UK Takeover Code: Panel consultation on profit forecasts and other amendments

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1 UK Takeover Code: Panel consultation on profit forecasts and other amendments simmons-simmons.com elexica.com UK Takeover Code: Panel consultation on profit forecasts, quantified financial benefits statements, material changes in information and other amendments On 05 July 2012, the Code Committee of the Takeover Panel (Panel) issued a public consultation paper on profit forecasts, quantified financial benefits statements, material changes in information and other amendments to the Takeover Code (Code) (PCP 2012/1). It also published two other consultation papers on the same day: PCP 2012/2 Pension scheme trustee issues and PCP 2012/3 Companies subject to the Takeover Code. The amendments in PCP 2012/1 take into account the amendments proposed in PCP 2012/2. The amendments proposed in PCP 2012/3 do not affect those proposed in PCP 2012/1. For our summaries of PCP 2012/2 and PCP 2012/3 see UK Takeover Code: Panel consultation on Pension scheme trustee issues and UK Takeover Code: Panel consultation on Companies subject to the Takeover Code. Key changes The key changes proposed in PCP 2012/1 are: a revised Rule 28 in relation to profit forecasts to make it more proportionate, adopt a more logical framework and ensure greater consistency with other legislation, standards and guidance, including profit forecasts published before an approach would no longer need to be reported on giving the Panel the ability to grant a dispensation from the requirements of Rule 28 in certain circumstances to move the disclosure and reporting requirements for merger benefit statements into Rule 28 and to extend those rules to statements made by a target as to cost savings or other financial benefits if an offer is unsuccessful (and to rename merger benefit statements as quantified financial benefits statements) to amend Rule 27 (disclosure of material changes in information) to require that any material changes in information are published in an announcement promptly after they have happened and not only when a subsequent document is published. A comprehensive review of Rule 29 (asset valuations) will be undertaken once the amendments to Rule 28 have been finalised.

2 Background On 5 March 2010, the Code Committee published PCP 2010/1 ( Profit forecasts, asset valuations and merger benefits statements ), in which it proposed a number of amendments to the Code with a view to improving the coherence and consistency of the approach in the Code towards the requirement for certain financial information to be accompanied by a report from one or more third parties. However, the process was put on hold once the Code Committee started its review in June 2010 of certain aspects of the regulation of takeover bids following the takeover of Cadbury plc by Kraft Foods Inc. (The changes made following this review were published in Response Statement 2011/1). The proposals in PCP 2010/1 have now been superseded by the proposals in PCP 2012/1 and the Code Committee is therefore not publishing a formal Response Statement to PCP 2010/1. Profit forecasts Current requirements Rule 28 requires (broadly) that, if an offeree company or offeror (other than an offeror offering solely cash) publishes a profit forecast during an offer period, then: the assumptions upon which the profit forecast is based must be stated; and the party concerned must obtain and publish reports on the profit forecast from both (i) its reporting accountants and (ii) its financial advisers. Rule 28 also provides that, if an offeree company or offeror (other than a cash offeror) has published a profit forecast prior to the commencement of the offer period, that profit forecast must be repeated in the offer document or offeree board circular (as the case may be). The repeated profit forecast is, in effect, treated as if it had first been published during the offer period and the requirements for assumptions and reports described in the preceding paragraph apply in the same way. The requirements of Rule 28 apply regardless of whether a profit forecast relates to the current financial year or to a subsequent financial period. However, Rule 28.3(e) acknowledges that, exceptionally, it may not be possible for a previously published forecast to be reported on. New definitions Profit forecast/estimate The Code Committee considers that Rule 28 should be restructured and made more consistent with rules and guidance in relation to profit forecasts issued by other regulatory bodies. It is therefore proposing adding the following new definitions of profit forecast and profit estimate which are consistent with (but not identical to) the definitions in the Prospectus Regulation and the FSA Handbook. The current provisions of Rule 28.6, which provide examples of statements which will be treated as profit forecasts, will be deleted. Profit forecast will be defined as a form of words which expressly states, or by implication indicates, a figure, or a minimum or maximum figure, for the likely level of profits or losses for a particular period, or contains data from which a calculation of such a figure for profits or losses may be made, even if no particular figure is mentioned and the word profit is not used. A note to this definition will provide that a statement in relation to a target for profits (or losses) will also normally be treated as a profit forecast. 2

