover
Panel will be sought in the case of any proposed announcement in
such circumstances.
The general rules dealing with the disclosure of inside information
will also apply (Market Abuse (Directive 2003/6/EC) Regulations
2005 (the Market Abuse Regulations), Regulation 10).
A bidder must not announce a proposed bid (called ' firm
intention to a make an offer') until its financial adviser is
satisifed that the bid is fully funded and can be implemented by
the bidder (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 2.5). Subject to this, the
announcement must be made without delay by the bidder (usually also
by the target company in the case of a recommended offer).
2.3 Are there any constraints over the ability of a bidder
to carry out due diligence on the target?
In general, a bidder is permitted to share diligence information
with a bidder on a voluntary basis, which may include responses to
the bidder's queries.
The principal constraints are strategic, since:
- inside information must be disclosed to the public where the company is no longer able to ensure its conifdentiality (Market Abuse Regulations, Regulation 10(7)); and
- irrespective of any preference that the target board may have
for one bidder over another, the target company is obliged to
provide any information specifically requested by a bidder if, and
to the extent that, the same or substantially the same information
was previously made
available to another bidder (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 20.2).
For either or both of these reasons, which could result in information having to be disclosed to the public or to a hostile bidder, the target may choose to make a more restricted range of information available to a recommended bidder in a diligence process.
2.4 Is it possible for a target company to grant a
bidder exclusivity and/or a break fee? Are there any other steps
which can be taken to provide greater certainty to a bidder that
its bid will be successful?
Subject to compliance by the target company with the Irish
Takeover Rules (in particular, the General Principle that a target
board 'must not deny the holders of securities the opportunity
to decide on the merits of [an] offer' (Irish Takeover Panel
Act 1997, Schedule, paragraph 3), a target is not prohibited from
reaching agreement with a bidder that it will not initiate any
discussions with other potential bidders.
The Irish Takeover Rules restrict break fees to speciifc
quantiifable third party costs and an upper limit of 1 per cent of
the value of the offer (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 21.2 and Note).
Panel consent to the arrangement is also required.
The payment of fees under such an arrangement - usually called an
'expenses reimbursement agreement' - will typically be
triggered in the
event that:
- the target board withdraws its recommendation or recommends a competing offer; or
- the target fails to take any of the agreed actions required in order to complete the acquisition (such as by withdrawing or modifying a scheme of arrangement).
2.5 Are there any restrictions on a bidder obtaining
commitments from a target company's shareholders ahead of the
announcement of
a bid?
In a recommended offer a bidder will usually require the target
company directors (and, occasionally, specified large shareholders)
to give irrevocable undertakings that they will accept the offer or
vote their shares in favour of the scheme.
Extending the discussion of a proposed bid to include shareholders
risks triggering the obligation to make an announcement, so the
parties must take particular care on this point. The bidder is
obliged to consult with the Panel before seeking irrevocable
commitments from any party (Irish Takeover Rules, Rules 2.2(e) and
4.3).
2.6 Are the directors of the target company under any
particular obligations or duties in the period leading up to a
bid?
The first responsibility of a target company board in any offer
is to obtain competent independent advice (Irish Takeover Rules,
Rule 3.1(a)). This advice and the considered views of the board on
the offer will be set out in a circular posted to shareholders.
This will usually take the form of a ifrm recommendation for
acceptance or rejection of the offer. Only directors who are not
affected by conflicts of interest may take part in the formulation
of such advice. If necessary the board must form an independent
committee that excludes such conlficted directors for the purpose
of considering the offer.
After a bidder has disclosed its intention to make a bid to the
directors of the target company, they are subject to the following
specific obligations in the period leading up to the announcement
of a ifrm intention to make an offer:
- to maintain strict confidentiality with respect to the proposed bid (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 2.1(a));
- following an approach that may or may not lead to an offer, to make an announcement where required by the Rules (Irish Takeover Rules, Rules 2.2-2.4); and
- not to deal in securities of the target company in specified circumstances (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 4.4; Market Abuse Regulations, Regulation 5).
3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF A BID
3.1 At what stage does a bid have to be
announced?
