Termination Of Serica Offer & Shareholder Meetings
Ratio Petroleum Energy LP has increased its recommended all-cash acquisition offer for Pharos Energy plc to 32.8183 pence per share, plus a 4.0 pence special dividend, totaling 33.75 pence per share including the FY25 Final Dividend of 0.9317 pence. This revised offer supersedes the previous offer of 28.0 pence per share. Consequently, Serica Energy plc has terminated its competing offer, and Pharos's board unanimously recommends the increased Ratio offer. Shareholder meetings to approve the acquisition have been adjourned to August 28, 2026, with irrevocable undertakings secured for approximately 41.76% of Pharos's shares.
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Ratio Petroleum Energy LP ("Ratio")
to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
TERMINATION OF SERICA OFFER
UPDATE REGARDING SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS TO APPROVE INCREASED RATIO OFFER
Introduction
On 24 June 2026, the board of directors of each of Ratio and Pharos announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended acquisition by Ratio of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Pharos (the "Original Acquisition"). Under the terms of the Original Acquisition, Pharos Shareholders were entitled to receive a total value of up to 28.0 pence in cash per Pharos Share, comprising 23.0683 pence in cash per Pharos Share together with 4.0 pence in cash per Pharos Share by way of a special dividend and the FY25 Final Dividend (as defined below).
The scheme document in respect of the Acquisition (the "Scheme Document") was published and made available to Pharos Shareholders on 21 July 2026. This announcement should be read in conjunction with the Scheme Document.
Following the announcement of a competing offer for Pharos by Serica Energy plc ("Serica") on 26 July 2026 (the "Serica Offer"), the board of directors of each of Ratio and Pharos announced on 7 August 2026 that they have agreed the terms of an increased recommended all-cash offer by Ratio for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Pharos (the "Increased Ratio Offer") (the "Increased Ratio Offer Announcement") to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Acquisition").
Under the terms of the Acquisition, as revised by the Increased Ratio Offer, Pharos Shareholders will be entitled to receive:
- 28.8183 pence in cash per Pharos Share (the "Cash Consideration"); plus
- 4.0 pence in cash per Pharos Share by way of special dividend to be paid from Pharos' existing cash resources that the Pharos Board intends to declare prior to completion of the Acquisition with the record and payment dates aligned with the corresponding dates for determining entitlements to, and payment of, the Cash Consideration due to Pharos Shareholders under the terms of the Acquisition (the "Special Dividend"),
which would result in a total value of 32.8183 pence per Pharos Share. Pharos Shareholders, where they qualified, will continue to be entitled to retain the final dividend of 0.9317 pence in cash per Pharos Share for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 which was declared on 25 March 2026 and paid on 17 July 2026 to qualifying Pharos Shareholders on the register at close of business on 12 June 2026 (the "FY25 Final Dividend").
Accordingly, taking together the total value offered of 32.8183 pence per Pharos Share with the FY25 Final Dividend, the aggregate amount Pharos Shareholders will receive pursuant to the Acquisition, as revised by the Increased Ratio Offer, is 33.75 pence per Pharos Share.
Subsequently, Serica announced on 10 August 2026 that the financial terms of the Serica Offer are final and will not be increased or improved.
Termination of Serica Offer
As noted in the Increased Ratio Offer Announcement, the Pharos Directors have withdrawn their recommendation of the Serica Offer and have determined not to proceed with the scheme of arrangement to implement the Serica Offer or to convene any Pharos Shareholder meeting for the purposes of considering the Serica Offer. In addition, Serica has formally notified the Pharos Directors that it does not intend to implement the Serica Offer as a Takeover Offer as defined in Chapter 3 of Part 28 of the Companies Act.
Accordingly, and on the basis that the financial terms of the Serica Offer are final and will not be increased or improved, the Pharos board has provided its consent to the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Panel") to release Serica from its obligation under Rule 2.7(b) and Rule 24.1 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Code") to proceed with the Serica Offer and Serica has confirmed that it will not proceed with the Serica Offer.
As a result, the Panel has confirmed to Pharos and Serica that:
- Serica is released from its obligation under Rule 2.7(b) and Rule 24.1 of the Code to proceed with the Serica Offer; and
- Serica is subject to the restrictions set out in Rule 35.1 of the Code and is prohibited from, amongst other things, making any offer for Pharos without the consent of the Panel for a period of 12 months.
This announcement has been made with the consent of Serica.
Irrevocable Undertakings
As noted in the Increased Ratio Offer Announcement, Ratio has received irrevocable undertakings from each of the Pharos Directors who hold Pharos Shares to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer), in respect of a total of 2,380,289 Pharos Shares, representing approximately 0.57 per cent. of the existing issued ordinary share capital of Pharos on the business day prior to the release of the Increased Ratio Offer Announcement (the "Latest Practicable Date").