3 The Code Committee notes that a company s long-term incentive plan will often set targets for the directors or employees being incentivised with respect to the company s profits or earnings per share but it does not consider that such targets should be treated as profit forecasts. PCP 2012/1 states that the Code Committee also recognises that, in most respects, the proposed new definition of profit forecast will not provide greater specificity than at present as to whether or not a particular statement would be likely to be regarded by the Panel as a profit forecast. However, the Code Committee believes it is important that, as is currently the case with Rule 28.6(a), the definition should be drafted broadly so as to cover any statement which contains data from which a calculation of a figure for future profits or losses may be made, including any forecast of, for example: earnings per share; earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA); operating profit; cash earnings; or other similar financial measures used in the market to assess a company s value. Profit estimate will be defined as a profit forecast for a period which has expired and for which audited results have not yet been published. Quantified financial benefits statement A new definition of quantified financial benefits statement will be added to the Rules as follows: A quantified financial benefits statement is either: a statement by an offeror or the offeree company quantifying any financial benefits expected to arise from the proposed transaction if the offer or possible offer is successful; or a statement by the offeree company quantifying any financial benefits expected to arise from cost saving measures and/or an alternative transaction proposed to be implemented if the offer or possible offer is withdrawn or lapses. Cash offeror Rule 28 will continue not to apply to profit forecasts and quantified financial benefit statements published by an offeror offering solely cash and references in Rule 28 will be amended to refer to a cash offeror which is a defined term. The definition of cash offeror will also be amended to make it clear that a non-convertible debt instrument will normally be treated as cash (as is currently the case). Offer period Prior to 19 September 2011, when the amendments to the Code in RS 2011/1 came into effect, the definition of an offer period provided that where a contractual offer was made for the offeree company, the offer period would always run until the first closing date of the offer, even if the offer was unconditional from the outset or had become or been declared unconditional as to acceptances prior to that date. This aspect of the definition of offer period was unintentionally deleted on 19 September 2011 and the Code Committee is proposing to reintroduce it as a new Note 3 on the definition of offer period. Profit forecasts published during an offer period The Code currently provides that, where an offeror publishes a profit forecast or statement as to expected financial benefits it has to comply with Rule 19 (as to the accuracy of the information) and the additional requirements in Rule 28 and Note 9 on Rule 19.1 respectively. 3

