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Takeover Panel or the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers meaning

What does Takeover Panel or the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers mean?
In UK public M&A, the Takeover panel (Panel on Takeovers and Mergers) is the independent body that makes, interprets and enforces the UK Takeover Code, overseeing takeover bids to ensure fair treatment of shareholders and an orderly market. Established in 1968 and placed on a statutory footing by the Companies Act 2006 (Part 28), it issues the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, supervises transactions within the Code’s scope and gives rulings, directions, dispensations and derogations (including Rule 9 “whitewash” waivers). The Panel regulates the offer timetable, disclosure of dealings (Rule 8), mandatory bids (Rule 9) and other conduct of public takeovers. It can review decisions through its Hearings Committee, with further appeal to the independent Takeover Appeal Board, and may censure parties, recommend “cold-shouldering” and apply to the court to enforce compliance. The Code generally applies to offers for companies with registered offices in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man that satisfy the Code’s jurisdiction tests (including most companies with securities admitted to the Main Market, AIM or AQSE). Usage in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is consistent. In Ireland, a separate Irish Takeover Panel administers the Irish Takeover Rules; references are jurisdiction-specific.
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View the related Checklists about Takeover Panel or the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers

CHECKLISTS
Hostile offer timetable (archived)—offers announced before 5 July 2021 under the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers: key dates, rules and procedural steps

This archived timetable covers the key steps on a hostile offer that is announced before 5 July 2021 It has not been updated following the Code’s July 2021 overhaul. For additional illustrations of takeover timetables, consult: Timetable—recommended offer—before 5 July 2021 Timetable—recommended offer Timetable—hostile offer Timetable—scheme of arrangement On 31 March 2021, the Takeover Panel (Panel) issued a response statement confirming it would press ahead with changes to the Code concerning how offer conditions are handled and the sequencing of the offer timetable. The revised Code applies to any firm offer announced on or after 5 July 2021 (the implementation date), save where applying it would create a retrospective effect. Firm offers already in progress that bridge the implementation date—and any offers announced on or after that date which compete with those ongoing offers—remain governed by the pre-amendment provisions of the Code. Appendix D of the consultation paper contains a diagram setting out the principal distinctions between the previous and...

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CHECKLISTS
Public-to-private re-registration (section 97, Companies Act 2006): UK checklist of approvals, documentation, meetings, Companies House filings, delisting and post-registration actions

This checklist provides a concise guide to the actions to take and the documents to prepare for a public limited company to re-register as a private limited company under section 97 of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006). It covers: Preliminary considerations Documentation Meetings and procedures Companies House filings and certificates Cancellation of listing and trading—additional matters Post-registration matters Preliminary considerations Step, notes/resources, and a tick box to confirm completion or consideration. Listed public companies and unlisted ‘transitional companies’ should consult the Takeover Panel for guidance on suitable disclosures for the company’s shareholders and on recommended wording to include in the circular to shareholders. Draft the relevant section of the circular to shareholders explaining the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (Code) and the protections it gives shareholders that will be lost on re-registration, and send it to the Panel Executive for prior approval. Re-registration of a public company as a private limited company ...

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View the related News about Takeover Panel or the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers

NEWS
UK corporate law update: Takeover Panel Rule 20.1, ECCTA 2023 regulations, payment practices reporting reforms, Velocys scheme, 2023 public M&A trends, key dates and trackers - 18 January 2024

In this issue: Public company takeovers Market Standards Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 Accounts and reports General meetings; schemes of arrangement Key developments and horizon scanning Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Public company takeovers Takeover Panel releases bulletin on Rule 20.1 and representative directors The Takeover Panel has issued Panel Bulletin 6 on how Rule 20.1 of the Takeover Code operates, requiring equal information to be available to shareholders of an offeree company (Offeree) and to those with information rights. It reminds participants in an actual or potential offer to consider Rule 20.1 where a representative director of the Offeree, who represents a shareholder of the Offeree, receives information from the Offeree and that information is passed to the appointing shareholder, whether by the representative director or by the Offeree. See: LNB News 15/01/2024 67. Market Standards ...