An announcement concerning a bid or possible bid is required if the Irish Takeover Panel directs that one should be made and specifically, unless the Panel consents otherwise:
- immediately after a firm intention to make an offer has been notiifed to the target board, irrespective of the attitude of the board to the offer;
- immediately after a transaction which gives rise to an obligation to make a mandatory offer (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 9 or Rule 37). A mandatory offer must take place in circumstances such as where a shareholder acquires voting rights that would bring it above 30 per cent of the total voting rights, including where this occurs as the result of a share buyback;
- when, following an approach by a bidder to the target, the target is the subject of rumour and speculation or there is an anomalous movement in its share price (the person with responsibility for making an announcement must consult the Panel immediately if either of these things happens);
- when, before an approach has been made by a bidder to the
target, the target is the subject of rumour and speculation or
there is an anomalous movement in its share price, and there are
reasonable grounds for concluding that the cause of the rumour,
speculation or price movement is the target's own actions or
intentions price (the person with responsibility for making an
announcement must consult the Panel
immediately if either of these things happens); - when negotiations or discussions concerning the bid are about to be extended to include more than a very restricted number of people. A bidder which proposes to approach a wider group of people (including, inter alia, where a group is being organised to make or to ifnance an bid or where irrevocable commitments are to be sought) must consult the Panel in advance;
- when a purchaser is being sought for a holding, or aggregate holdings, of securities conferring 30 per cent or more of the voting rights in a relevant company, or when the board of a relevant company is seeking potential bidders, and:
- the company is the subject of rumour and speculation or there is an anomalous movement in its share price; or
- the number of potential purchasers or potential bidders
approached is about to be increased to include more than a very
restricted number of people; or when, after an announcement has
been made to the effect that offer discussions are taking place or
that an approach or offer is
contemplated, the discussions are terminated or the bidder decides not to proceed with a bid (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 2.2).
As discussed, a bidder may not announce a firm intention to make
an offer unless and until the bidder and its financial adviser are
satisifed, after careful and responsible consideration, that the
bidder is able and will continue at all relevant times to be able
to implement the offer (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 2.5).
3.2 Briefly summarise the information which needs to be
announced at this stage
If, prior to the announcement of a firm intention to make an
offer, any of the circumstances listed above in connection with
Rule 2.2 occurs, then the Rules prescribe that a brief announcement
by the target that talks are taking place which may or may not lead
to an offer (there is no requirement to name the bidder), or by an
bidder that it is considering making an offer, will satisfy the
announcement requirements unless there are special circumstances
requiring a more detailed announcement (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule
2.4).
An announcement of this type must state that a person interested in
1 per cent or more of any class of relevant securities of the
target or, if the bidder is named, of the bidder is subject to the
relevant disclosure obligations from the date of the
announcement.
The most important item that must be included in an announcement of
a firm intention to make an offer where the offer is for cash or
includes an element of cash is the cash confirmation by the
bidder's financial adviser or by another appropriate person
that the bidder has resources available to it sufficient to satisfy
full acceptance of the offer (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule
2.5(d)).
An announcement of a firm intention to make an offer must also
contain the prescribed information, including:
- the terms of the offer;
- the identity of the bidder and, if applicable, of the ultimate controlling interests in the bidder;
- details of all relevant securities of the target in which the bidder or any person acting in concert with the bidder is interested and details of all short positions of each such person in securities of the target;
- details of all relevant securities of the target in respect of which irrevocable commitments or letters have been received;
- all conditions (including normal conditions relating to acceptances, quotation and increase of capital) to which the offer or the making of its subject;
- specified details of certain arrangements between the bidder and securities holders (Irish Takeover Rules, Rules 4.1(d) and 8.7); and
- a statement that a person interested in 1 per cent or more of any class of relevant securities of the target or, if the bidder is named, of the bidder is subject to the relevant disclosure obligations from the date of the announcement or, if earlier, the commencement of the offer period (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 2.5(b)).
