ABC.L Regulatory News (ABC)

27 Jul 2007 07:01

ABCAM Plc27 July 2007 For Immediate Release 27 July 2007 Abcam plc ("Abcam" or the "Company") STATEMENT RE POSSIBLE OFFER The Board of Abcam confirms that it is in preliminary discussions with a smallnumber of potential offerors regarding a possible offer for the entire issuedshare capital of the Company. There can be no certainty that an offer will be made for the Company. TheCompany will make a further announcement in due course. The Board is being advised by Numis Securities Limited and Piper Jaffray Ltd. In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, Abcamannounces that it has 34,623,384 ordinary shares of 1 pence each in issue. TheInternational Securities Identification number for Abcam ordinary shares isGB00B0LWCX12. Enquiries: Abcam plcJonathan Milner Tel: +44 (0)1223 472 030 Numis Securities LimitedMichael Meade Tel: +44 (0)20 7260 1000 Piper Jaffray Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)20 3142 8700Neil Mackison Buchanan CommunicationsMark Court Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000 Numis Securities Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Abcam and for no-one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Abcam for providing the protections afforded to customers of Numis Securities Limited nor for giving advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Piper Jaffray, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial ServicesAuthority, is acting exclusively for Abcam and for no-one else in connectionwith the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsibleto anyone other than Abcam for providing the protections afforded to customersof Piper Jaffray nor for giving advice in relation to the matters referred toin this announcement. Dealing Disclosure Requirements Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the"Code"), if any person is, or becomes, "interested" (directly or indirectly) in1% or more of any class of "relevant securities" of Abcam, all "dealings" in any" relevant securities" of Abcam (including by means of an option in respect of,or a derivative referenced to, any such "relevant securities") must be publiclydisclosed by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the London business dayfollowing the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continueuntil the date on which the offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as toacceptances, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the "offer period"otherwise ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement orunderstanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an " interest" in"relevant securities" of Abcam, they will be deemed to be a single person forthe purpose of Rule 8.3. Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all "dealings" in "relevantsecurities" of Abcam by Abcam or by any of its "associates", must be disclosedby no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day followingthe date of the relevant transaction. A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose "relevantsecurities" "dealings" should be disclosed, and the number of such securities inissue, can be found on the Takeover Panel's website atwww.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. "Interests in securities" arise, in summary, when a person has long economicexposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price ofsecurities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an "interest" byvirtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option inrespect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be found on thePanel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are requiredto disclose a "dealing" under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange