Webpage related to Ageas's Possible Offer for Direct Line

DISCLAIMER – IMPORTANT

Possible offer (the “Possible Offer”) by Ageas for Direct Line

You are attempting to enter the webpage which is designated for the publication of electronic versions of materials relating to the Possible Offer.

ACCESS TO THIS WEBPAGE MAY BE RESTRICTED UNDER SECURITIES LAWS IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS. THIS NOTICE REQUIRES YOU TO CONFIRM CERTAIN MATTERS (INCLUDING THAT YOU ARE NOT RESIDENT IN SUCH A JURISDICTION), BEFORE YOU MAY OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE WEBPAGE. THE WEBPAGE IS NOT DIRECTED AT, AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ACCESSIBLE BY, PERSONS RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION OR WOULD RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT TO COMPLY WITH CONSENT OR OTHER FORMALITY WHICH AGEAS REGARDS AS UNDULY ONEROUS.

THIS WEBPAGE CONTAINS ANNOUNCEMENTS, DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION (THE “INFORMATION”) PUBLISHED BY AGEAS AND DIRECT LINE RELATING TO THE POSSIBLE OFFER IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE “CODE”). THE INFORMATION IS BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN GOOD FAITH AND FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND ITS AVAILABILITY IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT BELOW.

Please read this notice carefully - it applies to all persons who view the webpage and, depending upon who you are and where you live, it may affect your rights. This notice and the information contained herein may be altered or updated from time to time, and should be read in full carefully each time you visit this part of the website. In addition, the contents of the webpage may be amended at any time, in whole or in part, at our sole discretion.

Nothing on the webpage, nor anything which can be downloaded from it, is intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of an offer or recommendation to sell or any part of an offer for sale or subscription or any solicitation for any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities, or the solicitation of any votes attaching to securities which are the subject of the Possible Offer in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. In particular, these materials are not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the US Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), or an exemption therefrom.

Access to the webpage

To allow you to view the Information, you must read this notice in its entirety and then click “CONFIRM”. If you are unable to confirm you must click “DECLINE”.

Overseas Persons

Viewing the Information you are seeking to access may not be lawful in certain jurisdictions. In other jurisdictions, only certain categories of person may be allowed to view the Information. Any persons outside the United Kingdom who wish to view the Information must first satisfy themselves that they are not subject to any local requirements that prohibit or restrict them from doing so and should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements applicable in their jurisdiction.

If you are not a resident of or located in a restricted jurisdiction, you may access any communication or document in relation to the Possible Offer but you are responsible for first satisfying yourself as to the full observance of the laws and regulatory requirements of your jurisdiction. If you are not permitted to view any communication or document in relation to the Possible Offer by virtue of applicable laws or regulatory requirements, please exit this webpage.

Basis of access

The Information is made available in good faith and does not constitute an offer to sell or otherwise dispose of or an invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities pursuant to the Possible Offer or otherwise in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.

The Information has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English and Welsh law and the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers and the Information may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this information had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction outside of England and Wales.

The information contained on this webpage speaks only at the date of the relevant document or announcement reproduced on this webpage, and Ageas has, and accepts, no responsibility or duty to update any such information, document or announcement and reserves the right to add to, remove or amend any information reproduced on this webpage at any time.

Similarly, copies of the contents of the following pages (including documents posted thereon) are not being, and must not be, released or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into a restricted jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not distribute or send them in, into or from a restricted jurisdiction.

If you are not permitted to view materials on this webpage or are in any doubt as to whether you are permitted to view these materials, please exit this webpage and seek independent advice. Neither Ageas nor any of its advisers, assumes any responsibility for any violation by any person of any of these restrictions.

Responsibility

In relation to any document, announcement or information contained in the webpage, the only responsibility accepted by the directors of Ageas is for the correctness and fairness of its reproduction or presentation unless a responsibility statement in any relevant document expressly provides otherwise.

Neither the directors of Ageas, nor any of its affiliated companies, have reviewed, and no such person is or shall be responsible for or accepts any liability in respect of, any information contained on any other website which may be linked to this webpage by a third party.

Forward-looking statements

The Information (including information incorporated by reference) in this webpage may contain forward-looking statements regarding [Ageas’s financial position], [the current expectations of the management of Direct Line, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in any document may be forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements also often use words such as [“anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “may”, “should”, “will”] and words of similar meaning. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the [respective documents]. Ageas expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement (except to the extent legally required).

Unless expressly stated otherwise, no statement contained or referred to in this webpage is intended to be a profit forecast.

Other

If you are in any doubt about the contents of the webpage or the action you should take, you should seek your own financial advice from an independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or, if you are located outside the United Kingdom, from an appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.

Acceptance of Disclaimer

Electronic versions of the Information are not directed at or accessible by persons resident in any restricted jurisdiction. Accordingly, you may only access the webpage if you are able to provide the below confirmations. If you are resident or located in any restricted jurisdiction, you must click on the relevant box below in order to exit the webpage.

Confirmation of understanding and acceptance

In order to view the Information on the webpage, please click on the “CONFIRM” box below. By clicking on the “CONFIRM” box below, you are making the following confirmations:

1. I have read and understood the notice set out above and agree to be bound by its terms.
2. I certify that I am a resident of or located in the United Kingdom or another jurisdiction into which the distribution of the Information on the webpage does not constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction and I am not acting on behalf of someone who is resident or located in a restricted jurisdiction.
3. I agree that I will not copy, forward, transfer or distribute (by any means including by electronic transmission) any documents included in the webpage either in whole or in part to any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution may be restricted by applicable law or regulation.
4. I represent and warrant to Ageas that I intend to access this webpage for information purposes only, that I have read and understood the notice set out above and that I understand that it may affect my rights or responsibilities.

If you are not able to give these confirmations (as applicable), we cannot provide you with the Information on the webpage and you should click on the “DECLINE” box below.