RTHM.L Regulatory News (RTHM)

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND ACCORDINGLY THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY OFFER WILL BE MADE OR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY OFFER WILL BE MADE.

THE INFORMATION COMMUNICATED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RhythmOne plc ("RhythmOne")

Possible Offer for RhythmOne by Taptica

RhythmOne (AIM: RHTM) confirms, further to press speculation in this regard, that it is in advanced discussions with Taptica International Limited ("Taptica") regarding a potential all-share offer for RhythmOne by Taptica. The combination of the two businesses (the "Enlarged Group") would create one of the leading video advertising companies in the US, delivering significant economies of scale, product offering, revenue synergies and supply chains to compete with the industry leaders, in an industry where scale of offering is key.

This announcement is not an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Code and accordingly there can be no certainty that any offer will be made or as to the terms on which any offer will be made.

Rule 2.6(a) of the Code requires that Taptica, by no later than 5.00 p.m. on 26 February 2019, being the 28th day following the date of this announcement, either announces a firm intention to make an offer for RhythmOne in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announces 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. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel, in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

Investors should note the further disclosures required by the Code set out below, and in particular, that disclosures are required by holders of more than 1 per cent. of RhythmOne's or Taptica's issued share capital (whether held directly or indirectly).

RhythmOne and Taptica will make further announcements in due course as appropriate.

This announcement has been made with the consent of Taptica.

For further information please contact:

Important information

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities whether pursuant to this announcement or otherwise.

The distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by law or regulation and therefore any person who comes into possession of this announcement should inform themselves about, and comply with, such restrictions. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws or regulations of any such relevant jurisdiction.

Whitman Howard Limited ("Whitman Howard"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as financial adviser and Broker to RhythmOne and for no-one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than RhythmOne for providing the protections afforded to clients of Whitman Howard, or for providing advice in connection with the possible offer for RhythmOne or any other matters referred to herein.

Grant Thornton UK LLP ("Grant Thornton"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as nominated adviser to RhythmOne and for no-one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than RhythmOne for providing the protections afforded to clients of Grant Thornton, or for providing advice in connection with the possible offer for RhythmOne or any other matters referred to herein.

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 disclose 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 of this announcement

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted jurisdictions, at https://investor.rhythmone.com/ as soon as possible and, in any event, by no later than 12 noon (London time) on 31 January 2019.

The contents of RhythmOne's website are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.

You may request a hard copy of this announcement by contacting the Company Secretary of RhythmOne at IR@rhythmone.com.

You may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to you in relation to the offer should be in hard copy form.

Rule 2.9 disclosure

In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, the Company announces that, as at the date of this announcement, it has 78,636,522 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in issue and admitted to trading on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange. There are no Treasury shares in the Company.

The International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) for the Company's ordinary shares is GB00BYW0RC64.