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Acceptance condition meaning

What does Acceptance condition mean?
In takeover practice, the acceptance condition is the minimum level of shareholder acceptances that must be achieved before a bidder can declare its offer unconditional as to acceptances; if not met, the bidder may allow the offer to lapse. Under the UK Takeover Code, Rule 10.1 requires any offer for voting equity share capital or other transferable securities carrying voting rights to include an acceptance condition that cannot be satisfied unless the offeror has acquired or agreed to acquire (under the offer or otherwise) shares carrying over 50% of the voting rights. For a mandatory offer, Rule 9.3 permits it to be conditional only on acceptances which, together with shares already acquired (or agreed to be acquired), result in the offeror and its concert parties holding over 50% of the voting rights. In a voluntary offer, bidders may set a higher threshold (for example, 75% or 90%) to facilitate delisting or squeeze-out, but never below the Rule 10.1 minimum. The concept and practice are broadly consistent in Ireland under the Irish Takeover Rules, which similarly require an acceptance condition exceeding 50% of voting rights for control.
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View the related Checklists about Acceptance condition

CHECKLISTS
Scottish commercial leases: practical checklist for negotiating repair and dilapidations provisions (FRI, latent defects, schedules of condition, common parts, insurance/rei interitus, consents, inspection rights and enforcement)

Repair under the common law Under the common law, a landlord, relative to a tenant, bears notably heavy duties regarding upkeep and repair of the leased premises, see Practice Note: Repair clauses in commercial leases in Scotland—Repair under the common law. Within commercial leasing, landlords will almost invariably aim to exclude all such common law repairing liabilities for the demised premises, though not for common areas in multi-let buildings; see Practice Note: Service charge and outgoing provisions in commercial leases in Scotland. Consequently, tenants usually shoulder substantial repair commitments. The prevalent model is the full repairing and insuring (FRI) lease, under which the tenant assumes responsibility for repairs of every kind save for damage arising from insured risks; see Practice Note: Repair clauses in commercial leases in Scotland—Contracting out of the common law—the full repairing and insuring (FRI) Lease and The modern commercial lease: Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia [466]...

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NEWS
UK Takeover Panel confirms Takeover Code reforms on DCSS, IPO disclosures and share buybacks, including Rule 9 dispensations and DCSS offer acceptance tests, effective 4 February 2026

What is the background? On 3 July 2025, the Code Committee issued consultation paper PCP 2025/1. It sought views on: a fresh framework for how the Code applies to companies with a dual class share structure (DCSS); new IPO disclosure obligations; and substantial revisions to the rules on share buybacks. The consultation period ended on 26 September 2025. For more detail on the proposals, see News Analysis: Takeover Panel proposes reforms to address dual class share structures, IPO disclosures and share buybacks. What did the Code Committee decide? The Panel received submissions from seven parties, spanning professional bodies, investors and academics. Respondents were firmly in favour of the package of reforms. Accordingly, the Panel approved the amendments from PCP 2025/1, while making limited drafting tweaks to the new Note 4 on Rule 16.1, the new Rule 37.1 (and the Notes thereon) and the new Rule 37.3, together with an extra change to Note 7 on Rule 26...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Offers in Contract Formation: objective test and offeree’s belief; invitations to treat; 'subject to contract', heads of terms and unilateral contracts; termination by withdrawal, rejection, lapse or condition

This Practice Note explores what is required for a legally binding offer. It covers: the meaning of ‘offer’ how to distinguish an offer from an invitation to treat, with common examples types of offer, ie proposals ‘subject to contract’, heads of terms, and unilateral contracts the ways in which offers can be terminated For practical guidance on valid acceptance, see Practice Note: Forming contracts—acceptance. For the court’s general approach to contract formation, see Practice Note: Forming enforceable contracts—the court's general approach. Note: Part 36 settlement offers made under CPR 36 fall outside the usual rules of contract law and are governed by the specific regime set out in CPR 36. For guidance on what constitutes a valid Part 36 offer, see Practice Note: Part 36 offers—how to make a valid Part 36 offer. The elements of a legally binding offer the offeror has, on an objective assessment, the intention that the offer will be binding upon...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK takeover disclosure obligations: interests and dealings under DTR 5, Companies Act 2006 sections 791–828 (including section 793) and the Takeover Code (Rules 7 and 8)

Disclosure of interests and dealings The reporting of shareholdings and transactions both before and throughout a takeover offer sits within a dense, robust and intersecting framework of statutes and rules. The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (Panel) views these disclosures as essential to uphold the General Principle in the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (Code) that every participant in an offer should prevent the formation of false markets in the securities of the offeror or the offeree. Practically, the obligation to reveal interests and trades during a takeover bid chiefly aims to discourage stakebuilding, where an individual amasses and parks, without any public announcement, a material stake in another company...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Takeover Code, Rule 32: offer revisions, no increase statements, competitive auctions, and offeree, employee and pension trustee opinions - publication duties, schemes, and Panel guidance

Rule 32—Setting the scene This Resource Note summarises the key provisions of Rule 32 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the Code), which concerns revisions to offers, including the obligation to publish a revised offer document, no increase statements, competitive situations and the offeree board’s opinion on any revised offer. It signposts pertinent materials, commentary and guidance from the Panel, together with Lexis+® UK analysis and resources, to offer practical support on interpreting and applying Rule 32. Code and Lexis+® UK resources Practice Statements issued by the Panel Executive (the body handling the day-to-day supervision and regulation of takeovers) (Executive), giving informal guidance on how the Executive typically interprets and applies the Code Panel Statements published by the Panel (P/S) and Panel Instruments Public Consultation Papers (PCP) and Response Statements (RS) issued by the Code Committee Annual Reports published by the Panel discussing broader issues (Annual Reports) Relevant Lexis+® UK resources What it covers ...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent conditions and further terms for a UK Takeover Code public offer (Appendix 1A)

APPENDIX [ 1 ]—Conditions and further terms of the Offer Part A 1 Conditions The Offer is subject to the following conditions: 1.1 Acceptance condition receipt of valid acceptances (and such acceptances not being validly withdrawn in accordance with the rules and requirements of the Code and the terms of the Offer) by no later than 1.00 pm (London time) on the Unconditional Date (or at such other time(s) and/or date(s) as [ Offeror ] may, subject to the rules of the Code or with the consent of the Panel, determine) in respect of Shares which, together with all other Shares acquired by [ Offeror ] (whether pursuant to the Offer or otherwise), carry not less than [ 90 ] per cent. (or such lower percentage as [ Offeror ] may decide) of the nominal value of the Shares to which the Offer relates and of the voting rights attached to those Shares, provided that (a) this Condition shall not be met unless [ Offeror...

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PRECEDENTS
Archived precedent: Rule 17.1 level of acceptances and extension of offer announcement under the Takeover Code (pre‑July 2021)

This Precedent has been archived and not maintained since the Takeover Code (Code)’s revision in July 2021. This precedent is no longer updated following the July 2021 revision of the Takeover Code (the Code). It related to circumstances in which an offeror disclosed the level of acceptances of an offer under Rule 17.1 of the Code where the offer had been extended. Before the July 2021 changes, the Code enabled an offeror to set successive closing dates to assess whether the acceptance condition had been met. If, on a closing date, that condition was not satisfied, the offeror could either allow the offer to lapse or continue it by specifying a new closing date. The Code has now removed the concept of closing dates; instead, all offer conditions must be satisfied by Day 60. 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...

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PRECEDENTS
Archived, pre‑2021 UK Takeover Code precedent: announcement declaring offer unconditional as to acceptances, covering acceptance levels, offer open for acceptance, acceptance procedures, potential cancellation of listing and compulsory acquisition.

Announcement declaring offer unconditional as to acceptances This archived Precedent comprises an announcement stating that an offer is unconditional in respect of acceptances. It has not been updated following the July 2021 changes to the Takeover Code. Under the current Code, and save for certain exceptions, the acceptance condition should only be capable of being met once all other offer conditions have either been satisfied or waived. For an example announcement that declares an offer unconditional, refer to Precedent: Announcement declaring offer unconditional. Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in, into or from any jurisdiction where doing so would contravene the applicable laws or regulations of that jurisdiction...

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