RNS Number : 3780O
Pod Point Group Holdings PLC
25 June 2025
 

 

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

25 June 2025

RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
OF
Pod point Group Holdings PLC ("Pod Point")
BY
edf ENERGY CUSTOMERS Limited ("EDF")

to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006

PUBLICATION OF THE SCHEME DOCUMENT

On 12 June 2025, the board of EDF and the Independent Pod Point Directors announced that they had reached agreement on the terms and conditions of a recommended all cash acquisition, pursuant to which EDF will acquire the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital of Pod Point, not already owned by EDF (the "Acquisition") at a price of 6.5 pence per Pod Point Share. The Acquisition is intended to be effected by means of a Court sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act.

Capitalised terms used in this announcement shall, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as set out in Part 8 of the Scheme Document (as defined below). All references to times in this announcement are to London times unless otherwise stated.

Publication of the Scheme Document

The Independent Pod Point Directors are pleased to announce that the scheme document (the "Scheme Document") setting out, amongst other things, the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, a statutory explanatory statement,  an expected timetable of principal events, notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting and details of the actions to be taken by Pod Point Shareholders is being published and sent today to Pod Point Shareholders and will be made available free of charge on Pod Point's website at https://investors.pod-point.com/firm-offer and on EDF's website at https://www.edfenergy.com/business-update-edf.

Hard copies of the Scheme Document (or, depending on Pod Point's Shareholders' communication preferences, a letter or email giving details of the website where the Scheme Document may be accessed) and Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting will be sent to Pod Point Shareholders, other than to Pod Point Shareholders in Restricted Jurisdictions.

Notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting

As further detailed in the Scheme Document, to become Effective the Scheme requires, amongst other things, the approval of a majority in number of Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled to vote), either in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting, representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shares voted by such Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting (or any adjournment of the Court Meeting) and the passing of the Acquisition Resolution at the General Meeting by Pod Point Shareholders present and voting (and entitled to vote) in person or by proxy at the General Meeting, representing not less than 75 per cent. of the votes cast, and the subsequent sanction of the Court.

Notices convening the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, which will be held at the offices of Freshfields LLP, 100 Bishopsgate, London, EC2P 2SR on 18 July 2025 at 10.30 a.m. and 10.45 a.m. respectively (or, in the case of the General Meeting, as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting has concluded or been adjourned), are set out in Parts 9 and 10 of the Scheme Document, respectively.  The Scheme requires approval of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and approval of the Acquisition Resolution at the General Meeting.

It is important that, for the Court Meeting, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair representation of the opinion of Scheme Shareholders.  Scheme Shareholders are therefore strongly urged to complete and return their Forms of Proxy (or make an electronic appointment of a proxy or submit a proxy vote via CREST) as soon as possible.

Further details of the Scheme and the Shareholder Meetings are set out in paragraph 12 of Part 2 of the Scheme Document.

Irrevocable Undertakings

EDF has received irrevocable undertakings from the Independent Pod Point Directors who are interested in Pod Point Shares to vote (or procure the voting) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Acquisition Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting in respect of a total of 687,000 Pod Point Shares, representing, in aggregate, approximately 0.4 per cent. of the total issued ordinary share capital of Pod Point as at the Latest Practicable Date. 

EDF has also received irrevocable undertakings in respect of 21,916,721 Pod Point Shares to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and to vote (or procure votes) in favour of the Acquisition Resolution at the General Meeting from the Legal & General Entities representing, in aggregate, approximately 14.0 per cent. of the total issued ordinary share capital of Pod Point as at the Latest Practicable Date.

In addition, EDF has also received a non-binding letter of intent from Schroder Investment Management Limited to vote (or procure votes) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Acquisition Resolution at the General Meeting (or in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of such offer) in respect of, in aggregate, 6,157,321 Pod Point Shares, representing approximately 3.9 per cent. of the ordinary share capital of Pod Point in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date.

EDF has therefore received irrevocable undertakings and a letter of intent in respect of a total of 28,761,042 Pod Point Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 18.3 per cent. of the total ordinary issued share capital of Pod Point as at the Latest Practicable Date.

Recommendation

The Independent Pod Point Directors, who have been so advised by Panmure Liberum as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing advice to the Independent Pod Point Directors, Panmure Liberum have taken into account the commercial assessments of the Independent Pod Point Directors. Panmure Liberum is providing independent financial advice to the Independent Pod Point Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.

