Advancedadvt Regulatory News (ADVT)

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 IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY OFFER WILL BE MADE.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF REGULATION (EU) NO 596/2014 ("MAR"). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THE INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAR.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10 May 2022

M&C Saatchi plc

 ("M&C Saatchi" or the "Company")

Further Extension of "Put Up or Shut Up" Deadline

On 28 April 2022, the Company announced an extension to the "Put Up or Shut Up" deadline until 5.00 p.m. on 10 May 2022 had been granted by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Panel"). By this date, AdvancedAdvT Limited ("AdvT") is required, in accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Code"), either to announce a firm intention to make an offer for M&C Saatchi or to announce that it does not intend to make an offer for M&C Saatchi, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies.

Under the further revised proposal, previously announced on 3 February 2022 (the "Further Revised Proposal"), AdvT would offer each M&C Saatchi shareholder 1.939 new AdvT ordinary shares and 40 pence in cash for each M&C Saatchi ordinary share. AdvT would also make a mix and match facility available, whereby (subject to matching opposite elections being made by other M&C Saatchi shareholders), M&C Saatchi shareholders would be offered the opportunity to vary the proportions of AdvT ordinary shares and cash to be received by them. AdvT has also indicated that it would offer an all-share alternative proposal such that M&C Saatchi shareholders could instead elect to receive 2.347 new AdvT ordinary shares for each M&C Saatchi ordinary share. The Independent Directors note that under the cash and share and all-share alternatives of the Further Revised Proposal and based on AdvT's closing share price of 82.0 pence per AdvT share on 9 May 2022 (being the last business day prior to the date of this announcement), the current implied offer price for each M&C Saatchi ordinary share is 191.2 pence and 183.1 pence respectively (an implied premium of 9.3% and 4.6% respectively, to M&C Saatchi's closing share price on 9 May 2022, being the last business day prior to the date of this announcement). AdvT acquired its shares in M&C Saatchi at 200 pence on 5 January 2022, immediately prior to the commencement of the offer period. Therefore, any firm proposal by AdvT will need to have a minimum offer value of 200 pence per M&C Saatchi ordinary share at the time an announcement is made with respect to a firm intention to make an offer for M&C Saatchi.

While the Company continues to facilitate access to provide AdvT with the opportunity to make a formal offer to the Company's shareholders, no revised proposal has been forthcoming. The directors of the Company other than Vin Murria (the "Independent Directors") reiterate the concerns previously raised in the Company's announcements of 7 and 24 January 2022, including the continued undervaluation of the Company; the strategy of the enlarged AdvT group and, in particular, the lack of clarity over the deliverability of, and execution risk associated with, their proposed 'digital-led M&A' strategy; the impact on culture; how AdvT intends to ensure the retention and appropriate incentivisation of M&C Saatchi's key management and employees; and the valuation of AdvT's ordinary shares. As such, the unanimous conclusion of the Independent Directors continues to be that the Further Revised Proposal undervalues the Company and its prospects and would therefore not be recommendable. However, the Independent Directors believe that it is in the best interests of all stakeholders in M&C Saatchi to continue to engage constructively in discussions with AdvT.

Discussions between the parties remain ongoing and in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code, following a request from AdvT, the Independent Directors have requested, and the Panel has consented to, an extension to the deadline by which AdvT is required either to announce a firm intention to make an offer for M&C Saatchi in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or to announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. Such announcement must now be made by not later than 5.00 p.m. on 20 May 2022. This deadline can be further extended by the Independent Directors with the consent of the Takeover Panel.

The Independent Directors continue to believe strongly in the future prospects of M&C Saatchi. The Company's outstanding financial performance in 2021 was demonstrated in the Audited Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2021 and Trading Update announcement made by the Company on 29 April 2022.  The strong trading performance and momentum in 2021 has continued into the first quarter of 2022 and the Company is now forecasting headline profit before tax in the region of £31.0m for the year ending 31 December 2022 (FY22) and £41.0m for the year ending 31 December 2023 (FY23). Further details of these profit forecasts are included in the Issue of Profit Forecasts announcement made by the Company on 29 April 2022. The Independent Directors believe that the Company is positioned strongly for further growth and this provides the Independent Directors with increasing confidence in the success of its strategy. As a result, the Independent Directors remain highly confident in M&C Saatchi's ability to create material value for its shareholders, as well as meet the best interests of all its stakeholders.

There can be no certainty that a firm offer will be made. A further announcement will be made in due course.

This announcement has been made with the consent of AdvT.

The person responsible for arranging this announcement on behalf of M&C Saatchi is Gareth Davis, Chairman.

Important Notices

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether pursuant to this announcement or otherwise, or the solicitation of any vote in favour or approval of any offer in any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction and any such offer (or solicitation) may not be extended in any such jurisdiction.

Any securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or with any securities regulatory authority of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration thereunder.

This announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law and the Code, and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been prepared in accordance with laws outside of the United Kingdom. The distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

Disclaimer

Numis Securities, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for M&C Saatchi and no one else in connection with the possible offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than M&C Saatchi for providing the protections afforded to clients of Numis Securities nor for providing advice in relation to the possible offer or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Numis 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 Numis Securities in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Liberum Capital Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for M&C Saatchi and no one else in connection with the possible offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than M&C Saatchi for providing the protections afforded to clients of Liberum Capital Limited nor for providing advice in relation to the possible offer or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Liberum Capital Limited 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 Liberum Capital Limited in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Relevant securities in issue

In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, M&C Saatchi confirms that as at the date of this announcement, it has 122,743,435 ordinary shares of 1 penny each in issue and admitted to trading on AIM, the market operated by the London Stock Exchange (and holds 485,970 shares in treasury). The total number of voting rights in the Company is therefore 122,257,465. The International Securities Identification Number ("ISIN") for M&C Saatchi 's ordinary shares is GB00B01F7T14.

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% 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% 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 Takeover Panel's website at 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.

Publication on a website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available on the Company's website (www.mcsaatchiplc.com) no later than 12 noon (London time) on 11 May 2022. The content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.