Registration Statement for Proposed Offering Filed

Abcam plc

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF REGULATION (EU) NO 596/2014

Abcam plc Files Registration Statement for Proposed Offering

London, 5 October 2020 - Abcam plc (AIM: ABC) ("Abcam"), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, announced today the filing of a registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") relating to a proposed initial public offering of its American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), representing ordinary shares, in the United States (the "Offering"). All ADSs to be sold in the Offering will be offered by Abcam. The number of ordinary shares to be represented by each ADS, the number of ADSs to be offered and the price range for the Offering have not yet been determined. The Offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether, or when, the Offering may be completed or as to the actual size or terms of the Offering. The Offering will be conducted within the parameters of the authorities conferred upon Abcam by its shareholders at its annual general meeting on November 13, 2019.

Abcam has applied to have its ADSs listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "ABCM". Upon completion of the Offering, Abcam's ordinary shares will continue to be admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol "ABC".

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and BofA Securities are acting as the lead book-running managers for the Offering. SVB Leerink LLC is acting as a book-running manager, and Lazard Freres & Co LLC and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. are acting as co-managers.

The Offering will be made only by means of a prospectus, which, for the avoidance of doubt, will not constitute a "prospectus" for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below).

When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the Offering may be obtained from the offices of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014; or from BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy these securities be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding Abcam's plans to conduct the Offering.

These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause Abcam's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from its expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: Abcam may determine not to conduct a registered initial public offering in the time frame that it currently expects or at all, due to a number of potential important factors, including conditions in the U.S. capital markets, negative global economic conditions, potential negative developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, other negative developments in Abcam's business, or unfavorable legislative or regulatory developments.

These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While Abcam may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Abcam disclaims any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause its views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Abcam's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

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