LONDON, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Future Planet Capital (FPC) is delighted to be working with NatWest Cushon, with a view to the Cushon Master Trust potentially making an investment in the British Co-Investment Fund (BCF). Any future investment will be subject to commercial terms, due diligence, and Trustee approval. If approved, NatWest Cushon’s participation would signify a major step forward, creating new avenues for British pension funds to access high-growth, private technology companies at scale. In partnership with pension solutions provider Mobius Life, the Fund will channel pension investment into the UK’s most innovative and impactful businesses.  

The BCF closely aligns with the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s vision under the Mansion House Reforms, aiming to unlock large-scale investment in key British industries. It emphasises the private sector’s pivotal role in accelerating innovation and economic growth, through supporting the UK’s most promising and high-impact technology businesses.

Historically, British pension funds have had limited access to high-growth investment opportunities within the UK, meaning that overseas investors have been the primary beneficiaries of the nation’s flourishing innovation economy. Indeed, according to the BVCA, 86% of venture capital investment comes from overseas investors.  To redress the balance, the BCF will be one of the first funds designed specifically for UK regular savings pension funds. It will offer direct and ongoing access to investments in the strategic technologies of the future.

Examples of companies likely to benefit from the Fund’s investments include Tokamak Energy, a world-record holder in nuclear fusion technology. The government-backed UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, was the first investor in Tokamak Energy, which has since gone on to raise over $250m. This demonstrates the role of public-private partnership in supporting British technology to drive both economic growth and environmental impact. With the support of mainstream British capital, much more can now be done.

Lord Norman Foster, Chair of Future Planet Capital’s Advisory Board shared, “One of our most important tasks is to anticipate the future and find ways to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people and the planet. We will need intellectual and financial capital to make that happen. This partnership supports the excellent work that is being done to invest in ground-breaking technologies which offer incredible potential.” 

Douglas Hansen-Luke, Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Future Planet Capital, commented, “This collaboration enables British pension savers to support the next generation of British innovation, ensuring that UK capital not only backs but also benefits from the country’s technological and sustainable advancements.”

Julius Pursaill, Pensions expert and advisor to the Cushon Master Trust, said:
“There are a number of good reasons to support the UK Growth agenda. Innovations like the British Co-Investment Fund play an important role in delivering on this objective by driving financial growth whilst also offering access to innovative, impact-focused sectors such as climate technology and artificial intelligence, which can help secure the future for pension savers and broader society.”

About Future Planet Capital

Future Planet Capital is an impact-led venture capital firm built to back growth companies from the world’s top universities and research ecosystems. Founded in Britain with global outlook and reach, Future Planet Capital manages over $460m for public and private investors and has deployed a further $200m of co-investment. With 140 portfolio companies across geographies and stages their mission is to invest in high-growth companies solving global challenges. Mapped against the UN Sustainable Development Goals, these include climate change, education, health, security, and sustainable growth.

For more information visit: https://futureplanetcapital.com/

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Other potential investments include: 

Tropic Biosciences, founded in 2016 with an initial investment from Future Planet Capital’s UKI2S fund, is reshaping agriculture to improve resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in food production.

Roslin Technologies, spun out of the University of Edinburgh, pioneers the development of pluripotent stem cells for cultivated meat. Their technology addresses the global protein gap by enabling scalable, sustainable meat production without raising animals. By providing genetically stable, self-replicating stem cells, Roslin delivers solutions that reduce production costs to less than $15/kg, positioning itself as a leader in a $2BN cell market by 2035.

Beam (formally known as Rovco) is a growth-stage autonomous robotics company specialising in subsea services for the offshore wind sector. With £19 million in 2023 revenue, the company is rapidly scaling, leveraging cutting-edge AI and computer vision to lead the way in subsea autonomy.

Quotes of Support:

Lord Wei of Shoreditch
”Changing the world and making an impact at scale is really tough and at times can be a lonely place. Future Planet Capital has managed to pull together globally an immense network of investors, founders, and experts to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. It is truly a fellowship, and a font of innovation, as well as being a premier fund platform. In these fast changing times it is so reassuring to know that there are innovators working on making the world a safer, cooler, and better place, whose chances of success are being supercharged through the FPC community.”

Jim Wilkinson, Chief Financial Officer, Oxford Science Enterprises
‘Future Planet Capital’s investment strategy offers not only something different, but something that has been lacking in this space. Its approach as well as its scope -involving a remarkable series of partnerships with leading universities and university venture funds – make it a very valuable strategic partner for anyone active in this field.’

Paul Abberley, Investment Governance Board Chair
CEO at Charles Stanley, one of the oldest firms on the London Stock Exchange. Previously the CEO / CIO of Aviva Investors. 

‘Successful innovations deliver superior investment returns. When those innovations have a positive impact on broader society, the capital investments which makes them possible benefit all stakeholders. Responsible investing of this type is easy to envisage but harder to implement, because identification of suitable opportunities is so challenging. The Future Planet approach bridges that gap.’

Priya Guha OBE, Member of the Future Planet Capital Investment Governance Board
‘With the Chancellor firing the starting gun on this Government’s pension reforms in yesterday’s Mansion House Speech, I am delighted Future Planet Capital are able to announce they are in discussion with NatWest Cushon for an investment into the British Co-Investment Fund.  With their strong reputation for investing in high-growth high-impact companies in the technology sector, Future Planet Capital’s BCF is exactly the right vehicle through which pension funds can back the scaling companies of the future; a win-win for British scale-ups and for British pensioners.’

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Matthew Hurn OBE, Deputy Chair of Future Planet Capital’s Advisory Board
‘The UK Growth agenda presents an exciting opportunity and it is vital that we have in place the tools needed to fulfil this potential. I strongly welcome this partnership which signals an important step forward – helping to pave the way to greater financial growth while offering savers access to world leading, impactful innovation.’

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dc-to-vc–natwest-cushon-and-future-planet-capital-lead-the-charge-in-uk-pension-access-to-british-innovation-302306339.html

SUGAR LAND, Texas, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Noble Corporation plc (“Noble“, the “Company“) (NYSE: NE, CSE: NOBLE) announces that today, Noble has submitted a request for the voluntary removal of its shares (in the form of share entitlements) (the “Danish Shares“) from trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S (“Nasdaq Copenhagen“) (the “Delisting“) pursuant to Rule 22(ii) of Supplement A of the Nordic Main Market Rulebook for Issuers of Shares. If Nasdaq Copenhagen accepts the request for voluntary delisting, Noble expects the Delisting to occur by mid-December 2024.

The request for the Delisting will not affect Noble’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange and Noble will remain traded on the New York Stock Exchange as Noble’s primary listing exchange.

Background for applying for the Delisting

As described in Noble’s company announcement of July 18, 2024, following a comprehensive review, Noble believes that the trading volume of its Danish Shares on Nasdaq Copenhagen no longer justifies the expense and administrative requirements associated with maintaining this dual listing. Noble’s primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange provides its shareholders with sufficient liquidity, as the New York Stock Exchange accounts for approximately 99% of its trading volume. The substantial savings in exchange fees, legal fees, and managerial time and effort to maintain a dual listing can be redirected to initiatives intended to generate shareholder value.

Consequently, the board of directors of Noble has resolved to request Nasdaq Copenhagen for a Delisting of Noble.

Possible courses of action for holders of Noble’s Danish Shares

Provided that Noble’s request for Delisting is accommodated, holders of Danish Shares may:

• Dispose of their Danish Shares on Nasdaq Copenhagen before the Delisting is effective; or
• Convert their Danish Shares to an equivalent number of Noble shares tradeable on the New York Stock Exchange (“Noble NYSE Shares“).

Alternatively, holders of Danish Shares may do nothing but will hold an illiquid asset following the Delisting.