4 PCP 2012/1 states that, in the case of a profit forecast, the Code has imposed these additional requirements in view of: the particular significance of profit forecasts to offeree company shareholders in reaching their decisions on an offer, and the risk that the circumstances of the offer might result in the likely level of profits being over-stated or in profit forecasts being made without due care. PCP 2012/1 also states that the imposition of additional requirements with respect to a statement as to expected financial benefits is similarly justifiable, given the significance of such a statement and the risk of the benefits being over-stated. Notwithstanding its view that the additional requirements currently imposed by the Code with respect to profit forecasts might be made less stringent in certain circumstances, the Code Committee believes that the reasons stated above continue to provide valid justification for the Code generally imposing additional requirements with respect to profit forecasts published for the first time during an offer period and with respect to quantified statements of expected financial benefits. Such forecasts or statements are likely to have been made for a reason related to the offer or possible offer and, even where this is not the case, will have been made in the knowledge of its existence. The Code Committee believes that, given the significance of such statements in the context of the offer, the additional requirements represent a proportionate means of ensuring that they have been prepared to an appropriate standard. Rule 28 will therefore continue to provide that where a party to an offer (other than a cash offeror) first publishes a profit forecast during an offer period, the document or announcement in which the profit forecast is first published should include: the assumptions on which the profit forecast is based; a report from reporting accountants as to the proper compilation of the profit forecast and as to the basis of accounting used; and a report from its financial advisers confirming that, in their opinion, the profit forecast has been prepared with due care and consideration (Rule 28.1(a)). Profit forecasts published prior to offer period but after an approach The Code Committee is proposing to extend these requirements for assumptions and reports so that they will also apply to profit forecasts published prior to the offer period but after an approach has been made and, where the Panel considers it appropriate, after the first active consideration of a possible offer by an offeror. (Rule 28.1(b)) As no offer period will yet have commenced it would clearly be inappropriate for these additional requirements to be included in the document or announcement in which the profit forecast is first published. Instead the profit forecast will have to be repeated in the offer document or offeree board circular (as appropriate) and the assumptions and reports will have to be included in that document. PCP 2012/1 states that it will not always be easy for the Panel to judge when an offeror first actively considered an offer, but notes that the Executive already has to make such a judgement when deciding whether a potential offeror has triggered a requirement to make an announcement under Rule 2.2(a) and refers to the factors in Practice Statement No. 20 which have to be taken into account in those circumstances. 4

5 Profit forecasts published before an approach with regard to a possible offer Rule 28.3(d) currently requires any outstanding profit forecast published by a party to an offer (other than a cash offeror) before the commencement of the offer period to be repeated and reported on in the offer document or offeree board circular (as appropriate). PCP 2012/1 states that because of the perceived difficulties of obtaining reports on pre-offer period profit forecasts, the current requirements of the Code may have the effect, in circumstances where there is no reason to believe that an offer is in contemplation, of: deterring companies from publishing forward-looking guidance on future expected profits, which may be useful guidance for shareholders and other market participants (and which is commonly provided in various overseas jurisdictions), or encouraging companies, which would otherwise wish to publish a profit forecast, to give forward-looking guidance using language intended to circumvent the requirements of Rule 28. The Code Committee is therefore proposing to amend Rule 28 to remove the requirement to obtain reports from reporting accountants and financial advisers on these profit forecasts. Instead the offer document or offeree board circular (as appropriate) will have to: repeat the profit forecast and include: confirmations by the directors that the profit forecast remains valid and that the basis of accounting is consistent with the company s accounting policies, and the assumptions upon which the profit forecast was based and details of the basis on which it was compiled; or include a statement by the directors that the profit forecast is no longer valid and an explanation of why that is the case. (The Code Committee considers that the fact that the profit forecast was published for a purpose that was unrelated to the offer would not be acceptable as an explanation for its invalidity); or include a new profit forecast for the relevant period (in which case the requirements which apply to profit forecasts published during the offer period, including the requirement to obtain reports from reporting accountants and financial advisers, would apply.) (Rule 28.1(c)) Ordinary course profit forecasts The Code Committee has given further consideration as to how an ordinary course profit forecast published following an approach ought to be treated under Rule 28. PCP 2012/1 states that on the one hand it can be argued that Rule 28 should treat an ordinary course profit forecast no differently from any other profit forecast published during that period (ie that reports would be required to be obtained in accordance with the proposed new Rules 28.1(a) or (b)). Whereas on the other hand it is arguable that the cost of obtaining reports on a forward-looking statement made in the ordinary course of a company s communication with its shareholders, and in accordance with an established practice, would be disproportionate to the benefits of such reports to offeree company shareholders, particularly in a recommended offer and in the absence of competing offerors. The Code Committee is proposing to add a new Note 2 on Rule 28.1 which allows the Panel to disapply Rules 28.1(a) or (b) for an ordinary course profit forecast provided that the other party to the offer consents to the disapplication. 5