4. BID TIMETABLE
4.1 Please provide a brief overview of the bid
timetable, assuming that the bid is recommended by the board of
directors of the target
When a bidder has made an announcement of a firm intention to
make an offer the bidder is obliged to proceed with the according
to the timetable speciifed in the Irish Takeover Rules. This
timetable can be summarised as follows (with relevant variations
indicated between the process for a
takeover offer and a scheme of arrangement):
- date of the announcement of a firm intention to make an offer:
announcement made pursuant to Rule 2.5. This must include a cash
conifrmation of certain funds where the offer includes a cash
element. The certain funds must be maintained until completion of
the offer
(Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 2.5); - first scheme court hearing: application to the High Court for an order convening the scheme meeting of members (Companies Act 1963, section 201(1)). Where a bid is proceeding by scheme of arrangement, the target and bidder must notify the Panel and provide it with copies of all documents to be furnished to the court (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 41.1);
- not more than 28 days after the announcement: posting of the offer document. For a scheme of arrangement, this takes the form of notices of the relevant meetings required in order to approve the scheme (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 30.2(a));
- not less than 21 days after the posting of the offer document: (i) for a takeover offer, the ifrst closing date for acceptance; and (ii) For a scheme of arrangement, the meetings of shareholders to approve the scheme of arrangement. Given statutory periods of notice of general meetings, these meetings will generally take place no earlier than 24 days of the posting of the offer document (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 31.1);
- on the date stated in the offer document (with any permitted
extensions), but not more than 60 days after the posting of the
offer document: for a takeover offer, the final closing date for
acceptances; by 8.00am on the business day following the final
closing date or the date on which offer becomes unconditional as to
acceptances: for a takeover offer, an announcement of the results
of acceptances received (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 17.1). A
further announcement shall be made by 8.00am on the business day
after all the satisfaction of all conditions
to the offer (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 17.3); - second scheme court hearing: court hearing to approve advertisements of the scheme and ifx the date for the scheme approval hearing; within one month of the ifnal closing date: for a takeover offer, if acceptances have been received from 80 per cent of holders (nondirective company offer) or 90 per cent of holders (directive company offer) as applicable, then the bidder will send notices in the prescribed form to the non-accepting holders (Companies Act 1963, section 204(4), Takeover Bids Regulations, Regulation 23(2));
- one month after posting of notices to non-accepting holders:
for a takeover offer, expiry of the appeal period for the takeover
offer and acquisition of the securities of the non-accepting
holders by the bidder (Companies Act 1963, section 204(5), Takeover
Bids Regulations,
Regulation 27). - third scheme court hearing: for a scheme of arrangement, the final court hearing to approve the scheme of arrangement; and
- on receipt of a court order resulting from the third court hearing: for a scheme of arrangement, filing of the court order in the Companies Registration Office, upon which the scheme becomes effective.
4.2 Are there any material differences if the bid is
hostile (ie, unsolicited) and/or if there are competing
bidders?
A hostile bid is highly unlikely to take place by way of a
scheme of arrangement, since this process is almost always
initiated in court by the target (though it is legally possible for
a shareholder in a company to initiate a scheme).
The announcement of a hostile bid will be announced by the bidder
alone, instead of by joint announcement by the bidder and target,
and in cases where there is no prior discussion of the proposed
bid, the target may get very limited forewarning of the
announcement.
After the posting of an offer document by a hostile bidder, the
target will post a ifrst response circular to holders within 14
days, setting out the opinions of the target board on the offer
(Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 30.3(a)). The target board may issue
further communications to holders (trading results, a proift or
dividend forecast or proposal, an asset valuation or a statement of
the anticipated effects of the merger) up to the 39th day after the
posting of the offer document. The target cannot issue such
communications in the period between the 39th day and the end of
the offer period (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 31.9).
The offer document may be revised by the hostile bidder up to the
46th day after the posting of the first offer document (Irish
Takeover Rules, Rule 31.9). The 46th day is the last day on which
the revised offer can be open for acceptance for 14 days before to
the latest possible closing date for acceptances on the 60th day
(Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 32.1). The revised offer document also
gives the hostile bidder an opportunity to respond to
the matters stated in the target's defence document.
The timetable for conducting a hostile bid will be affected by
whether a 'competitive situation' exists. This arises where
a bid is announced at a time when another bid is in existence. In
such circumstances time the limit of the 39th day for
communications by the target with shareholders and the last date on
which an offer may be revised may be altered by the Panel (Irish
Takeover Rules, Rules 31.4(a) and 32.1). The Panel has more general
powers to adjust bid timetables in a competitive situation (Irish
Takeover Rules, Rule 31.4(b)).
4.3 What are the key documents which the shareholders of a
target company would typically receive on a bid?
After the making of an announcement of a firm intention to make
an offer, the first document that shareholders will receive is the
offer document.