Disposal of Danish Shares before the Delisting is effective

Following receipt of the expected approval of Noble’s Delisting, the Danish Shares will remain tradeable on Nasdaq Copenhagen for a period of approximately 4 weeks. As such, it will be possible to dispose of the Danish Shares on Nasdaq Copenhagen within the trading period.

Conversion of Danish Shares to Noble NYSE Shares

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If holders of Danish Shares want to continue to own publicly tradeable Noble shares after the Delisting, the shareholder must convert its Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares either before or after the Delisting.

To convert Danish Shares to Noble NYSE Shares, the holder of Danish Shares must instruct its financial intermediary (bank or broker) to contact Euronext Securities Copenhagen (Noble’s Danish transfer agent). The procedure for converting Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares may take several trading days.

To receive Noble NYSE Shares, the shareholder must be able to take delivery of shares issued through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC“). This requires access to a U.S. securities account.

Furthermore, holders of Danish Shares should contact their financial intermediary (bank or broker) about handling fees for the conversion of Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares and costs associated with holding shares in DTC and trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Any such costs may be borne by the individual shareholder. Noble currently pays ‘safe keeping’ fees for holders who hold Danish Shares and will continue to do so only until the anticipated Delisting, at which time any holders of Danish Shares who have not converted their Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares or disposed of their Danish Shares shall be responsible for these fees on their unlisted Danish Shares.

Holders of Danish Shares should contact their financial intermediary (bank or broker) to assist with any conversion and to answer any questions on process or fees.

Retaining Danish Shares as unlisted securities

Following the Delisting, any Danish Shares not sold or converted will cease to be admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen (or any stock exchange). As such, shareholders holding Danish Shares will have an illiquid asset and will most likely need to convert their Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares (see above) if and when they wish to sell their shares. A shareholder holding Danish Shares will continue to be able to convert their Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares after the Delisting, subject to certain fees.

Certain financial intermediaries (banks or brokers) may have policies regarding shares that are delisted and may require conversion from Danish Shares into Noble NYSE Shares. Please contact your financial intermediary, bank, broker or financial adviser for assistance.

Changes for shareholders holding Danish Shares

Shareholder rights

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The ordinary shareholder rights associated with holding Danish Shares will remain unchanged following the Delisting. Consequently, if shareholders holding Danish Shares choose to retain their Danish Shares after the Delisting is effective, they will retain the same shareholder rights as prior to the Delisting, i.e., the right to vote at general meetings and receive dividends, etc. The Danish Shares will continue to be registered in Euronext Securities Copenhagen.

In addition, the shareholder rights, including entitlements to dividends and voting rights, associated with holding Noble NYSE Shares are the same as those associated with the holding Danish Shares. However, whereas the Danish Shares are eligible to receive dividends in DKK and while still admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen are traded in DKK, the Noble NYSE Shares are traded in USD and are eligible to receive dividends in USD.

Disclosure requirements

Shareholders holding Danish Shares should be advised that subsequent to the Delisting becoming effective, the shares of Noble will not be subject to the disclosure requirements applicable for companies with shares admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen. However, Noble will through its the primary listing of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange remain subject to the extensive disclosure requirements under U.S. securities laws and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange.

Tax consequences 

The shareholders holding Danish Shares are treated as owning listed shares for Danish tax purposes.

The Delisting should not have any adverse Danish tax impact on Danish tax residents who choose to convert their Danish Shares and thus after the Delisting will hold Noble NYSE Shares.

The shareholders holding Danish Shares who choose to dispose of their Danish Shares will be taxed as a sale of listed shares.

The above assessments should apply to all Danish shareholders holding Danish Shares, regardless of whether they are individuals or corporate entities. Non-Danish shareholders are generally not taxable on a sale of Danish listed shares.

The shareholders holding Danish Shares that do not sell or convert their Danish Shares, and thus retain their Danish Shares after the Delisting, are expected to continue to own listed shares for Danish tax purposes. A binding ruling has been sought to confirm this expectation, but at the time of this announcement, no final ruling has yet been issued by the Danish tax authorities. If the Danish Shares are deemed to be unlisted for Danish tax purposes after the Delisting, the Delisting itself may trigger taxation for certain Danish tax resident individuals.   

