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RNS Number : 6934T Advent International L.P. 01 August 2025
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 SUCH JURISDICTION
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1 August 2025
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
Spectris plc ("Spectris")
by
MI Metron UK Bidco Ltd ("Bidco")
an indirect subsidiary of funds managed and/or advised by Advent
International, L.P. ("Advent")
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
RECOMMENDED INCREASED CASH OFFER
WITHDRAWAL OF RECOMMENDATION OF KKR OFFER AND INTENDED ADJOURNMENT OF
SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS FOR KKR OFFER
The boards of Bidco and Spectris are pleased to announce that they have
reached agreement on the terms of a recommended increased cash offer at an
offer value of £41.00 per Spectris Share, comprising £40.72 in cash and an
interim dividend of 28 pence per Spectris Share (the "Increased Advent
Offer").
1. Increased Offer
On 23 June 2025, the boards of Bidco and Spectris, announced that they had
reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition by Bidco of
the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Spectris (the
"Acquisition") for an offer value of £37.63 per Spectris Share, comprising
£37.35 in cash and an interim dividend of 28 pence per Spectris Share (the
"Original Advent Offer"), to be implemented by way of a court-sanctioned
scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the "Original
Announcement").
On 2 July 2025, the boards of Spectris and Project Aurora Bidco Limited, a
special purpose vehicle indirectly wholly-owned by funds advised by Kohlberg
Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. and its affiliates, announced that they had
reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer by Project Aurora
Bidco Limited for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Spectris
for an offer value of £40.00 per Spectris Share, comprising £39.72 in cash
and an interim dividend of 28 pence per Spectris Share (the "KKR Offer").
On 29 July 2025, Spectris announced that it had published a circular in
relation to the scheme of arrangement to implement the KKR Offer setting out,
amongst other things, a letter from the Chair of Spectris, an explanatory
statement pursuant to section 897 of the Companies Act and notices convening
the necessary shareholder meetings relating to the KKR Offer for 27 August
2025 (the "Shareholder Meetings").
This announcement should be read in conjunction with the full text of the
Original Announcement. Capitalised terms used in this announcement shall,
unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as set out in the Original
Announcement.
The boards of Bidco and Spectris are pleased to announce that they have
reached agreement on the terms of a recommended increased cash offer pursuant
to which Spectris Shareholders will be entitled to receive an offer value of
£41.00 per Spectris Share, comprising £40.72 in cash and an interim dividend
of 28 pence per Spectris Share, for the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of Spectris (the "Increased Advent Offer"). The Increased Advent Offer
is proposed to be implemented by way of a court-sanctioned scheme of
arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act.
The Spectris Directors intend to unanimously recommend that Spectris
Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the
Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting in connection with the
Increased Advent Offer. In light of their intended recommendation of the
Increased Advent Offer, the Spectris Directors have decided unanimously to
withdraw their recommendation of the KKR Offer and intend to adjourn the
Shareholder Meetings relating to the KKR Offer due to be held on 27 August
2025. It is therefore recommended that Spectris Shareholders do not attend the
Shareholder Meetings and take no further action at this stage in relation to
the KKR Offer.
2. Increased Offer Price
Under the terms of the Increased Advent Offer, which will be subject to the
Conditions set out in Appendix 1 to the Original Announcement and to the full
terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document, each
Spectris Shareholder will be entitled to receive:
for each Spectris Share: £41.00 in cash (the "Increased Offer
Value")
comprising, for each Spectris Share held:
o £40.72 in cash from Bidco (the "Increased Cash Consideration"); and
o an interim dividend of 28 pence to be paid (subject to approval by the
Spectris Directors) by Spectris in the ordinary course of its FY25 dividend
calendar (the "Permitted Dividend").
The Increased Offer Value represents a premium of approximately:
· 101.2 per cent. to the Closing Price of £20.38 per Spectris Share on
6 June 2025 (being the last Business Day prior to the commencement of the
Offer Period);
· 99.2 per cent. to the volume-weighted average price in the one month
to 6 June 2025 of £20.58;
· 90.3 per cent. to the volume-weighted average price in the three
months to 6 June 2025 of £21.55;
· 9.0 per cent. to the value of the Original Advent Offer of £37.63
for each Spectris Share; and
· 2.5 per cent. to the value of the KKR Offer of £40.00 for each
Spectris Share.