Where the bid takes the form of a takeover offer, the offer
document will have the contents specified in the Rules (Irish
Takeover Rules, Rule 24), and where the bid is a recommended bid it
will also incorporate a circular from the target board containing
their recommendation (Irish Takeover Rules,
Rule 25). This document will set out the steps required to be
taken.
Where the bid takes the form of a scheme of arrangement, the
offer document will take the form of notices of the meetings of
shareholders required in order to approve the scheme. The other
prescribed contents of an offer document will also apply (Irish
Takeover Rules, Rules 24 and 25). In addition to attending and
voting at the scheme meetings, the shareholders will also be
entitled to cast votes by proxy and relevant forms of proxy
will
be included with the offer document.
If the offer is not a recommended offer, then shareholders will
receive a ifrst response circular from the target board by way of a
separate document within 14 days of posting of the offer document
(Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 30.3).
The bidder may issue one or more revised offer documents to
shareholders during the offer period if it chooses to revise its
offer (for example, by
increasing the price) (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 32.1).
In a takeover offer, once the threshold for minority squeeze-out
has been met, the prescribed notices will be sent to the remaining
non-
accepting shareholders (Companies Act 1963, section 204(4) Takeover
Bids Regulations, Regulation 23(2)).
5. FUNDING AND CONSIDERATION
5.1 At what stage does a bidder need to have funding in
place? Are there any legal or regulatory requirements which the
bidder must satisfy to show that its funding is
sufficient?
The period for which the bidder must have certain funds in place is the period between the announcement of a ifrm intention to make an offer and the date on which the bid is completed or lapses. 'Certain funds' is the colloquial term used to describe the requirement that the bidder's financial adviser will conifrm that the bidder has sufficient resources to discharge the consideration due under the offer. A statement to this effect must be made in both the Rule 2.5 announcement and the offer document. The bidder's ifnancial adviser may be required to itself discharge the offer consideration if the consideration is not available and the Irish Takeover Panel is not satisifed that the financial adviser acted responsibly and took all reasonable steps to assure itself that an offer consideration consisting of cash was available and would continue to be available at all relevant times.
5.2 Can the consideration offered by a bidder take any
form? Are there any special requirements the bidder must satisfy if
the consideration is otherwise than in cash?
The consideration offered by a bidder may take the form of any
combination of cash and/or securities. The securities offered may
be securities of the
bidder or of another company.
In the event that the consideration for an offer includes
securities of a company, the offer document must include additional
ifnancial and other information on that company and dealings in its
securities (Irish Takeover Rules, Rules 24.2-24.4) and a valuation
report must be provided in the case of an offer by scheme of
arrangement.
6. CONDITIONS
6.1 Can a bid be made subject to the satisfaction of any
pre-conditions? If so is there any restriction on the content of
any such pre-conditions?
A bid may be made subject to pre-conditions - for example, the
required acceptance condition described at section 6.2, below, or
approval from the relevant competition authorities (Irish Takeover
Rules, Rule 12). However, bids cannot be made subject to any
pre-condition that depends solely on the subjective judgements of
the bidder's directors or is within their control (Irish
Takeover Rules, Rule 13.1).
6.2 What conditions are usually attached to a bid itself?
Other than as a result of law and regulation specific to particular
sectors and/or
bidders are there any conditions which are
mandatory?
Every bid must specify an acceptance condition at a level that
would result in the bidder holding securities conferring more than
50 per cent of the voting rights in the target (Irish Takeover
Rules, Rule 10.1). In a takeover offer, this acceptance level is
usually set at the 80 per cent or 90 per cent squeeze-out threshold
for a non-directive company offer and a directive company offer
respectively. Similarly, a scheme of arrangement will usually be
subject to the condition that all resolutions passed at the scheme
meetings are passed. Where the proposed deal structure involves a
subsequent listing of securities, this may also be made a condition
of the bid.
6.3 Is the bidder able to rely on the fact that a condition
is not satisfied as a means of not proceeding with the
bid?
The non-satisfaction of a condition may permit a bid to lapse. A
typical reason is where a resolution fails to be passed with the
required majority at the scheme meeting (typically, a scheme of
arrangement is conditional on the passing of all resolutions at all
scheme meetings, and not just the
resolution(s) required in order to sanction the scheme).