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Noble does not provide tax or legal advice and the above information is informational only. Please note that as each holder of Danish Shares’ circumstances may differ, Noble encourages each holder of Danish Shares to consult with their own tax and/or financial adviser.

About Noble Corporation
Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile, and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921. Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of offshore drilling units focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. For further information visit www.noblecorp.com or email [email protected].

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or contain any invitation, solicitation, recommendation, offer or advice to any person to subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of Noble.

Certain statements in this announcement, including any attachments hereto, may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements (other than statements of historical fact) relating to future events and Noble and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Noble Group“). The words “targets”, “believes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “plans”, “seeks”, “will”, “may”, “might”, “anticipates”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “estimates”, “projects”, “potentially” or similar expressions or the negatives thereof, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Other forward-looking statements can be identified in the context in which the statements are made.

Although Noble believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date of this announcement, such forward-looking statements are based on Noble’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, assumptions and projections about the particular events in question.

Any forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including any attachment hereto, speak only as of today. Noble does not intend, and does not assume, any obligations to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as may be required by law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Copenhagen. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Noble or to persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referred to above and contained in this announcement, including any attachment hereto.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/noble-corporation-plc-announces-submission-of-request-for-removal-from-trading-and-official-listing-on-nasdaq-copenhagen-302306031.html

NINGBO, China, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On November 13, the 2024 United Nations International Procurement Seminar (IPS) commenced in Ningbo, marking the first time this authoritative, high-profile and professional conference has been held in Asia. The event brought together 50 senior procurement officials and representatives from 16 UN agencies, alongside over 200 supplier representatives from both domestic and international markets.

The selection of Ningbo as the venue prompts the question of why the UN chose Asia, and specifically China, for this significant event. A representative from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) office in China encapsulated the sentiment with the phrase “mutual engagement.”

In recent years, the total value of UN procurement has steadily climbed, reaching as high as $29.6 billion. Traditionally, the IPS has been held primarily in Europe three times a year. As the UN seeks to innovate its procurement methods and achieve sustainable development goals, it has increasingly turned its attention to China.

“China has a diverse industrial landscape, offering high-quality products and services at competitive prices. By increasing its procurement of Chinese goods, the UN can enhance the efficiency of its funding use, allowing more developing countries to benefit from UN development aid projects. This aligns with our mutual interests,” noted an official from the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of International Trade and Economic Relations.

Ningbo has consistently emphasized the importance of UN procurement, organizing various initiatives for local enterprises to engage in UN procurement activities in recent years. In September last year, the city hosted the China (Ningbo) UN Procurement Promotion Conference, helping nearly 110 companies successfully register on the official United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) website.

Following this event, the UNDP office in China expressed gratitude, recognizing Ningbo’s thriving manufacturing and foreign trade service sectors as having substantial potential to provide innovative solutions for UN procurement. “Ningbo serves as both a catalyst and a bridge, linking China with the world and the UN,” stated Neris M. Baez, Director of the UN Secretariat Procurement Division.

The UN procurement system offers several advantages, including duty exemptions, low exchange rate risks, market stability, and avoidance of trade barriers. These factors can assist in opening markets in countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, generating potential benefits and spillover effects.

“China possesses a comprehensive and robust industrial and supply chain and is a globally influential logistics hub. However, we currently lack the necessary channels to connect with international high standards. The key to expanding institutional openness lies in mastering international high-standard trade regulations,” emphasized a representative from the Ningbo Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

If this seminar enables participants to become familiar with international high-standard trade regulations, it could establish a robust support system for engaging in UN procurement. This would create new opportunities in the international public procurement sector, empowering enterprises to secure more international orders through the UNGM website. From this perspective, the seminar represents an important “icebreaking journey.”

Contact: Sun Jiali
Tel.: 0086-18069269225
E-mail: [email protected]

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