The Increased Offer Value values the entire issued and to be issued share
capital of Spectris at approximately £4.2 billion and implies an enterprise
value of approximately £4.8 billion. It represents a multiple of 20.0x
Spectris' Adjusted EBITDA, and 23.5x Spectris' Adjusted EBIT, for the year
ended 31 December 2024.
Other than the Permitted Dividend, if any dividend, distribution or other
return of value is announced, declared, made or paid, or becomes payable, in
respect of Spectris Shares on or after the date of this announcement and
before the Effective Date, Bidco reserves the right to reduce the Increased
Cash Consideration payable in respect of each Spectris Share by the amount of
all or part of any such dividend, distribution or other return of value. If
Bidco exercises this right, Spectris Shareholders will be entitled to receive
and retain any such dividend, distribution or other return of value.
Save as disclosed in this announcement, the Increased Advent Offer is subject
to the same terms and conditions set out in the Original Announcement, except
that the reference to the Cash Consideration shall be to the cash amount of
£40.72 per Spectris Share, as adjusted in accordance with the terms set out
in the Original Announcement and this announcement.
3. Conditions
The Conditions to the Acquisition are set out in Appendix 1 to the Original
Announcement.
Save as set out in this announcement, the Increased Advent Offer will be
subject to the same terms and conditions as set out in the Original
Announcement.
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all relevant conditions, including
the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix 1 to the
Original Announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document, and subject to
the approval and availability of the Court, it is expected that the Scheme
will become Effective in or by Q1 2026. An expected timetable of principal
events relating to the Acquisition will be included in the Scheme Document.
Bidco hereby confirms that it will not exercise its right to implement the
Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer.
4. Recommendation
The Spectris Directors, who have been so advised by Goldman Sachs, Rothschild
& Co, and BofA Securities as to the financial terms of the Increased
Advent Offer, consider the terms of the Increased Advent Offer to be fair and
reasonable. In providing their advice to the Spectris Directors, Goldman
Sachs, Rothschild & Co, and BofA Securities have taken into account the
commercial assessments of the Spectris Directors. BofA Securities is providing
independent financial advice to the Spectris Directors for the purposes of
Rule 3 of the Code.
Accordingly, the Spectris Directors intend to unanimously recommend that
Spectris Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and
the Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting, as the Spectris
Directors who hold Spectris Shares have irrevocably undertaken to do in
respect of their own beneficial holdings of Spectris Shares (and those of
their spouse, minor children and/or related trusts (if applicable)), amounting
in aggregate to 223,247 Spectris Shares representing approximately 0.22 per
cent. of the issued share capital of Spectris as of 31 July 2025.
In light of their intended recommendation of the Increased Advent Offer, the
Spectris Directors have decided unanimously to withdraw their recommendation
of the KKR Offer and intend to adjourn the Shareholder Meetings. It is
therefore recommended that Spectris Shareholders do not attend the Shareholder
Meetings and take no further action at this stage in relation to the KKR
Offer.
5. Background to and reasons for the recommendation
The Spectris Board has, together with its financial advisers, carefully
considered the financial terms of the Increased Advent Offer and concluded
that it represents superior value for Spectris Shareholders as compared to the
KKR Offer. In particular, the Increased Advent Offer represents a 2.5 per
cent. increase to the KKR Offer, meaning that Spectris Shareholders will
receive an additional £1.00 per Spectris Share and, in aggregate across all
Spectris Shareholders, an additional £101.5 million.
Further background to the recommendation from the Spectris Board is contained
in the Original Announcement.
6. Timetable
The Scheme Document for the Increased Advent Offer, together with the Forms of
Proxy, will be published as soon as possible and, in any event, within 28 days
of this announcement (unless a later date is agreed with the Panel). The Court
Meeting and the General Meeting are expected to be held on or before 15
September 2025.
