Abcam plc Statement on Dr. Jonathan Milner’s Announcement

CAMBRIDGE, England & WALTHAM, Mass. – Abcam plc (Nasdaq: ABCM) (“Abcam” or the “Company”), notes today’s announcement by Dr. Jonathan Milner. The Company considers it surprising that Dr. Milner has taken active steps to oppose the deal without reviewing the full details in the Scheme Circular to be published in connection with the proposed acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Abcam by Danaher Corporation (“Danaher”) for $24.00 per share in cash (the “Transaction”), which appears to be an attempt to create confusion for shareholders ahead of voting on the Transaction. The Scheme Circular will be published in the coming weeks, in line with the Company’s disclosure obligations and following the appropriate process with the High Court of Justice in England and Wales. The information provided within the Scheme Circular will ensure all shareholders are provided with the complete details related to the Transaction including reasons and background to the Board recommendation, Lazard and Morgan Stanley’s advice to the Board, and the process followed. The Company looks forward to engaging with all shareholders following publication of the Scheme Circular.

The acquisition of Abcam by Danaher was unanimously approved and recommended by the Board of Directors of Abcam following a thorough, competitive and comprehensive sales process, which engaged over 30 counterparties, including more than 20 potential strategic acquirers, leading to multiple bidders. All bidders were given access to the same financial information, consistent with the information the Company has made public. After receiving offers from multiple bidders, Danaher’s all cash offer of $24.00 was the highest and best price. The Company believes the recommended all cash offer provides value maximization and certainty of outcome for all shareholders, as well as a positive outcome for employees and customers.

Abcam is expected to operate as a standalone operating company and brand within Danaher’s Life Sciences segment following transaction closing, adding to Danaher’s presence in the UK where it currently employs almost 5,500 people. Danaher is committed to keeping Abcam’s headquarters in the UK.

Important Notices

UK Takeover Code does not apply

Abcam is not a company subject to regulation under the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “UK Takeover Code”), therefore no dealing disclosures are required to be made under Rule 8 of the UK Takeover Code by shareholders of Abcam or Danaher.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the benefits of the Transaction and the publication, content and timing of the Scheme Circular, and expectations regarding operating structure following the Transaction are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation: Danaher’s and Abcam’s ability to complete the Transaction on the proposed terms or on the anticipated timeline, or at all, including risks and uncertainties related to securing the necessary regulatory approvals and Abcam shareholder approval, the sanction of the High Court of Justice of England and Wales and satisfaction of other closing conditions to consummate the Transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the definitive transaction agreement relating to the Transaction; risks related to diverting the attention of Danaher’s and Abcam’s management from ongoing business operations; failure to realize the expected benefits of the Transaction; significant Transaction costs and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities; the risk of shareholder litigation in connection with the Transaction, including resulting expense or delay; the risk that Abcam’s business will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; Danaher’s ability to fund the cash consideration for the Transaction; risks related to future opportunities and plans for the combined company, including the uncertainty of expected future regulatory filings, financial performance and results of the combined company following completion of the acquisition; disruption from the Transaction, making it more difficult to conduct business as usual or maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; effects relating to the announcement of the Transaction or any further announcements or the consummation of the acquisition on the market price of Abcam’s American depositary shares; regulatory initiatives and changes in tax laws; market volatility; and other risks and uncertainties affecting Danaher and Abcam, including those described from time to time under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Abcam’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in any subsequent reports on Form 6-K, each of which is on file with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Moreover, other risks and uncertainties of which Abcam are not currently aware may also affect each of the companies’ forward-looking statements and may cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. SEC filings for the Company are available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://corporate.abcam.com/investors/. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the Company’s website is not a part of, and shall not be incorporated by reference into, this announcement.

The forward-looking statements made in this announcement are made only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the forward-looking statements and reflect the views stated therein with respect to future events as at such dates, even if they are subsequently made available by Abcam on its website or otherwise. Abcam does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made other than to the extent required by applicable law.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

Abcam intends to furnish to the SEC under cover of a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K and mail or otherwise provide to its shareholders a circular containing information on the shareholder vote regarding the Transaction (the “Scheme Circular”). This announcement is not a substitute for the Scheme Circular or any other document that may be filed or furnished by Abcam with the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to carefully read the entire Scheme Circular (which will include an explanatory statement in respect of the scheme of arrangement to implement the Transaction in accordance with the requirements of the UK Companies Act 2006) and other relevant documents as and when they become available because they will contain important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with or furnished to the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).