6 The ordinary course profit forecast will still have to be published in the offer document or offeree board circular (as appropriate) and that document will also have to include: a confirmation by the directors that the basis of accounting used is consistent with the company s accounting policies, and the assumptions on which the profit forecast is based. A new definition of ordinary profit forecast is proposed. This provides that an ordinary course profit forecast is a profit forecast published by a party to an offer in a forward-looking statement made by that party in the ordinary course of its communication with its shareholders and the market and in accordance with an established practice. Profit forecasts for future financial periods Rule 28 currently applies to a profit forecast by the offeree company or an offeror (other than cash offeror) for any future period, however distant. However, it is commonly accepted that, given the uncertainties of longterm forecasting, it will often not be possible to obtain reports on a profit forecast for a financial period which extends beyond the short term. Dispensation from Rule 28 requirements PCP 2012/1 states that whilst recognising the significance of profit forecasts to offeree company shareholders, the Code Committee believes that, in many cases, even if it were possible for a long-term profit forecast to be reported on, shareholders and other market participants would be likely to place considerably less reliance on a profit forecast published by a party to the offer in relation to a future financial period than on a profit forecast for the current financial year. The Code Committee also considers that it is unsatisfactory that, at present, owing to the fact that it may not be possible to obtain reports on a long-term profit forecast, the board of the offeree company may, in effect, be prevented from publishing a profit forecast for a future financial period as part of its defence against a hostile offer. The Code Committee is therefore proposing to add a new Note 3 on Rule 28.1 to allow the Panel to consent to disapply Rules 28.1(a) or (b) to profit forecasts for future periods. Consent will normally be given where it relates to a period ending more than 15 months from the date on which the profit forecast is or was first published. The directors will, however, still have to give confirmations as to the basis of accounting used and the assumptions on which the profit forecast is based. Corresponding profit forecast for current year The Code Committee also believes that if, during the period when the proposed new Rules 28.1(a) and (b) apply, a party to the offer publishes a profit forecast for a future financial year for the first time, or if the party is required under the proposed new Rule 28.1(c) to repeat and confirm an outstanding profit forecast for a future financial year, it should be required also to publish corresponding profit forecasts for the current financial year and for any intervening financial years. The Code Committee therefore proposes to introduce a new Rule 28.2 to this effect. If the requirements of Rules 28.2(a) or (b) result in the publication of a new profit forecast, the rest of Rule 28 will apply as usual to that new profit forecast. 6

7 Management buy-outs and offers by controllers The Code Committee is concerned that where an offer is a management buy-out or is an offer by persons who have control of the offeree company, there is a greater risk that the directors of the offeree company may seek to influence the outcome by using a profit forecast. As a result the Code Committee is proposing to add a new Note 4 on Rule 28 to provide that: where the offer is a management buy-out or similar transaction, or is being made by an existing controller or controlling group; and the offeree company or offeror publishes a profit forecast during the offer period, or has published a profit forecast prior to the commencement of the offer period, the party concerned should always be required to obtain reports on the profit forecast. The Code Committee believes that shareholders in the offeree company would not be afforded sufficient protection if, in such circumstances, the directors of the company were allowed to provide confirmations with respect to the profit forecast rather than being required to obtain reports on it. Profit ceilings A new Note 5 on Rule 28 will be added to allow the Panel to grant a dispensation from Rule 28 if a profit forecast states a maximum figure for the likely level of profits for a particular period. No dispensation can, however, be given in the case of a management buy-out or similar transaction or if it is an offer by the existing controller(s). This note reflects the Executive s current practice and also may apply to whitewash transactions. Offer not material for the offeror The Panel will also be given the right to grant a dispensation in circumstances where the offer cannot result in a material increase (10% or more) in the equity share capital of the offeror and if the Panel considers the application of the Rule would be disproportionate. (Note 6 on Rule 28) Compilation of profit forecasts Guidance on how to compile profit forecasts and quantified financial benefits statements will be updated and consolidated in a new Note 7 on Rule This note will also reflect guidance in the ESMA recommendations. 1 Assumptions The current notes (Notes 1 and 2 on Rule 28.2) which provide guidance on the assumptions on which a profit forecast is based (such as their selection and drafting) are to be revised to make them more consistent with the Prospectus Regulation and will be in a new Rule Profit estimates Under Rule 28.6(c) certain unaudited profit figures are currently not subject to the reporting requirements in Rule 28. The Code Committee is proposing to introduce a new Rule 28.4 which will replace Rule 28.6(c) and will provide that the following would be exempt: a preliminary statement of annual results which complies with the relevant provisions of the Listing Rules; 1 ESMA s recommendations for the consistent implementation of the Prospectus Regulation 7