Accordingly, the Independent Pod Point Directors recommend unanimously that Pod Point Shareholders vote (or procure votes) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and to vote (or procure votes) in favour of the Acquisition Resolution at the General Meeting (or in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of such offer) as the Independent Pod Point Directors who hold Pod Point Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do (or procure to be done) in respect of their own beneficial holdings of 687,000 Pod Point Shares in total, representing in aggregate approximately 0.4 per cent. of Pod Point's issued ordinary share capital as at the Latest Practicable Date.

Pod Point Shareholders should carefully read the Scheme Document in its entirety before making a decision with respect to the Scheme.

Expected Timetable

The Scheme Document contains an expected timetable of principal events relating to the Scheme, which is also set out below. Subject to obtaining the necessary approvals from Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting, Pod Point Shareholders at the General Meeting, the satisfaction or, where applicable, the waiver of the other Conditions (as set out the Scheme Document) and the sanction of the Court, the Scheme is expected to become Effective in Q3 2025.

All times shown are London times unless otherwise stated. The dates and times given are indicative only and are based on Pod Point's and EDF's current expectations and may be subject to change.

If any of the key dates set out in the timetable change, Pod Point will give notice of this change by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service and by making such announcement available on Pod Point's website at https://investors.pod-point.com/firm-offer.

Event

Time/date (1)

Latest time for lodging BLUE Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting

 10.30 a.m. on 16 July 2025 (2)

Latest time for lodging WHITE Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting

 10.45 a.m. on 16 July 2025 (3)

Voting Record Time

 6.30 p.m. on 16 July 2025 (4)

Court Meeting

10.30 a.m. on 18 July 2025

General Meeting

10.45 a.m. on 18 July 2025 (5)

Certain of the following dates are subject to change (please see Note (Error! Reference source not found.) below):


Court Hearing to sanction the Scheme

expected to be 31 July 2025, subject to the satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the relevant Conditions ("D")

Last day of dealings in, and registration of transfers of, Pod Point Shares

D + 1 Business Day (1)

Scheme Record Time and disablement of Pod Point Shares in CREST

6.00 p.m. on D + 1 Business Day (1)(6)

Effective Date of the Scheme

immediately after the Scheme Record Time (1)

Cancellation of listing of Pod Point Shares on the Official List and of trading of Pod Point Shares on the London Stock Exchange

 

By 8.00 a.m. on D + 2 Business Days (1)

Latest date for despatch of cheques in respect of the Consideration and for settlement of the Consideration through CREST or other form of payment to Pod Point Shareholders

Within 14 calendar days of the Effective Date (1)

Long Stop Date

11.59 p.m. on 30 September 2025 (1) (7)

 

(1)         These times and dates are indicative only and will depend, among other things, on the date upon which the Conditions are satisfied or, if capable of waiver, waived and the date on which the Court sanctions the Scheme.  The timetable is also dependent on when the Court Order sanctioning the Scheme is delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Pod Point will give notice of any updates or changes to these dates and times, when known, by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service and, if required by the Panel, posting notice of the change(s) to Pod Point Shareholders and persons with information rights.  Pod Point Share Plan participants will be contacted separately to inform them of the effect of the Acquisition on their Awards.

(2)         It is requested that BLUE Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting be lodged not later than 10.30 a.m. on 16 July 2025 or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, not later than the time set out in the Notice of Court Meeting in Error! Reference source not found. (Notice of Court Meeting) of this document. BLUE Forms of Proxy not so lodged may be handed to a representative of Equiniti on behalf of the Chair of the Court Meeting or to the Chair of the Court Meeting at or before the commencement of the Court Meeting. 

(3)         It is requested that WHITE Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting be lodged not later than 10.45 a.m. on 16 July 2025 or, if the General Meeting is adjourned, not later than the time set out in the notes to the Notice of General Meeting in Error! Reference source not found. (Notice of General Meeting) of this document. WHITE Forms of Proxy cannot be handed to the Chair of the General Meeting at that meeting. 

(4)         If either of the Shareholder Meetings is adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned meeting will be 6.30 p.m. on the date falling two Business Days before the date set for that adjourned meeting.

(5)         To commence at 10.45 a.m. on 18 July 2025 or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting has concluded or been adjourned.

(6)         Scheme Shareholders who are on the register of members of Pod Point as at this time are entitled to receive the Consideration under the Acquisition.

(7)         This date may be extended to such date (a) as Pod Point and EDF may agree, or (b) (in a competitive situation) as may be specified by EDF with the consent of the Panel, and in each case that the Court (if required) may allow.

Delisting of Pod Point Shares and Re-Registration

The last day of dealings in, and registration of transfers of, Pod Point Shares on the main market of the London Stock Exchange is expected to be the Effective Date and no transfers will be registered after 6.00 p.m. on that date. 