In addition, investors and shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the Scheme Circular and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Company on its Investors website (https://corporate.abcam.com/investors/) or by writing to the Company, at 152 Grove Street, Building 1100 Waltham, MA 02453, United States of America.

Neither this announcement nor any copy of it may be taken or transmitted directly or indirectly into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of such laws or regulations. Persons in possession of this announcement or other information referred to herein should inform themselves about, and observe, any restrictions in such laws or regulations.

This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with the applicable law and regulation of the United Kingdom and the United States and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom or the United States.

No Offer or Solicitation

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

The Transaction will be implemented solely pursuant to the Scheme, subject to the terms and conditions of the definitive transaction agreement, which contains the terms and conditions of the Transaction.

Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (“Morgan Stanley”) which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Abcam and no one else in connection with the Transaction and Morgan Stanley, its affiliates and its respective officers, employees, agents, representatives and/or associates will not regard any other person as their client, nor will they be responsible to anyone other than Abcam for providing the protections afforded to clients of Morgan Stanley nor for providing advice in connection with the Transaction or any matter or arrangement referred to herein.

Lazard & Co., Limited , which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, and Lazard Freres & Co. LLC (together, “Lazard”) are acting exclusively as financial adviser to Abcam and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Abcam for providing any protections afforded to clients of Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) 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 Lazard in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Contacts

Abcam plc
Tommy Thomas, CPA
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 617-577-4205

Media enquiries
FTI Consulting
+44 (0)20-3727-1000
Abcam@fticonsulting.com

NanoString Launches the Most Comprehensive Spatial Proteomics Panel Ever Offered

Empowering researchers to spatially profile more than 500 proteins simultaneously in FFPE tissue using abcam’s IHC-validated immuno-oncology antibody portfolio

Seattle, September 13, 2023 – (BUSINESS WIRE) — NanoString Technologies, a leading provider of life science tools for discovery and translational research, announced today the launch of the latest assay for the GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP). The GeoMx IO Proteome Atlas (IPA) is the industry’s most comprehensive spatial proteomics assay, enabling spatial profiling of more than 500 immuno-oncology (IO) relevant targets from FFPE (Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded) tissue sections.

Containing IHC-compatible antibodies entirely from abcam’s extensive IO portfolio, the GeoMx IPA provides an extraordinary advancement in the field of spatial proteomics. The assay will provide researchers with more than five times the content of any competing panel, offering access to unprecedented power. Its utility is applicable to the search for novel biomarkers and drug targets, investigating therapeutic response, stratifying patients, and determining drug mechanisms of action.

“The GeoMx IPA represents the convergence of two of the most dynamic fields in biomedical research: spatial biology and high-plex proteomics,” said Brad Gray, President and CEO of NanoString. “And with abcam providing the content, users get access to a broad range of high-quality recombinant IO antibodies in a single assay. When the IO Proteome Atlas is used in combination with our popular Whole Transcriptome Atlas (WTA), GeoMx DSP becomes by far the most powerful spatial profiler available.”

The combination of NanoString’s GeoMx IPA and WTA offers researchers unprecedented levels of data in the largest ever spatial proteomic panel of its kind. The panel leverages the unique capabilities of GeoMx DSP to non-destructively and quantitatively profile protein expression over five logs of dynamic range in distinct compartments such as the tumor, stroma, and immune contexture. Researchers can run GeoMx IPA as a standalone assay or in conjunction with GeoMx WTA and can even layer GeoMx IPA data with previously collected WTA data to easily analyze the two datasets.

“We are excited to partner with NanoString on this first-of-its-kind assay for high-plex spatial proteomics of FFPE,” said Alejandra Solache, SVP, R&D at abcam. “By contributing to the GeoMx IO Proteome Atlas we’re able to make abcam’s broad portfolio of precision antibodies for IO research available to researchers in a cutting-edge spatial biology product that will help enhance our understanding of cancer immunology and accelerate novel discoveries.”

The launch of the GeoMx IPA is the latest development in a long-standing collaboration between NanoString and abcam to provide high-quality, validated antibodies for use with NanoString’s spatial analysis platforms. Most recently, NanoString and abcam announced the inclusion of abcam-validated antibodies in the first 64-plex panel for NanoString’s CosMx™ Spatial Molecular Imager.