7. Financing
The additional cash consideration payable under the Increased Advent Offer (as
compared to the Cash Consideration payable under the Original Advent Offer)
will be funded by Bidco by way of equity funding from Advent, CPP Investments,
acting through its wholly-owned subsidiary, CPPIB Investor, and Auba
Investment.
Morgan Stanley, as financial adviser to Bidco, is satisfied that sufficient
resources are available to Bidco to satisfy in full the Increased Cash
Consideration payable to Spectris Shareholders pursuant to the terms of the
Increased Advent Offer.
8. General
The Increased Advent Offer does not change Bidco's intentions as regards the
business of Spectris (including locations of its operations), the management
and employees of Spectris and the proposals in respect of the Spectris Share
Plans, as set out in section 8 of the Original Announcement.
The bases and sources of certain financial information contained in this
announcement are set out in Appendix 2 of the Original Announcement.
9. Consents
BofA Securities, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Rothschild & Co, Morgan Stanley
and PJT Partners have each given and not withdrawn their consent to the
publication of this announcement with the inclusion in this announcement of
the references to their names in the form and context in which they appear.
10. Documents available on website
Certain of the documents available on the website have been amended in order
to effect the Increased Advent Offer. Copies of the following documents will
be available promptly on Bidco's and Spectris' websites at
https://www.adventinternational.com/company-offer/ and www.spectris.com,
respectively by no later than 12 noon on the Business Day following the date
of this announcement, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons
residing in Restricted Jurisdictions until the end of the Offer Period:
· this announcement;
· the consent letters from each of BofA Securities, Barclays, Goldman
Sachs, Rothschild & Co, Morgan Stanley and PJT Partners referred to in
paragraph 9 above; and
· the documents relating to the equity funding of the Increased Advent
Offer by Advent, CPP Investments, acting through its wholly-owned subsidiary,
CPPIB Investor, and Auba Investment including an amended and restated Bid
Conduct Agreement and Auba Subscription Letter.
For the avoidance of doubt, neither the contents of those websites nor the
contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on those websites (or any
other websites referred to in this announcement) are incorporated into, or
form part of, this announcement.
Enquiries
Spectris
Teneo +44 79 7707 1178
+44 78 1791 3082
(PR Adviser to Spectris)
Martin Robinson
Giles Kernick
Goldman Sachs International +44 20 7774 1000
(Lead Financial Adviser to Spectris)
Anthony Gutman
Nick Harper
Harry Webster
Cara Pazdon
Rothschild & Co +44 20 7280 5000
(Lead Financial Adviser to Spectris)
Ravi Gupta
Sabina Pennings
Alistair Allen
Nick Ivey
BofA Securities +44 20 7628 1000
(Rule 3 Adviser, Joint Financial
Adviser and Corporate Broker to Spectris)
Ed Peel
James Robertson
Rowland Phillips
George Whitlam
Tom Brown
Barclays +44 20 7623 2323
(Joint Financial Adviser and Corporate
Broker to Spectris)
Neal West
Adrian Beidas
Callum West
Eoin Healy
Bidco
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc +44 20 7425 8000
(Lead Financial Adviser to Advent and Bidco)
Anthony Zammit
Shirav Patel
Karsten Hofacker
Melissa Godoy
Stuart Wright
Damyan Dimitrov
PJT Partners (UK) Limited +44 20 3650 1100
(Financial Adviser to Advent and Bidco)
Gwen Billon
Jonathan Hall
Orlando Knauss +1 212 364 7800
Headland Consultancy
(PR Adviser to Advent and Bidco)
Susanna +44 79 8089 4557
Voyle
+44 75 5182 5496
Matt Denham
+44 79 4649 4568
Charlie Twigg
Slaughter and May is acting as legal adviser to Spectris.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (M&A) and Weil, Gotshal &
Manges (London) LLP (debt and equity financing and antitrust) are acting as
legal advisers to Advent and Bidco. Freshfields LLP is acting as legal adviser
to CPP Investments.