8 a half-yearly financial report which complies with the relevant requirements of the Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules, the AIM Rules for Companies or the PLUS Rules for Issuers; and interim financial information which has been published in accordance with a regulatory requirement and prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 on Interim Financial Reporting ( IAS 34 ). As there are no rules on preliminary statements under the AIM Rules or the PLUS Rules, when an unaudited preliminary statement is published by a party to an offer which is admitted to trading on AIM or PLUS the exemption will only apply if the Panel is satisfied that the statement would comply with the UKLA rules with regard to such statement. New Rule 28.4 will also provide that where a party to an offer is not admitted to trading on a UK regulated market or on AIM or PLUS and includes, or has included, a profit estimate in a preliminary statement of annual results, a half-yearly financial report or interim financial information published in accordance with a regulatory requirement, the Panel can, in appropriate circumstances, grant a dispensation from the requirements of Rule Some of the current exemptions only apply where (i) the offer has been recommended or (ii) where the offer could not result in the issue of securities representing 10% or more of the enlarged voting share capital of the offeror. The new Rule will not include these limitations. Quantified financial benefits statements Common approach to reports and assumptions As noted above, the Code Committee believes that given the significance of quantified statements as to expected financial benefits, it is proportionate to amend Rule 28 so that the requirements in proposed new Rule 28.1(a) in relation to reports (and stating of assumptions) should apply to quantified financial benefits statements in the same way as to profit forecasts. Apply even if recommended offer The current exemption (in Note 9 on Rule 19.1) for financial benefit statements where the offer is recommended (and certain other conditions are satisfied) will cease to apply. More detailed requirements The Code Committee is also proposing a new Rule 28.5 which includes a more detailed explanation of what has to be included in a quantified financial benefits statement. Cost saving measures previously announced The Code Committee acknowledges that if, prior to the offer period and with no knowledge that an offer might be imminent, a statement is made by the offeree company about cost saving measures that it intends to put in place in the future, it should not normally be subject to Rule It considers, however, that the Panel should be consulted if a company proposes to publish such a statement after it has received an approach about a possible offer but before the start of an offer period to see whether the statement should be treated as being subject to Rule 28.1(a) and is proposing to add a new Note on new Rule 28.5 to that effect. 8

9 Any statement published during the offer period with regard to revised cost savings measures would be subject to Rule 28.1(a). Synergies statements by offeree company The Code Committee is also proposing to codify current practice that the Panel will not normally permit an offeree company to publish a statement quantifying the financial benefits expected to result from an offer unless the statement is published with the consent of the relevant offeror. However, the offeree company will be permitted to publish its views on any quantified financial benefits statement published by an offeror. Profit forecast for part of a business It is proposed that, except with the consent of the Panel, Rule 28 will also apply to a profit forecast which relates to part of a business of a party to an offer (Rule 28.6). No relative size threshold will be included in this new rule, but PCP 2012/1 notes that Code Committee considers that the Panel s starting point would be likely to be that, if the company had chosen to publish a profit forecast for a particular part of a business then that forecast would be likely to be material. Profit forecasts published by a third party Codification of existing practice The Code Committee is proposing to codify the Executive s current practice that where a party to an offer refers to a profit forecast with respect to its own future profits published by a third party, including an average of such third party profit forecasts, it will be treated as having been published by the party concerned and new Rule 28.1(a) will apply to it (Rule 28.7(a)). Websites Parties to an offer will be required, at the start of the offer period, to remove from their websites any analysts profit forecasts with respect to their own profits. (New Note 1 on Rule 28.7). Requirement for a consensus profit forecast A party to an offer will continue to be able to refer to third party forecasts of the future profits of the other party but will have to do so by reference to a consensus profit forecast. This rule will however only apply to hostile offers. A consensus profit forecast should normally be calculated as the arithmetical mean of any consensus figures for the relevant forecasts which have been published by independent financial data providers. The consensus forecast would also have to comply with the standards required by Rule The party who has not published the consensus profit forecast will be able to refer to the consensus profit forecast in its document without having to comply with this new rule. Where a party includes an average profit forecast (referred to in new Rule 28.7(a)) or a consensus profit forecast (referred to in new Rule 28.7(b)) in a document, it will have to include the sources and bases of compilation for that forecast. 9