However, where a bidder wishes to assert that a bid has lapsed due
to a condition involving a criterion of materiality, substance or
signiifcance not having been satisifed, the bidder must consult the
Panel and satisfy it that in the prevailing circumstances it would
be reasonable for the bid to lapse (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule
13.2). In practice, the Irish Takeover Panel will be very reticent
to accept that the offer should lapse based on the non-satisfaction
of a condition other than one resulting from an application for a
necessary regulatory clearance being declined or a negative
shareholder in respect of a resolution the passing of which was
specified as a condition vote.
7. STAKEBUILDING
7.1 Is a bidder free to buy shares in the target in the
period leading up to a bid and subsequently? If so, what are the
disclosure requirements? Are there any material consequences for
the bidder or target if stakebuilding does take
place?
A bidder can buy shares in the target in the period leading up
to a bid, but it should be aware of certain consequences that arise
from such stakebuilding.
The first consequence of stakebuilding is that it may trigger
disclosure obligations under the Transparency Regulations and the
Substantial Acquisition Rules. Under the Transparency Regulations,
a person is obliged to notify a listed company where the percentage
of voting rights that it holds reaches, exceeds or falls below one
3 per cent and each 1 per cent threshold thereafter (or in the case
of a non-Irish issuer on the basis of
thresholds at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50 and 75 per cent)
(Transparency Regulations, Regulation 14; Transparency Rules 2009,
Rule 7.1). Transferable securities and options, futures, swaps,
forward rate agreements and other speciifed derivative contracts
are counted towards these thresholds provided that they result in
an entitlement to acquire voting shares (Transparency Regulations,
Regulation 17). The company is obliged to publicly disclose the
information notiifed upon receipt of notiifcation from the
notifying person.
As noted above, the Substantial Acquisition Rules prohibit
persons from making acquisitions - called a 'substantial
acquisition of securities' - of an affected company's
securities that would bring it from below 10 per cent to above 15
per cent (but less than 30 per cent) of the voting rights within a
seven-day period (Substantial Acquisition Rules, Rule 4). There are
exceptions to the prohibition, including for a substantial
acquisition of securities made by a bidder immediately before
immediately before announcing a ifrm intention to make an offer
(Substantial Acquisition Rules, Rule 5). The Substantial
Acquisition Rules also require disclosure of certain acquisitions
to the Irish Stock Exchange and the Panel (Substantial Acquisition
Rules, Rule 6). It is likely that the Substantial Acquisition Rules
will be abolished in the near future. The UK equivalents of the
Substantial Acquisition Rules were abolished in 2006, and in 2008
the Irish Takeover Panel published a consultation paper on
abolition but has not yet moved to abolish them.
After the announcement of a bid, and for the duration of the offer
period, dealings in shares of the target and of the bidder are
governed by the Irish Takeover Rules. In this period, the following
dealings in relevant securities (which includes equity securities
of the bidder and target) must be disclosed:
- all dealings in relevant securities by the bidder or the target (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 8.1); and
- all dealings in relevant securities by any associate of either of the bidder or the target (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 8.1); and
- all dealings in relevant securities by any person (which includes two or more persons who co-operate on the basis of an agreement) who is interested in (or who becomes interested in) 1 per cent or more of any class of relevant securities (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 8.3).
Interests in relevant securities for the purposes of calculating
the 1 per cent disclosure threshold include the aggregate gross
long position of the
person in question.
All public disclosure must be made by a stock exchange Regulatory
Information Service (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 8.5).
8. RECOMMENDED BIDS
8.1 Where a bid is recommended, does the target board
require a 'fiduciary out' (e, the ability to withdraw its
recommendation)? If so what, typically, is the scope of this right
and what are the consequences for the bid?
Each director of an Irish company has a ifduciary duty to act in
good faith in what they consider to be the interests of the
company. This is supplemented by a duty not to restrict the
director's power to exercise an independent judgment. However,
the latter duty is usually described as being qualiifed where the
director considers in good faith that it is in the interests of the
company for a transaction or engagement to be entered into and
carried into effect (The recently published draft Companies Bill
2011, section 225 sets out the ifduciary duties of directors -
including the latter clariifcation - in statutory form for the
first time, and can be regarded as a signpost of where Irish law is
going in this area).