The person responsible for arranging the release of this Announcement on
behalf of Spectris is Rebecca Dunn, Spectris Head of Corporate Affairs.
Important notices relating to financial advisers
Goldman Sachs International ("Goldman Sachs"), which is authorised by the PRA
and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the United Kingdom, is acting
exclusively for Spectris and no one else in connection with the matters
referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other
than Spectris for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman
Sachs, or for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this
announcement.
N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co"), which is
authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting
exclusively as financial adviser to Spectris and for no one else in connection
with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible
to anyone other than Spectris for providing the protections afforded to
clients of Rothschild & Co, nor for providing advice in relation to the
matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Rothschild & Co nor any
of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers, employees or
agents) owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever
(whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or
otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Rothschild & Co in
connection with this announcement, any statement contained in this
announcement or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied,
is made by Rothschild & Co as to the contents of this announcement.
Merrill Lynch International ("BofA Securities"), which is authorised by the
Prudential Regulatory Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct
Authority and the Prudential Regulatory Authority in the United Kingdom, is
acting exclusively for Spectris and for no one else in connection with the
Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Spectris for
providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in
relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither BofA
Securities, nor any of its affiliates, owes or accepts any duty, liability or
responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in
tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of BofA
Securities in connection with this announcement, any statement contained
herein or otherwise.
Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its investment bank ("Barclays"), which is
authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated in the United
Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation
Authority, is acting exclusively for Spectris and no one else in connection
with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Spectris
for providing the protections afforded to clients of Barclays nor for
providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter referred
to in this announcement.
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc ("Morgan Stanley"), which is
authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the United
Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Advent and Bidco and no
one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to
anyone other than Advent or Bidco for providing the protections afforded to
clients of Morgan Stanley nor for providing advice in relation to the
Acquisition or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither
Morgan Stanley nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability
or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract,
in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of
Morgan Stanley in connection with this announcement or any statement contained
herein or otherwise.
PJT Partners (UK) Limited ("PJT Partners"), which is authorised and regulated
by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial advisor
to Advent and Bidco and no-one else in connection with the Acquisition and
will not be responsible to anyone other than Advent and Bidco for providing
the protections afforded to clients of PJT Partners nor for providing advice
in relation to the Acquisition or any matter referred to herein. Neither PJT
Partners nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives owes or
accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or
indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any
person who is not a client of PJT Partners in connection with this
announcement, the Acquisition, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Further information
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to, and
does not, constitute or form part of any offer, solicitation or invitation to
purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise
dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any
jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any
sale, purchase issuance or transfer of securities of Spectris in any
jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Acquisition will be
implemented solely through the Scheme Document (and the accompanying Forms of
Proxy), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition,
including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any decision
in respect of the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the
information in the Scheme Document.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus equivalent or a
prospectus exempted document.
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English
law and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that
which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in
accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England and Wales.
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action
you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial
advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant
or independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are
resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately
authorised independent financial adviser.
Overseas Shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in whole or in
part, directly or indirectly, in, into or from jurisdictions other than the UK
and the availability of the Acquisition to Spectris Shareholders who are not
resident in the UK may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are
not resident in the UK or who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction
other than the UK (including Restricted Jurisdictions) should inform
themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory
requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in
the UK or who are subject to the laws of another jurisdiction to participate
in the Acquisition or to vote their Spectris Shares in respect of the Scheme
at the Court Meeting, or to execute and deliver Forms of Proxy appointing
another to vote at the Court Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the
laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or to which they
are subject. Any failure to comply with applicable legal or regulatory
requirements of any jurisdiction may constitute a violation of securities laws
or regulations in that jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law and regulation, the companies and persons involved in the
Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such
restrictions by any person.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Code, and permitted by
applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition shall not be made available,
directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do
so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in
favour of the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or form
within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would
constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction.
The Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements of English law,
the Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the FCA.
Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the
Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or
otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted
Jurisdiction or any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation
of the laws or regulations of such jurisdiction and persons receiving such
documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or
otherwise forward, distribute or send them in or into or from any Restricted
Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in
respect of acceptance of the Acquisition.
Further details in relation to Spectris Shareholders in overseas jurisdictions
will be contained in the Scheme Document.
Additional information for U.S. investors
U.S. Spectris Shareholders should note that the Acquisition relates to an
offer for the shares of a UK company and is being made by means of a scheme of
arrangement provided for under English company law. The Acquisition is
therefore not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation
rules under the U.S. Exchange Act, as amended. Accordingly, the Acquisition is
subject to the requirements and practices applicable to a scheme of
arrangement involving a target company in the UK listed on the London Stock
Exchange, which differ from the requirements of the U.S. tender offer and
proxy solicitation rules.
The financial information with respect to Spectris included in this
announcement and to be included the Scheme Document has been or will have been
prepared in accordance with IFRS and thus may not be comparable to financial
information of U.S. companies or companies whose financial statements are
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
U.S.
It may be difficult for U.S. Spectris Shareholders to enforce their rights and
any claims they may have arising under the U.S. federal securities laws in
connection with the Acquisition, since Spectris and Bidco are each located in
a country other than the United States, and some or all of their respective
officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the United
States. U.S. Spectris Shareholders may not be able to sue Spectris or Bidco,
or their respective officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations
of the U.S. securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel Spectris
or Bidco and their respective affiliates to subject themselves to the
jurisdiction or judgment of a U.S. court for violations of the U.S. securities
laws.
The receipt of Increased Cash Consideration pursuant to the Scheme by U.S.
Spectris Shareholders as consideration for the transfer of its Spectris Shares
pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income
tax purposes and under applicable U.S. state and local, as well as foreign and
other, tax laws. Each Spectris Shareholder (including U.S. Spectris
Shareholders) is urged to consult their independent professional adviser
immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to
them.
Neither the SEC nor any U.S. state securities commission has approved,
disproved or passed judgment upon the fairness or the merits of the
Acquisition or determined if this announcement is adequate, accurate or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the U.S.
Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, BofA Securities and Barclays (and/or certain of
their affiliates) will continue to act as exempt principal traders in Spectris
shares on the London Stock Exchange.
Forward-looking statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this
announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other
information published by Bidco and Spectris contain statements which are, or
may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than
statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not
based on historical facts, but rather on assumptions, expectations,
valuations, targets, estimates, forecasts and projections of Bidco and
Spectris about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and
uncertainties which could cause actual results, performance or events to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement
include statements relating to the expected effects of the Acquisition on the
Bidco Group, the Spectris Group and the Enlarged Group, the expected timing
and scope of the Acquisition and other statements other than historical facts.
Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use
of forward-looking words such as "plans", "prepares", "expects" or "does not
expect", "is expected to", "is subject to", "budget", "targets", "aims",
"scheduled", "estimates", "forecast", "intends", "anticipates", "seeks",
"prospects", "potential", "possible", "assume" or "believes", or variations of
such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results
"may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be
achieved. Although Bidco and Spectris believe that the expectations reflected
in such forward-looking statement are reasonable, Bidco and Spectris can give
no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve risks (known and unknown) and uncertainties
(and other factors that are in many cases beyond the control of Bidco and/or
Spectris) because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may
or may not occur in the future.
There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of the
Bidco Group, the Spectris Group and/or the Enlarged Group and that could cause
actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the
satisfaction (or, where permitted, waiver) of the Conditions, as well as
additional factors, such as: domestic and global business and economic
conditions; asset prices; market‑related risks such as fluctuations in
interest rates and exchange rates, industry trends, competition, changes in
the behaviour of other market participants, changes in government and
regulation, changes in the policies and actions of governments and/or
regulatory authorities (including changes related to capital, tax and
tariffs), changes in political and economic stability (including exposures to
terrorist activities, the UK's exit from the European Union, Eurozone
instability, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the ongoing conflict in the Middle
East, disruption in business operations due to reorganisation activities,
interest rate, inflation, deflation and currency fluctuations), the timing
impact and other uncertainties of future or planned acquisitions or disposals
or offers, the inability of the Enlarged Group to realise successfully any
anticipated benefits or savings when the Acquisition is implemented (including
changes to the board and/or employee composition of the Enlarged Group), the
inability of the Bidco Group to integrate successfully the Spectris Group's
operations and programmes when the Acquisition is implemented, the Enlarged
Group incurring and/or experiencing unanticipated costs and/or delays
(including IT system failures, cyber-crime, fraud and pension scheme
liabilities), or difficulties relating to the Acquisition when the Acquisition
is implemented. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could affect future
operations and/or cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should therefore
be construed in the light of such factors.
Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this
announcement. Neither the Bidco Group nor the Spectris Group, nor any of their
respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any
representation, warranty, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the
events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this
announcement will actually occur. Forward-looking statements involve inherent
risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements contained in this
announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary
statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Other than in
accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations (including under the
Code, the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the DTRs), neither the Bidco Group
nor the Spectris Group is under or undertakes any obligation, and each of the
foregoing expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
No profit forecasts or estimates or quantified financial benefits statements
Each of the Spectris Profit Forecasts is a profit forecast for the purposes of
Rule 28 of the Code. Each of the Spectris Profit Forecasts, and the
assumptions and basis of preparation on which each such Spectris Profit
Forecast is based, as well as the relevant Spectris Directors' confirmation,
in each case, as required by Rule 28.1 of the Code, are set out in Appendix 4
of the Original Announcement.
Nothing in this announcement is intended, or is to be construed, as a profit
forecast, profit estimate or quantified financial benefits statement for any
period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean
that earnings or earnings per share for Bidco or Spectris for the current or
future financial years, will necessarily match or exceed the historical
published earnings or earnings per share for Bidco or Spectris, as
appropriate.
Disclosure requirements of the Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or
more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any
securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in
respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be,
solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the
commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in
which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position
Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions
in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the
offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening
Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no
later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the
commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm
(London time) on the 10th Business Day following the announcement in which any
securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in
the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange
offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must
instead make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1
per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company
or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the
person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any
securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the
dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and
rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree
company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that
these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing
Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later
than 3.30 pm (London time) on the Business Day following the date of the
relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding,
whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant
securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will
be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by
any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company,
by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see
Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant
securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made
can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, (https://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/) including
details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the Offer Period
commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the
Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any
doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or
a Dealing Disclosure.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information
provided by Spectris Shareholders, persons with information rights and other
relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Spectris may be
provided to Bidco during the Offer Period as required under section 4 of
Appendix 4 to the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.
Publication on a website and availability of hard copies
This announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule
26 of the Code will be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to
persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Bidco's website at
https://www.adventinternational.com/company-offer/
(https://www.adventinternational.com/company-offer/) and on Spectris' website
at www.spectris.com
(file:///C:/Users/fhe/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/6G4JIN8B/www.spectris.com)
by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the
publication of this announcement. Neither the content of the websites referred
to in this announcement nor the content of any website accessible from
hyperlinks in this announcement is incorporated into, or forms part of, this
announcement.
Spectris Shareholders, persons with information rights and participants in the
Spectris Share Plans may, subject to applicable securities laws, request a
hard copy of this announcement (and any information incorporated into it by
reference to another source) by contacting Spectris' registrars, Equiniti,
between 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding
public holidays in England and Wales) on 0371 384 2030 within the United
Kingdom or on +44 121 415 7047 from overseas, or by submitting a request in
writing to Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex,
BN99 6DA, United Kingdom, with an address to which the hard copy may be sent.
Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider.
For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form or via
a website notification, a hard copy of this announcement will not be sent
unless so requested. Spectris Shareholders may, subject to applicable
securities laws, also request that all future documents, announcements and
information to be sent in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy
form.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding
adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in
different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain
tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
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rns@lseg.com (mailto:rns@lseg.com)
or visit
www.rns.com (http://www.rns.com/)
.
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