10 Material Changes in Information Rule 27.1 currently requires the disclosure of material changes to previously published information but only if the relevant party publishes a subsequent document. In the absence of a subsequent document being published, there is no specific requirement to disclose material changes to information which has been published. Although this has not given rise to widespread concerns, the Code Committee has decided that there should now be a specific obligation to disclose material changes, regardless of whether another document is published. Their reasoning is that: it is illogical to only require disclosure if another document is published, but not otherwise; the Code should include all necessary rules and the Panel should not have to rely on the rules of other authorities; and disclosure under these rules is for the benefit of a wider group of constituents than just the company, shareholders and the markets. It is therefore proposed to amend Rule 27.1 to require the relevant party to promptly announce any material changes in information disclosed in any document or announcement previously published by it in connection with the offer. Where an announcement is required, the Panel will also be given the ability to require that a document (with relevant information) is published as well. The Code Committee anticipates that in deciding whether to require a document, the Panel would take into account all relevant factors including: the significance of the matter which requires clarification; the stage in the offer timetable; the profile of the offer period and the offeree company; the size of the shareholder register; and whether the matter relates to an approval required in general meeting under Rule 16 or Rule The obligation to disclose material changes will apply from publication of the initial offer document or offeree board circular until the end of the offer period. If, after publishing the offer document or offeree board circular, any subsequent document is published, that document will have to include: details of any material changes in information disclosed in a previous document (or a statement that there have been no material changes); and details of any changes to information previously published in accordance with Rule 24 or 25 (as appropriate) or a statement that there have been no changes. 10

11 Miscellaneous Amendments Consent letters The current requirement (in Rule 28.4) for reporting accountants and financial advisers to consent to their reports being published in an offer document or offeree board circular (as appropriate) will be moved to Rule 23.3 (financial advisers consent to inclusion of their opinion in a document) which will also be amended slightly. Profit forecast first published The current requirement (in Rule 28.4) for a profit forecast which is first published in an announcement to be repeated in full in the next document published in connection with the offer, will be moved to Rules 24 and 25 (if the announcement precedes the offer document/offeree board circular) and Rule 27 (if the announcement is made after those documents have been published). Documents on display Rule 26.2 will be amended to require: an announcement to be made if any document on display is amended and a copy of the amended document is put on display or if a new document is entered into and put on display. (The current requirement is simply to put them on display and update the website to show that that has been done.) parties to an offer to put on display any material contract entered into in connection with the offer after the publication of the offer document or offeree board circular (as appropriate), and any agreement or arrangement which relates to when an offeror can invoke a condition to an offer to be published on a website from the time of making the firm intention to make an offer announcement (instead of from when the offer document is published). Timing Responses to the consultation are due by 28 September The Code Committee intends that the amendments will take effect approximately one month after it has published its response statement. For more information, please contact Mark Curtis T +44 (0) E mark.curtis@simmons-simmons.com Edward Baker T +44 (0) E edward.baker@simmons-simmons.com or your usual contact at Simmons & Simmons 11

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