The directors' general public law duties are supplemented by
the obligation of the (independent and unconlficted) members of the
target board to give their opinion on the offer (Irish Takeover
Rules, Rule 3.1). Where the directors recommend a particular bid,
they are not prohibited by the Rules from withdrawing that
recommendation, for example if a highervalued bid emerges. This can
be done by way of response circular posted to
the shareholders.
However, one issue poses a particular problem for directors who
propose to withdraw their recommendation: the irrevocable
undertakings typically required by a recommended bidder from the
members of a target company board to vote their shares in favour of
the bid. The bidder will usually want the directors to give an
undertaking that cannot be withdrawn under any circumstances,
including where a higher-valued bid emerges. In considering whether
their ifduciary duties permit them to give such a restrictive
undertaking, directors should take into consideration whether or
not it is in the interests of the company that the bid succeeds and
the likelihood that the bid will be abandoned or amended in the
event that the undertaking is not given. Ordinarily, the target
board will reserve the right to recommend a competing higher offer
but there have been instances when target boards have accepted a
constraint from doing so unless competing bids meet certain price
and other parameters.
9. HOSTILE BIDS
9.1 How can a target company defend a hostile
bid?
As noted above, it is a general principle of the Irish Takeover
Rules that the target board must not deny the holders of securities
the opportunity to decide on the merits of an offer (Irish Takeover
Panel Act 1997, Schedule, paragraph 3). This principle is relfected
in a number of Rules that together make it almost impossible to
implement the takeover defences that are typical in less regulated
takeover markets. For example, during an offer period, or at any
earlier time at which the board has reason to believe that the
making of an offer may be imminent, the target is not permitted to
take
any of the following actions:
- allot or issue any authorised but unissued shares (including treasury shares);
- issue or grant an option in respect of any unissued shares (including treasury shares);
- create or issue, or permit the creation or issue of, any security conferring rights of conversion into or subscription for shares;
- sell, dispose of or acquire, or agree to sell, dispose of or
acquire, any assets of a material amount or any operations yielding
proifts of a
material amount; - enter into any contract otherwise than in the ordinary course of business; or
- take any action, other than seeking alternative offers, which may result in frustration of an offer or possible offer or in target shareholders being denied the opportunity to decide on the merits of such an offer or possible offer;
- without speciifc authorisation from the Irish Takeover Panel and/or the shareholders (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 21.1).
In the event that the directors of a target company decide,
after receiving independent advice, that a particular bid is not in
the interests of the company, their principal duty is to set out
their views in a response circular to shareholders (Irish Takeover
Rules, Rules 3.1 and 25.1).
As noted above, the directors are not obliged to co-operate with a
hostile bidder, for example by permitting access to due diligence
material. However, the principle of equality of information may
convince the directors that, in a competitive situation, making due
diligence information available to a nonhostile bidder runs the
risk of requiring disclosure of the same information to a hostile
bidder in the event that the hostile bidder requests it (Irish
Takeover Rules, Rule 20.2)
Though the Rules leave a limited range of actions available to
defend against a hostile bid, there are a number of tactical
options that directors will be able to implement in consultation
with their legal advisers.
10. COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF SHARES
10.1 Briefly describe any compulsory acquisition or 'squeeze-out' provisions a bidder may be able to take advantage of in order to acquire the shares of non-accepting shareholders
As discussed at section 2.1, above, takeover offers and schemes of arrangement provide different legal means to squeeze-out non-accepting shareholders. The required threshold for each method can be summarised as follows:
- directive company offer: the acquirer of 90 per cent or more of the affected securities that are not already owned by it can squeeze-out the non-accepting minority (Takeover Bids Regulations, Regulation 23);or
- non-directive company offer: the acquirer of 80 per cent or more of the shares affected that are not already owned by it can squeeze-out the non-accepting minority (Companies Act 1963, section 204); or
- scheme of arrangement: with the approval of the court, where a resolution is passed by 75 per cent by value of the votes cast at each relevant shareholder meeting and more than 50 per cent in number of the shareholders voting in person or by proxy at each meeting, then the dissenting shareholders will be bound by the scheme and their shares will be affected in the same way (usually by cancellation) (Companies Act 1963, section 201).
A takeover offer is a simple proposal by the bidder to the
shareholders of the target company. It does not require any
particular legal steps to be taken by the target in order to be
effective.
