NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.
THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY FIRM OFFER WILL BE MADE.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.
30 July 2025
INTERNATIONAL PERSONAL FINANCE PLC
Statement regarding a possible recommended cash offer for International Personal Finance plc
The Board of International Personal Finance plc ("IPF" or the "Company") announces that it is in advanced discussions with BasePoint Capital LLC ("BasePoint"), a leading provider of asset-based financing in the United States to specialty finance companies, regarding a possible cash offer by a wholly-owned subsidiary of BP PMKN LLC, an entity in the BasePoint group, to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of IPF (the "Possible Offer"). Under the terms of the Possible Offer IPF shareholders would receive cash consideration of 220 pence per IPF share and would be entitled to retain the interim dividend of 3.8 pence per IPF share, announced by the Company today, in relation to the period ended 30 June 2025 (the "Interim Dividend"). Accordingly, the Possible Offer represents a total value of 223.8 pence per share to IPF shareholders.
The total value of the Possible Offer (including the Interim Dividend) represents a premium of approximately:
· 24.9% to the closing share price on 29 July 2025 (being the latest date prior to the commencement of the offer period);
· 38.3% to the three-month volume-weighted average share price on 29 July 2025;
· 54.3% to the six-month volume-weighted average share price on 29 July 2025; and
· 54.2% to the twelve-month volume-weighted average share price on 29 July 2025.
The Board is confident in its strategy and in the Company's standalone future, recognising the strong performance to date outlined in the 2025 Half Year Results released today. However, it has carefully considered the Possible Offer with its advisers and has concluded that the Possible Offer is at a value that the Board would be minded to recommend unanimously to IPF shareholders, should a firm intention to make an offer pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the Code be announced on such financial terms, subject to the agreement of all other terms and conditions of an offer. Accordingly, the Board is in advanced discussions with BasePoint in relation to these terms and other transaction documentation, following completion of due diligence satisfactory to BasePoint.
The Possible Offer is subject to satisfaction or waiver of a number of customary pre-conditions, including agreement of definitive transaction documentation.
There can be no certainty that any firm offer for IPF will be made even if the pre-conditions are satisfied or waived. A further announcement will be made in due course.
For the purposes of Rule 2.5(a) of the Code, this announcement has been made with the consent of BasePoint.
In accordance with Rule 2.5(a) of the Code, BasePoint reserves the right to make an offer for IPF at a lower value or on less favourable terms than the Possible Offer:
(i) with the agreement or recommendation of the Board of IPF;
(ii) if a third party announces a firm intention to make an offer for IPF which, at that date, is of a value less than the value of the Possible Offer; or
(iii) following the announcement by IPF of a Rule 9 waiver transaction pursuant to Appendix 1 of the Code or a reverse takeover (as defined in the Code).
If IPF declares, makes or pays any dividend or distribution or other return of value or payment to its shareholders other than the Interim Dividend of 3.8 pence per IPF share announced by the Company today, BasePoint reserves the right to make an equivalent reduction to the Possible Offer. In connection with the possibility of BasePoint making a cash offer for IPF (if it were so inclined), BasePoint reserves the right to vary the form and / or mix of the consideration it would offer in accordance with Rule 2.5(a) of the Code.
Rule 2.6(a) of the Code requires that BasePoint, by no later than 5.00 p.m. on 27 August 2025, being the 28th day following the date of this announcement, either announces a firm intention to make an offer for IPF in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announces that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers ("the Panel"), in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.
The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of IPF is Tom Crane, General Counsel.
Enquiries:
IPF Tel: +44 (0)113 539 5466
Gerard Ryan (CEO)
Gary Thompson (CFO)
Stephens (Financial Adviser to IPF) Tel: +44 (0) 203 757 9900
Lawrence Guthrie
Blair Farinholt
Yashin Mody
Peel Hunt (Joint Corporate Broker to IPF) Tel: +44 (0) 207 418 8900
Andrew Buchanan
Michael Nicholson
Oliver Jackson
Panmure Liberum (Joint Corporate Broker to IPF) Tel: +44 (0) 203 100 2000
Stephen Jones
David Watkins
Atholl Tweedie
BasePoint Capital Tel: +1 212 220 2660
BasePoint Investor Relations
Jefferies (Lead Financial Adviser to BasePoint) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7029 8000
Philip Noblet
Graham Davidson
James Umbers
Taha Ahmed
Deutsche Bank (Financial Adviser to BP PMKN LLC) Tel: +1 212 250 2500
Derek Bomar
Ian Wesson
Derek Shakespeare
James Gordon
Important notices
Stephens Europe Limited ("Stephens") which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK is acting exclusively for IPF and for no one else in connection with the subject matter of this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than IPF for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the subject matter of this Announcement. Neither Stephens nor any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or branches owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct, indirect, consequential, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Stephens in connection with this Announcement, any statement or other matter or arrangement referred to herein or otherwise.
Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt"), which, in the United Kingdom, is authorised and regulated by the FCA, is acting exclusively for IPF and no one else in connection with the Possible Offer and neither Peel Hunt nor any of its affiliates will be responsible to anyone other than IPF (whether or not a recipient of this Announcement) for providing the protections afforded to clients of Peel Hunt nor for providing advice in relation to the Possible Offer or any other matter or arrangement referred to in this Announcement.
Panmure Liberum Limited ("Panmure Liberum"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for International Personal Finance and no one else in connection with the Possible Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than International Personal Finance for providing the protections afforded to clients of Panmure Liberum nor for providing advice in relation to the Possible Offer. Neither Panmure Liberum nor any of their respective partners, directors, officers, employees, advisers, consultants, affiliates 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 Panmure Liberum in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FCA, is acting as financial adviser to BasePoint and no one else in connection with the matters described in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than BasePoint for providing the protections offered to clients of Jefferies or for providing advice in connection with any matter referred to in this Announcement. Neither Jefferies nor any of its affiliates 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 Jefferies in connection with this Announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. ("Deutsche Bank") is a wholly-owned subsidiary undertaking of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany with its principal office in Frankfurt am Main. It is registered with the district court (Amtsgericht) in Frankfurt am Main under No HRB 30 000 and licensed to carry on banking business and to provide financial services. The London branch of Deutsche Bank AG is registered in the register of companies for England and Wales (registration number BR000005) with its registered address and principal place of business at 21, Moorfields, London EC2Y 9DB. Deutsche Bank AG is subject to supervision by the European Central Bank (ECB), Sonnemannstrasse 22, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht or BaFin), Graurheindorfer Strasse 108, 53117 Bonn and Marie-Curie-Strasse 24-28, 60439 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. With respect to activities undertaken in the United Kingdom, Deutsche Bank AG is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. It is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of Deutsche Bank AG's authorisation and regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from Deutsche Bank AG on request. Deutsche Bank is and has been acting solely for BP PMKN LLC and no one else in connection with the Possible Offer or the matters described in this Announcement and will not regard, and has not regarded, any other person as its client and has not been and will not be responsible to anyone other than BP PMKN LLC for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Bank, or for providing advice in relation to the Possible Offer or the matters described in this Announcement.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% 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 p.m. on the tenth business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. on the tenth 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 Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% 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 p.m. 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 a website and availability of hard copies
This Announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26 of the Code will be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted jurisdictions, on BasePoint's website at www.bpdisclosures.com and on IPF's website at www.ipfin.co.uk promptly and in any event by no later than 12 noon on the business day following the date of this Announcement. Neither the content of the websites referred to in this Announcement nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks in this Announcement is incorporated into, or forms part of, this Announcement.
IPF shareholders may, subject to applicable securities laws, request a hard copy of this Announcement (and any information incorporated into it by reference to another source) by contacting IPF's registrars, MUFG Corporate Markets, during business hours on 0371 664 0300 within the United Kingdom or on +44 (0) 371 664 0300 from overseas or by submitting a request in writing to MUFG Corporate Markets, 10th Floor, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL, United Kingdom, with an address to which the hard copy may be sent. IPF shareholders may, subject to applicable securities laws, also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent in relation to the Possible Offer should be in hard copy form.
Rule 2.9 of the Code
For the purposes of Rule 2.9 of the Code, IPF confirms that, as at 30 July 2025, it had in issue 219,115,063 ordinary shares of 10 pence each (excluding shares held in treasury). IPF holds 5,494,971 ordinary shares in treasury. The ISIN for the ordinary shares is GB00B1YKG049.