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View the related Practice Notes about Takeover Panel or the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers

PRACTICE NOTES
UK Takeover Code Rule 37: Share buybacks, dual class share structures and enfranchising non‑voting shares—Rule 9 mandatory offer implications, Panel waivers/dispensations and 2026 reforms

Rule 37—Setting the scene This Resource Note summarises the core features of Rule 37 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (Code). It concerns company share repurchases, companies with dual class share arrangements and the enfranchisement of a company’s non‑voting shares, and the situations in which such structures or arrangements could trigger a mandatory offer under Rule 9 of the Code. It also flags relevant materials, commentary and guidance from the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (Panel), together with Lexis+® UK analysis and resources, to provide practical direction on interpreting and applying Rule 37. Materials covered in this Resource Note include: Practice Statements issued by the Panel Executive (the body responsible for the day‑to‑day conduct of takeover supervision and regulation) (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) published by the Code Committee Annual Reports published by...

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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 21: frustrating action restrictions, offer-related arrangements (including inducement fees), equality of information and MBO information for independent directors—Panel guidance and 2023–2025 amendments

This Resource Note summarises the core provisions of Rule 21 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the Code). It covers the limits on an offeror taking frustrating action in connection with an offer, and the approach to inducement fees and other offer-related arrangements. Rule 21 also mandates that competing offerors are given equivalent information, and that the offeree’s independent directors receive all information supplied to external finance providers in a management buy-out. It signposts relevant materials, commentary and guidance from the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the Panel), alongside Lexis+® UK analysis and resources, to provide practical direction on the interpretation and application of Rule 21... Materials covered in this Resource Note include: Practice Statements issued by the Panel Executive (the body responsible for the day-to-day supervision and regulation of takeovers) (Executive), offering informal guidance on how the Executive typically interprets and applies the Code Panel Statements issued by the Panel (P/S) and Panel Instruments Public Consultation Papers (PCP) and Response Statements...

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View the related Precedents about Takeover Panel or the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers

PRECEDENTS
Precedent deed: shareholder irrevocable undertaking to support Part 26 scheme of arrangement (UK Takeover Code; England and Wales law)

The Directors [ insert offeror's name ] ([ Offeror ]) [ insert address ] [ and ] [ The Directors ] [ [ insert name of financial adviser ] (the Adviser ) [ insert address ] ] [ insert date ] Dear Directors Proposed acquisition of [ name of offeree ] ([ Offeree ]) It is our understanding that [ Offeror ] intends to acquire (the Acquisition ) [ all ] the issued [ and to be issued ] [ ordinary ] shares of [ insert nominal value ] each in [ Offeree ] (the Shares ) for the consideration, and otherwise substantially on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the draft press announcement enclosed with this letter (the Announcement ), subject to such modifications or additions to such terms and conditions as may be required by the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the Code ), the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the Panel ), the High Court of Justice in England and...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent shareholder irrevocable undertaking to accept takeover offer under the City Code — deed with voting and dealing restrictions, consents and power of attorney — governed by England and Wales law

The Directors [ insert offeror's name ] ([ Offeror ]) [ insert address ] [ and ] [ The Directors ] [ [ insert name of financial adviser ] (the Adviser ) [ insert address ] ] [ insert date ] Dear Directors Proposed offer for [ name of offeree ] ([ Offeree ]) We note that [ Offeror ] intends to put forward an offer for [ all ] the issued [ and to be issued ordinary ] shares of [ insert nominal value ] each in [ Offeree ] (the Shares ) [ excluding those already held by [ Offeror ] ], for the consideration and otherwise broadly on the terms and subject to the conditions described in the draft press announcement enclosed with this letter (the Announcement), in each case subject to any modifications or additions required by the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the Code), the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the Panel) or any applicable law or regulation. ...

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PRECEDENTS
Director’s deed of irrevocable undertaking for Companies Act 2006 Part 26 scheme under UK Takeover Code: voting, dealing restrictions and power of attorney (England and Wales)

The Directors[ Insert offeror's name ] ([ Offeror ])[ Insert address ][ and ][ The Directors ][ [ Insert name of offeror’s financial adviser ] (the Adviser) [ Insert address ] ][ Insert date ] Dear Directors Proposed acquisition of [ name of offeree ] ([ Offeree ]) [ I OR We ] acknowledge that [ Offeror ] intends to proceed with an acquisition (the Acquisition) of [ all ] the issued [ and to be issued ordinary ] shares of [ insert nominal value ] each in [ Offeree ] (the Shares). The consideration, and the principal terms and conditions, are described in the draft press announcement enclosed with this letter (the Announcement), and may be amended or supplemented as required by the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the Code), the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the Panel), the High Court of Justice in England and Wales (the Court), or any other applicable law or regulation. [ I OR We ] further understand that the...

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