A scheme of arrangement is a statutory procedure by which a target
company makes an arrangement or compromise with some or all of its
members. It is generally initiated by the target company and
conducted by it in cooperation with the bidder.
The advantages and disadvantages of each approach is summarised at
section 2.1, above.
11. DE-LISTING
11.1 What are the requirements for de-listing a target
company's shares following a successful bid?
Where a target company that is listed on the Main Securities Market of the Irish Stock Exchange has, by virtue of its shareholdings and acceptances of the offer, acquired or agreed to acquire issued share capital carrying 75 per cent of the voting rights of the target and has stated in the offer document that it intends to de-list the target company's shares, then the cancellation of its listing will take place automatically in accordance with the Listing Rules (Irish Stock Exchange Listing Rules, Listing Rule 1.6). A notice period of 20 business days is required from the date that the 75 per cent of acceptances has been received or the date on which compulsory acquisition notices were sent in connection with the takeover offer.
12. TRANSFER TAXES
12.1 Are there any transfer taxes which are payable on a
bid for a target company incorporated in your jurisdiction, under
the various routes described above?
If the bid takes place by way of takeover offer, then a stamp
duty cost of 1 per cent of the value of the consideration given by
the bidder is payable by it
(although mitigation opportunities may exist).
No stamp duty tax cost arises if a scheme of arrangement is
structured to take effect by cancellation of the existing
shares.
13. EMPLOYEE ISSUES
13.1 Are there any employee notification or consultation
requirements on a bid?
The bidder is obliged in its offer document to state:
- its strategic plans for the target company and their likely repercussions on employment and on the locations of the target's places of business; and
- its intentions with regard to safeguarding the employment of the employees and management of the target and of its subsidiaries, including any material change in the conditions of employment (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 24.1).
Simultaneously with the posting of the offer document, both the
bidder and the target are obliged to make the offer document
readily available to the representatives of their respective
employees or, where there are no such representatives, to the
employees themselves (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 30.2(a)).
Likewise the board of the target company is required to state in
its response circular (which is also circulated to shareholders and
not to
employees) its views on:
- the effects of implementation of the bid on all the target's interests including, speciifcally, employment; and
- the bidder's strategic plans for the target and their likely repercussions on employment and on the locations of the target's places of business, as set out in the offer document;
- and must also state the board's reasons for forming its opinion (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 25.2).
The response circular, to the extent that it is not incorporated
in the offer document, must similarly be made available to the
employee representatives of the bidder and the target or, where
there are no such representatives, to the employees themselves
(Irish Takeover Rules, Rule 30.3(c)).
Provided it is received in good time for posting, the target board
must append to the response circular any opinion that it receives
from the target company's employee representatives on the
effects of the offer on employment (Irish Takeover Rules, Rule
30.3(b)).
14. CURRENT TOPICAL ISSUES AND TRENDS
14.1 Please summarise any current issues or trends
relating to public M&A activity in your
jurisdiction
The continued movement of US MNCs to Ireland has resulted in
number of larger companies (over a dozen companies of such
companies have a market capitalisation of over $1 billion), many of
whom do not have an Irish listing, being subject to the Irish
Takeover Rules. In due course, as proposals concerning complete or
partial ownership changes in these enterprises may develop, we
expect to see continued involvement in resulting transactions for
those Irish ifrms which are active in this area, despite the fact
that the bulk of the business activities of many of these
enterprises is carried out outside of Ireland.
The differences in detail between the Irish Takeover Rules and the
London City Code have tended to widen in the last few years.
Notable features include the retention (for the time being) of the
Substantial Acquisition Rules by the Irish Takeover Panel and there
being no plans at present to adopt the UK's Cadbury reforms in
their entirety. The Irish Takeover Panel has published consultation
papers on a number of proposed reforms (details are available at:
www.mhc.ie/fs/doc/publications/irish-takeover-panel-july-2011.pdf).
It is possible that some of the Cadbury reforms may be considered
at a later date, but for now UK practitioners will need to be aware
that their ability to rely on experience from UK takeover practice
in relation to an approach to an offer governed by the Irish
Takeover Rules is diminishing.
Previously published The European Lawyer Reference Book 'Mergers & Acquisitions', 1st Ed. 2012
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.