FORM 8 (OPD)
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE BY A PARTY TO AN OFFER
Rules 8.1 and 8.2 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")
1. KEY INFORMATION
| (a) Full name of discloser: | Forward Partners Group plc |
| (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. | N/A |
| (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree | Molten Ventures plc |
| (d) Is the discloser the offeror or the offeree? | Offeree |
| (e) Date position held: The latest practicable date prior to the disclosure | 6 December 2023 |
| (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" | Yes
Forward Partners Group plc |
2. POSITIONS OF THE PARTY TO THE OFFER MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates
| Class of relevant security:
|
| |||
|
| Interests | Short positions | ||
| Number | % | Number | % | |
| (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| (2) Cash-settled derivatives:
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
|
TOTAL: | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
Details of any securities borrowing and lending positions or financial collateral arrangements should be disclosed on a Supplemental Form 8 (SBL).
(b) Rights to subscribe for new securities
| Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: | N/A |
| Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: | N/A |
3. POSITIONS OF PERSONS ACTING IN CONCERT WITH THE PARTY TO THE OFFER MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Details of any interests, short positions and rights to subscribe (including directors' and other employee options) of any person acting in concert with the party to the offer making the disclosure:
a) Interests held by persons acting in concert with the Offeree, including directors of the Offeree, their close relatives and the related trusts of any of them:
| Name | Number of shares | Percentage of issued share capital |
| BlackRock, Inc. | 9,935,819 | 6.49 |
b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options):
| Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: | Ordinary shares of 1p each |
| Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages | Allocation in proposed placing by Molten Ventures plc of 7,712,237 new ordinary shares at a placing price of 270p.
The placing is conditional, upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms prior to admission. |
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
Details of any securities borrowing and lending positions or financial collateral arrangements should be disclosed on a Supplemental Form 8 (SBL).
4. OTHER INFORMATION
(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
| Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the party to the offer making the disclosure or any person acting in concert with it: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" |
|
None
|
(b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
| Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the party to the offer making the disclosure, or any person acting in concert with it, and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" |
|
None
|
(c) Attachments
Are any Supplemental Forms attached?
| Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) | NO |
| Supplemental Form 8 (SBL) | YES |
Date of disclosure: | 7 December 2023 |
Contact name: | Lloyd Smith, CFO and Company Secretary |
Telephone number: | 07846 618 191 |
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
SUPPLEMENTAL FORM 8 (SBL)
DETAILS OF SECURITIES BORROWING AND LENDING AND
FINANCIAL COLLATERAL ARRANGEMENTS BY
PARTIES TO AN OFFER AND PERSONS ACTING IN CONCERT
Note 5(l) on Rule 8 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")
1. KEY INFORMATION
| Full name of person making disclosure: | BlackRock, Inc. |
| Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: | Molten Ventures Plc |
2. SECURITIES BORROWING AND LENDING/FINANCIAL COLLATERAL POSITIONS
| Class of relevant security:
| 1p Ordinary | |
|
| Number
| % |
| Securities borrowed: |
|
|
| Securities lent (including securities subject to a security financial collateral arrangement with right of use or a title transfer collateral arrangement): |
|
|
Details of borrowed relevant securities which have been either on-lent or sold do not need to be disclosed.
3. SECURITIES BORROWING AND LENDING/FINANCIAL COLLATERAL TRANSACTIONS
| Class of relevant security | Nature of transaction e.g. securities lending/borrowing, delivery/receipt of recalled securities, entering into financial collateral arrangement with right of use, entering into title transfer collateral arrangement etc. | Number of securities |
| | | |
The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.
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