Procedural matters on the unconditional date

1. For the purpose of the acceptance condition, the offeror may only take into account acceptances or purchases of shares in respect of which all relevant electronic instructions or documents (as required by Note 4 and Note 5 on Rule 10.1) are received by its receiving agent before the last time for acceptance set out in the offeror’s relevant document or announcement. This time must be no later than 1.00 pm on the unconditional date. In the event of an extension to Day 60 in circumstances other than those set out in paragraphs (a) to (d) of Rule 31.3, acceptances or purchases in respect of which relevant electronic instructions or documents are received after 1.00 pm on the relevant date may only be taken into account with the agreement of the Panel, which will only be given in exceptional circumstances.

2. Except with the consent of the Panel, on the unconditional date an announcement should be made by 5.00 pm as to whether:

   1. the offeror has received sufficient acceptances for the acceptance condition to be satisfied; and, if so

   2. all other conditions to the offer have been either satisfied or waived.

   Such announcement should include, if possible, the details required by Rule 17.2 but in any event must include a statement as to the current position in the count. The requirement to make an announcement by 5.00 pm should not be reflected in the terms of the offer pursuant to Rule 24.7, but, if there is any question of a delay in the announcement, the Panel should be consulted as soon as practicable. Only in exceptional circumstances will the Panel agree to an offeror’s request that this announcement may be made after 5.00 pm.