Ratio has also received irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting (or, in the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer) from Pharos Shareholders in respect of a total of 171,470,348 Pharos Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 41.19 per cent. of Pharos' existing issued ordinary share capital on the Latest Practicable Date. As a result of the Increased Ratio Offer, all of these irrevocable undertakings will now continue to be binding in accordance with their terms and are no longer capable of lapsing under paragraph 7.1.4. or 7.1.5 of the relevant undertakings (as applicable) in the event of a higher competing offer from any third party.
Ratio has therefore received irrevocable undertakings in respect of a total of 173,850,637 Pharos Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 41.76 per cent. of Pharos' existing issued ordinary share capital in issue on the Latest Practicable Date.
- Update regarding Shareholder Meetings in relation to the Increased Ratio Offer
As noted in the Increased Ratio Offer Announcement, the Pharos Board intends to adjourn the Court Meeting and General Meeting (together, the "Shareholder Meetings") which have been convened for 17 August 2026 to provide Pharos Shareholders with more time to make informed voting decisions.
It is intended that the Court Meeting and General Meeting to consider the Acquisition, the notices of which are set out at Parts 9 and 10 of the Scheme Document, will be adjourned to:
- Court Meeting: 28 August 2026 at 11:00 a.m.
- General Meeting: 28 August 2026 at 11:15 a.m.
The Court Meeting and the General Meeting are to be held at the offices of Ashurst Perkins Coie UK LLP, London Fruit & Wool Exchange, 1 Duval Square, London E1 6PW. Pharos will make a further announcement in due course once the Meetings have been formally adjourned to the date and times noted above.
Action required
As further described in the Scheme Document, before the Court is asked to sanction the Scheme and in order for the Scheme to become Effective, the Scheme will require: (i) the approval of a majority in number representing 75 per cent. or more in value of votes cast by Scheme Shareholders present and voting either in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting (or any adjournment thereof), which has been convened by an order of the Court; and (ii) the passing of the Resolution by the requisite majority of Pharos Shareholders at the General Meeting (or any adjournment thereof). The Scheme is also subject to the satisfaction or (where applicable) waiver of the Conditions and further terms that are set out in the Scheme Document, including the Regulatory Conditions in Egypt and Vietnam.
It is important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast (whether in person or by proxy) in order for the Court to be satisfied that there is a fair and reasonable representation of Scheme Shareholders' opinion. Scheme Shareholders and Pharos Shareholders are therefore strongly urged to complete, sign and return their Forms of Proxy or to appoint a proxy electronically either through the relevant share portal service, Proxymity or through CREST as soon as possible and, in any event, by no later than 11:00 a.m. on 26 August 2026 in respect of the Court Meeting and 11:15 a.m. on 26 August 2026 in respect of the General Meeting in accordance with the instructions set out in the Scheme Document and the Forms of Proxy. Instructions in relation to voting and the completion of the Forms of Proxy are included in the Scheme Document. Scheme Shareholders and Pharos Shareholders are also strongly encouraged to appoint the Chair of the meeting as their proxy.
Expected timetable of principal events
An updated expected timetable of principal events for the Scheme is set out in the appendix to this announcement. Pharos will make further announcements as appropriate with such announcements being available on Pharos' website at https://www.pharos.energy/investors/offer-by-ratio-petroleum/ and on Ratio's website at https://ratiopetroleum.com/offer-disclaimer/.
The updated expected timetable includes a revised Long Stop Date such that the Acquisition will be conditional upon the Scheme becoming unconditional and becoming Effective, subject to the provisions of the Code, by no later than 11.59 p.m. on 15 July 2027, or such later date: (i) as may be agreed in writing by Ratio and Pharos (with the Panel's consent, if required); or (ii) (in a competitive situation) as may be specified by Ratio with the consent of the Panel; or (iii) as the Panel may direct under the Note on Section 3 of Appendix 7 of the Code, and, in each case, as the Court may approve (if such approval is required).
- Pharos Directors' recommendation of the Increased Ratio Offer
The Pharos Directors, who have been so advised by Rothschild & Co as to the financial terms of the Increased Ratio Offer, consider the terms of the Increased Ratio Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Pharos Directors, Rothschild & Co has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Pharos Directors. Rothschild & Co is providing independent financial advice to the Pharos Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Code.
Accordingly, the Pharos Directors unanimously recommend that Pharos Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting as the Pharos Directors who hold Pharos Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of 2,380,289 Pharos Shares representing, in aggregate, approximately 0.57 per cent. of the ordinary share capital of Pharos.