Prior to the Effective Date, Pod Point will apply to the FCA and the London Stock Exchange, respectively, for the listing of the Pod Point Shares on the Official List to be cancelled and for the Pod Point Shares to cease to be admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities. 

Such cancellation is expected to take effect by 8.00 a.m.  one Business Day after the Effective Date. On the Effective Date, share certificates in respect of Pod Point Shares will cease to be valid and entitlements to Pod Point Shares held within the CREST system will be cancelled.

Pod Point Share Plans

Participants in the Pod Point Share Plans will be contacted regarding the effect of the Acquisition on their rights under the Pod Point Share Plans and provided with further details in due course. Details of the proposals will be set out in the Scheme Document and in separate communications to participants in the Pod Point Share Plans.

Pod Point Shareholder Helpline

If you have any queries please call the Pod Point Shareholder helpline between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except public holidays in England and Wales) on +44 (0) 371 384 2050. Calls to the helpline from outside the UK will be charged at applicable international rates.  Different charges may apply to calls from mobile telephones.

Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes.  Please note that Equiniti cannot provide advice on the merits of the Acquisition or give any financial, legal or tax advice.

Enquiries:

EDF

+44 (0) 1452 652 233 / media@edfenergy.com

EDF Media Team


 


Barclays Bank PLC (Financial Adviser to EDF)

+44 (0) 20 7623 2323

Iain Smedley

Adrian Beidas

Neal West

Ghislain De Brondeau

Akshay Majithia




Pod Point

+44 (0) 20 3100 2000

Melanie Lane, Chief Executive Officer

Michael Jay, Acting Chief Financial Officer

Phil Clark, Investor Relations



 

Panmure Liberum (Sole Financial Adviser, Sole Rule 3 Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker to Pod Point)

+44 (0) 20 3100 2000

Stephen Jones

Tim Medak

Edward Mansfield

Amrit Mahbubani




Canaccord Genuity (Joint Corporate Broker to Pod Point)

+44 (0) 20 7523 8150

Bobbie Hilliam

Harry Pardoe




Teneo (Media)

+44 (0) 20 7353 4200

Matt Low

Arthur Rogers


 

Clifford Chance LLP is acting as legal adviser to EDF.

Freshfields LLP is acting as legal adviser to Pod Point.

Important notices about financial advisers

Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its Investment Bank ("Barclays"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting exclusively for EDF and no‑one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than EDF for providing the protections afforded to clients of Barclays nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in or referred to in this announcement.

In accordance with the Takeover Code, normal United Kingdom market practice and Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Barclays and its affiliates will continue to act as exempt principal trader in Pod Point securities on the London Stock Exchange. These purchases and activities by exempt principal traders which are required to be made public in the United Kingdom pursuant to the Takeover Code will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.

Panmure Liberum Limited ("Panmure Liberum"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as Sole Financial Adviser, Sole Rule 3 Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker to Pod Point and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and the matters and arrangements set out in this announcement. Panmure Liberum will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter or arrangement set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Pod Point for providing the protections afforded to clients of Panmure Liberum, nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter or arrangement referred to in this announcement. Neither Panmure Liberum nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, consequential, whether in contract, in tort, in delict, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Panmure Liberum in connection with the Acquisition, this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Panmure Liberum as to the contents of this announcement.

Canaccord Genuity Limited ("Canaccord Genuity"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Pod Point and for no-one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to any person other than Pod Point for providing the protections afforded to clients of Canaccord Genuity, nor for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to herein. Neither Canaccord Genuity nor any of its affiliates (nor any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents) owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Canaccord Genuity in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement, or otherwise.

Further Information

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of an offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Pod Point in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Acquisition will be made solely pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is to be implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the offer document), which contains the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition, including details of how Pod Point Shareholders may vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any vote, approval, decision in respect of, or other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document (or any other document by which the Acquisition is made by way of a Takeover Offer).

The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and the release of this announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set out in this announcement since such date. This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus equivalent or exempted document.

No person should construe the contents of this announcement as legal, financial or tax advice.

Overseas jurisdictions

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom, and the availability of the Acquisition to Pod Point Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom, may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions. Further details in relation to the Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Scheme Document. Any failure to comply with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.

Unless otherwise determined by EDF or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction, and persons receiving this announcement and all documents relating to the Acquisition (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise distribute or send them in, into or from such Restricted Jurisdiction. If the Acquisition is implemented by way of Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law or regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.

This announcement has been prepared in connection with proposals in relation to a scheme of arrangement pursuant to and for the purpose of complying with English law and the Takeover Code and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom. Nothing in this announcement should be relied on for any other purpose.

