Science Sprt Regulatory News (SIS)

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 THAT 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 FOR SCIENCE IN SPORT PLC, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY OFFER MIGHT BE MADE.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 ("MAR"), AND IS DISCLOSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 17 OF MAR. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION WILL BE CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 April 2025

Science in Sport PLC

(the "Company" or "SiS")

Statement regarding possible offer for SiS by bd-capital Partners Limited ("bd-capital")

The board of directors of the Company (AIM: SiS) (the "Board") notes the recent rumour and speculations and confirms that it has received an approach at a price of 34 pence per share from bd-capital which may or may not result in an offer by bd-capital to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of the Company (the "Possible Offer").

An independent committee of the Board has carefully evaluated the indicative terms of the Possible Offer and has concluded that it would be minded to recommend it, should a firm intention to make an offer pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the Code be announced.

Discussions are at an advanced stage. However, there can be no certainty that a firm offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made. A further announcement will be made in due course as appropriate. SiS shareholders are advised to take no action at this time.

Important notes

In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, bd-capital is required, by not later than 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 14 May 2025, being 28 days after the date of this announcement to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for the issued and to be issued share capital of SiS in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or 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. This deadline can be extended with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Panel") in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

As a consequence of this announcement, an "offer period" has now commenced in respect of the Company in accordance with the rules of the Code and the attention of SiS shareholders is drawn to the disclosure requirements of Rule 8 of the Code, which are summarised below.

The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Dan Wright.

This announcement has been made with the consent of bd-capital.

For further information, please contact:

Notice related to Financial Advisers

Panmure Liberum Limited ("Panmure Liberum"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for SiS and for no one else in connection with the subject matter of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than SiS for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in connection with the subject matter of this announcement.

Investec Bank plc ("Investec"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (the "PRA") and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and PRA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to bd-capital and for no one else in connection with the offer and will not be responsible to any person other than bd-capital for providing the protections afforded to clients of Investec, nor for providing advice in relation to the offer, the content of this announcement or any matter referred to in this announcement. Neither Investec nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or 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 Investec in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Additional information

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, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to this announcement or otherwise. Any offer, if made, will be made solely by certain offer documentation which will contain the full terms and conditions of any offer, including details of how it may be accepted. The distribution of this announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom and the availability of any offer to shareholders of SiS who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of relevant jurisdictions. Therefore, any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom or shareholders of SiS who are not resident in the United Kingdom will need to inform themselves about, and observe any, applicable requirements.

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested (directly or indirectly) 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 p.m. (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (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 p.m. (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, 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.

Rule 26.1 disclosure

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be published on the Company's website at https://www.sisplc.com/ promptly and by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the business day following the date of this announcement. The content of the Company's website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated in, and does not form part of, this announcement. 

Rule 2.9 information

In accordance with Rule 2.9 of the Code, SiS confirms that, as at the date of this announcement, its issued and fully paid share capital consists of 232,272,606 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 10 pence each. The International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) for the ordinary shares is GB00BBPV5329.