Helpline
| Latest time and date for receipt of the BLUE Form of Proxy, an electronic or a CREST or Proxymity Proxy Instruction or any other electronic voting instruction in respect of the Court Meeting | 11:00 a.m. on 26 August 2026 (1) |
| Latest time and date for receipt of the WHITE Form of Proxy, an electronic or a CREST or Proxymity Proxy Instruction or any other electronic voting instruction in respect of the General Meeting | 11:15 a.m. on 26 August 2026 (2) |
| Voting Record Time for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting | 6.30 p.m. on 26 August 2026 (3) |
| Court Meeting | 11:00 a.m. on 28 August 2026 |
| General Meeting | 11:15 a.m. on 28 August 2026 (4) |
The following dates and times associated with the Scheme are subject to change and will depend on, among other things, the date on which the Conditions to the Scheme other than Conditions 1 , 2.3 and 2.4 of Part A of Part 4 of the Scheme Document are satisfied or, if capable of waiver, waived and the date on which the Court sanctions the Scheme. Pharos will give adequate notice of all of these dates and times, when known, by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, with such announcement being made available on Pharos' website at https://www.pharos.energy/investors/offer-by-ratio-petroleum/ and on Ratio's website at https://ratiopetroleum.com/offer-disclaimer/ . Further updates and changes to these times will be notified in the same way.
| Sanction Hearing | As soon as reasonably practicable after the satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the Conditions (other than Conditions 1, 2.3 and 2.4 set out in Part A of Part 4 of the Scheme Document) and, in any event, on or prior to the Long-stop Date (" D ") |
| Last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, Pharos Shares on the Main Market | D+1 Business Day (5) |
| Scheme Record Time and record time for the Special Dividend | 6.00 p.m. on D+1 Business Day |
| Disablement of CREST in respect of Pharos Shares | 6.00 p.m. on D+1 Business Day |
| Suspension of the listing of, and dealings in, Pharos Shares on the Official List | By 7.30 a.m. on D+2 Business Days |
| Cancellation of the listing of Pharos Shares on the Official List and of admission to trading of Pharos Shares on the Main Market | By 8.00 a.m. on D+3 Business Days |
| Latest date for despatch of cheques and crediting of CREST accounts in respect of the cash consideration due under the Scheme | Within 14 days of the Effective Date |
| Payment of the Special Dividend | after the Scheme Record Time and within 14 days of the Effective Date (7) |
| Long-stop Date | 15 July 2027 (8) |
All references to time shown in this announcement are references to London (UK) time.
The Court Meeting and the General Meeting will each be held at the offices of Ashurst Perkins Coie UK LLP, London Fruit & Wool Exchange, 1 Duval Square, London, E1 6PW on 28 August 2026
Notes:
(1) It is requested that BLUE Forms of Proxy or CREST or Proxymity Proxy Instructions, or any other electronic voting instruction, in respect of the Court Meeting be lodged at least 48 hours prior to the time appointed for the Court Meeting (excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a non-working day) or, in the case of any adjournment, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned Court Meeting (excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a non-working day). BLUE Forms of Proxy that are not so lodged may be handed to the Chair of the Court Meeting or a representative of the Company's registrar, Equiniti, at the Court Meeting venue before the start of the Court Meeting.
(2) It is requested that WHITE Forms of Proxy or CREST or Proxymity Proxy Instructions, or any other electronic voting instruction, in respect of the General Meeting must be lodged at least 48 hours prior to the time appointed for the General Meeting (excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a non-working day) or, in the case of any adjournment, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned General Meeting (excluding any part of such 48 hour period falling on a non-working day). WHITE Forms of Proxy that are not so lodged may NOT be handed to the Chair of the General Meeting or a representative of the Company's registrar, Equiniti, before the start of or at the General Meeting.
- If either the Court Meeting or the General Meeting is adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned Meeting will be 6.30 p.m. on the day which is two Business Days before the date set for such adjourned Meeting and only Scheme Shareholders (in respect of the Court Meeting) and Pharos Shareholders (in respect of the General Meeting) on the register of members at such time shall be entitled to attend and vote at the relevant Meeting(s).
- Or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting shall have been concluded or been adjourned.
- Pharos Shares will be disabled in CREST from 6.00 p.m. on such date.
- The Scheme shall become Effective as soon as a copy of the Court Order has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies for registration. This may occur prior to the suspension of trading in Pharos Shares. The events which are stated as occurring on subsequent dates are conditional on the Effective Date and operate by reference to that date.
- The Special Dividend will be paid within 14 days of the Effective Date via a standing electronic payment mandate with the Company's Registrar, Equiniti, for the purpose of receiving dividend payments.
- This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become Effective unless Pharos and Ratio agree a later date (with the Panel's consent and as the Court may approve (if such consent/approval(s) are required)).
Scheme process
In accordance with Section 5 of Appendix 7 to the Code, Pharos or Ratio (as applicable) will announce through a Regulatory Information Service key events in the Scheme process, including the outcomes of the Meetings and the date of the Scheme Court Hearing and that the Scheme has become Effective.
Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.