The Acquisition shall be subject to the applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the UK Listing Rules, the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority.

Additional information for US investors

The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under English company law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer or proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure requirements of the US tender offer and proxy solicitation rules.

If, in the future, EDF exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer, which is to be made into the US, such Takeover Offer will be made in compliance with the applicable US laws and regulations, including Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the US Exchange Act. Such a Takeover Offer would be made in the US by EDF and no one else.

In the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of Takeover Offer, in compliance with applicable UK laws, EDF, its dealer manager (and their advisers or affiliates), or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares or other securities of Pod Point other than pursuant to such Takeover Offer before or during the period in which such Takeover Offer would remain open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase shall be disclosed as required under UK laws, shall be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and shall be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com. To the extent that such information is required to be publicly disclosed in the UK in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, this information will, as applicable, also be made publicly available in the United States.

It may be difficult for US holders of Pod Point Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal securities laws in connection with the Acquisition, since EDF and Pod Point are located in a non-US jurisdiction, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a non-US jurisdiction. US holders of Pod Point Shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgement.

The financial information included in this announcement, or that may be included in the Scheme Document, has been, or will have been, prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and thus may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the US ("US GAAP"). US GAAP differs in certain significant respects from accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom. None of the financial information in this announcement, or that may be included in the Scheme Document, has been, or will be, audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States or the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

Neither the Acquisition nor this announcement have been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other US regulatory authority, nor have such authorities approved or disapproved or passed judgement upon the fairness or the merits of the Acquisition, or determined if the information contained in this announcement is adequate, accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder as consideration for the transfer of its Pod Point Shares pursuant to the Acquisition will likely be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each US holder of Pod Point Shares is urged to consult their independent legal, tax and financial advisers regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them, including under applicable US state and local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by EDF or Pod Point may contain statements about EDF and Pod Point that are or may be deemed to be forward looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement may be forward looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "shall", "should", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "forecast" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, dividend policy, losses and future prospects; (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of EDF's or Pod Point's operations and potential synergies resulting from the Acquisition; and (iii) the effects of government regulation on EDF's or Pod Point's business.

Such forward looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of EDF and Pod Point about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward looking statements. These factors include the satisfaction of the Conditions, as well as additional factors such as: increased competition, the loss of or damage to one or more key customer relationships, changes to customer ordering patterns, delays in obtaining customer approvals for engineering or price level changes, the failure of one or more key suppliers, the outcome of business or industry restructuring, the outcome of any litigation, changes in economic conditions, currency fluctuations, changes in interest and tax rates, changes in raw materials or energy market prices, changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policies, developments in legal or public policy doctrines, technological developments, the failure to retain key management, or the timing and success of future acquisition opportunities or major investment projects. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements should therefore be construed in light of such factors. Neither EDF nor Pod Point, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All subsequent oral or written forward looking statements attributable to any member of the EDF Group or the Pod Point Group, or any of their respective associates, directors, officers, employees or advisers, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above.

EDF and Pod Point expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward looking or other statements contained herein, except as required by applicable law or by the rules of any competent regulatory authority, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

No profit forecasts or profit estimates or quantified financial benefit statements

No statement in this announcement is intended as, or is to be construed as, a profit forecast, profit estimate or quantified financial benefit statement for any period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Pod Point or EDF for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share for Pod Point or EDF.

Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company, and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company, and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the Offer Period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Publication on website

A copy of this announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26 of the Takeover Code will be available, free of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on EDF's website at https://www.edfenergy.com/business-update-edf and on Pod Point's website at https://investors.pod-point.com/firm-offer by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the publication of this announcement.

For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of these websites and any websites accessible from hyperlinks on these websites are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.

Electronic Communications

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by Pod Point Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Pod Point may be provided to EDF during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Takeover Code.

Right to receive documents in hard copy form

In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, Pod Point Shareholders, participants in the Pod Point Share Plans and persons with information rights may request a hard copy of this announcement, free of charge, by contacting Pod Point's registrars, Equiniti Limited, at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA or by calling +44 (0) 371 384 2030. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. If calling from outside the United Kingdom, please ensure the country code is used. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 8.30 am to 5.30 pm (London time), Monday to Friday (except public holidays in England and Wales). For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this announcement will not be sent unless so requested. Such persons may also request that all future documents, announcements and information in relation to the Acquisition are sent to them in hard copy form.

Rounding

Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.

General

If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor or independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.

The Acquisition will be subject to English law, the jurisdiction of the Court, and the applicable requirements of the Companies Act, the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the FCA.

 

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