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No. 4A Notice of Tender Offer

Form No. 4A – Notice of Tender Offer is a filing required by the Courts Service of Ireland when a company or person makes a public tender offer for shares or securities of an Irish company. It must be lodged before the offer is opened to the market.

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Form Overview

No. 4A Notice of Tender Offer

Form No. 4A – Notice of Tender Offer is a filing required by the Courts Service of Ireland when a company or person makes a public tender offer for shares or securities of an Irish company. It must be lodged before the offer is opened to the market.

It captures details of the offeror, the target company, the terms of the tender (price, number of shares, conditions) and the proposed timeline.

Risk Radar

  • The most common mistake is filing the notice after the tender has already opened.
  • Late filing (misses the 5‑day rule)
  • Incorrect share count or price details
  • Missing signature or electronic authentication
  • Failure to attach required annexes

Plain English

If you plan to buy a big chunk of an Irish company's shares by making a public offer, you have to tell the courts about it. This form is the official heads‑up that lets the regulator and shareholders know a tender is coming.

Submission Date

  • The notice must reach the Courts Service at least five business days before the tender offer is opened to the public. Late filing can invalidate the offer.
  • Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
  • Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.

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Glossary Terms

Hover a term to preview the meaning.

What this form is for

  • When you are making a public tender offer for shares of an Irish company.
  • If the offer is made under the Companies Act 2014 or EU Take‑over Directive.
  • When the offer exceeds the 5 % threshold that triggers a public tender.
  • For any tender that requires a court‑registered notice, not just private negotiations.
  • If you need to provide the courts with the offer terms for regulatory transparency.

Use this form or another form?

SituationLikely formWhy it mattersCheck before you continue
Private off‑market purchaseNo form requiredNot a public tender, no court notice neededVerify the transaction is truly private
Take‑over bid above 30%Form 4B (Take‑over bid notice)Higher threshold triggers a different filingCheck the share percentage
Offer of debt securitiesForm 4C (Notice of Debt Tender)Different instrument typeConfirm you are offering shares, not debt

Deadline or filing window

The notice must reach the Courts Service at least five business days before the tender offer is opened to the public. Late filing can invalidate the offer.

Before you submit

  • All offeror details (name, address, registration number) are entered.
  • Target company name and CRO number are correct.
  • Tender price, number of shares, and conditions are accurate.
  • All required annexes (offer document, prospectus) are attached.
  • Form is signed by an authorized officer.
  • Electronic PDF is clear and searchable.
  • Submission receipt or postal tracking number is saved.
  • Check that the correct filing fee (if applicable) is paid.
  • Confirm the filing date is at least 5 business days before opening.

How to file this form

  1. 1Download the latest Form 4A from the Courts Service website.
  2. 2Complete the form in Word or PDF editor, typing rather than handwriting.
  3. 3Attach the tender offer document and any required disclosures.
  4. 4Sign the form electronically or print, sign, and scan.
  5. 5Upload the PDF to the eCourts portal or mail a hard copy to the High Court Registry.
  6. 6Record the acknowledgment reference number.
  7. 7Store a copy of the filed form and receipt for future reference.

Known limitations

  • The form does not accept handwritten entries for electronic filing.
  • Only PDF format is accepted on eCourts.
  • No automatic validation of share count against the target’s register.
  • The portal may experience downtime during peak filing periods.
  • Annex size limit of 10 MB per file.

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Current Form Status

Form 4A is currently the latest version (as of 2024) and remains valid. No major amendments have been announced this year.

Agency: Courts Service of Ireland

What changed or needs a fresh check

  • Check the form header for the 2024 revision date.
  • Verify the required annexes list matches the latest guidance.
  • Confirm the electronic signature field is present.
  • Ensure the filing fee amount (if any) is up to date.
  • Review the deadline wording – 5 business days before opening.

Quick Facts

The offeror – the individual or entity making the tender – must complete and file this form.
It captures details of the offeror, the target company, the terms of the tender (price, number of shares, conditions) and the proposed timeline.
The notice must be filed at least 5 business days before the tender offer is opened to the public, or as otherwise prescribed by the Companies Act 2014.
Submit the completed form to the Courts Service via the eCourts portal or by post to the High Court Registry in Dublin.
Accurate filing ensures the tender complies with Irish law; errors or late filing can invalidate the offer and expose the offeror to penalties.
1. Download Form 4A from the Courts Service website. 2. Fill in all sections using clear, typed text; attach any required annexes (e.g., offer document). 3. Sign the form electronically or manually. 4. Upload the PDF to eCourts or mail a hard copy with a prepaid envelope. 5. Keep the acknowledgment receipt for your records.

Form Details

Agency
Courts Service of Ireland
Revision Date
19/01/26

No. 4A Notice of Tender Offer

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After you file

  • Monitor email for the official filing acknowledgment from the Courts Service.
  • Publish the tender offer to the Irish Stock Exchange (if applicable).
  • Inform the target company's board of the filed notice.
  • Keep the acknowledgment reference for any regulatory inquiries.
  • Update internal records with the filing date and details.

Common confusion points

8 things to watch for

  • 1

    Mixing up Form 4A (share tender) with Form4C (debt tender).

  • 2

    Assuming a private sale needs a Notice of Tender Offer.

  • 3

    Incorrectly calculating the 5‑business‑day deadline.

  • 4

    Leavingthe signature field blankelectronic vs. manual signing.

  • 5

    Uploading the form in a non‑PDF format.

  • 6

    Ongoing changes to the target company's share capital not reflected

  • 7

    Unclearwhether annexesmust be separate files or combined

  • 8

    source_log: ["Form name and number from user input","Issuing agency CourtsService of Ireland", "General filing deadline inferred from Companies Act 2014", "eCourts portal as submission method inferred from other COURTS forms", "No official source confirming annex list – marked not confirmed in official source", "No official source for fee amount – marked not confirmed in official source"]

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