Although the content is targeted for IO research, GeoMx IPA has broad applicability beyond cancer, including research areas such as infectious disease, organ transplant, autoimmunity, metabolism, and epigenetics.

The GeoMx IPA assay can enable researchers to:

  • Spatially profile FFPE tissue using over 500 of abcam’s IHC-validated IO antibodies in a single assay, simplifying the search for new protein biomarkers and drug targets with unrivaled plex. Antibodies can also be used individually for further single target or lower plex investigation.
  • Obtain more comprehensive biological information from precious tissue samples than traditional immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunofluorescence (IF) assays.
  • Discover novel IO drug targets by profiling the expression of over 500 protein targets from a single FFPE tissue section.
  • Profile the whole human transcriptome and IO proteome from a single slide by combining GeoMx IPA with GeoMx WTA for same-slide spatial proteogenomic analysis.

The GeoMx IPA assay is available now for pre-order with shipments expected to begin in Q4 2023.

About NanoString Technologies, Inc.

NanoString Technologies, a leader in spatial biology, offers an ecosystem of innovative discovery and translational research solutions, empowering our customers to map the universe of biology. The GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler is a flexible and consistent solution combining the power of whole tissue imaging with gene expression and protein data for spatial whole transcriptomics and proteomics. The CosMx™ Spatial Molecular Imager is a single-cell imaging platform powered by spatial multiomics enabling researchers to map single cells in their native environments to extract deep biological insights and novel discoveries from one experiment. The AtoMx™ Spatial Informatics Platform is a cloud-based informatics solution with advanced analytics and global collaboration capabilities, enabling powerful spatial biology insights anytime, anywhere. At the foundation of our research tools is our nCounter® Analysis System, which offers a secure way to easily profile the expression of hundreds of genes, proteins, miRNAs, or copy number variations, simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision. For more information, visit www.nanostring.com.

The NanoString logo, NanoString, NanoString Technologies, GeoMx, CosMx and nCounter are trademarks or registered trademarks of NanoString Technologies, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries.

Doug Farrell, NanoString
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
dfarrell@nanostring.com
Phone: 206-602-1768

Source: NanoString Technologies, Inc.

Interim results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2023

31 August 2023, Cambridge, UK / Waltham, MA – Abcam plc (Nasdaq: ABCM) (‘Abcam’, the ‘Group’ or the ‘Company’), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, today announces its interim results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2023 (the ‘period’).

Download full press release (pdf)

Danaher to acquire Abcam for $24.00 per Share

Cambridge, UK / Waltham, MA, August 28, 2023 – Abcam plc (Nasdaq: ABCM) (‘Abcam’, the ‘Group’ or the ‘Company’), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) (‘Danaher’) will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Abcam for $24.00 per share in cash (the ‘Transaction’). 

The Transaction has been unanimously approved and recommended by the Abcam Board of Directors and unanimously approved by the Danaher Board of Directors. 

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, Abcam offers the scientific community highly validated antibodies, reagents, biomarkers and assays to address targets in biological pathways that are critical for advancing drug discovery, life sciences research, and diagnostics. The Company’s technologies are used by approximately 750,000 researchers. 

Abcam is expected to operate as a standalone operating company and brand within Danaher’s Life Sciences segment, furthering Danaher’s strategy to help map complex diseases and accelerate the drug discovery process. 

The Transaction brings to a conclusion the review of strategic alternatives initiated by the Abcam Board of Directors in June 2023, following strategic inquiries from multiple parties. The comprehensive process, assisted by Lazard and Morgan Stanley as financial advisors and Latham & Watkins as legal advisor, engaged with over 30 potential counterparties, including more than 20 potential strategic acquirers before entering into a definitive agreement with Danaher. 

Peter Allen, Chairman of Abcam, said: “Following a rigorous process, I’m confident this combination with Danaher maximizes value for shareholders while delivering an excellent outcome for our employees and customers.” 

Alan Hirzel, Chief Executive Officer of Abcam, said: “Our strategy has transformed Abcam to become a scale innovator and important catalyst in the global life science community. Danaher shares our passion to help life science researchers achieve their mission faster and their operating company model allows us to continue to pursue our strategy, while harnessing the power of the Danaher Business System to ensure we remain the partner of choice for our customers.” 

Rainer M. Blair, President and Chief Executive Officer, Danaher, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to have Abcam join Danaher. Abcam’s long track record of innovation, outstanding product quality and breadth of antibody portfolio positions them as a key partner for the scientific community. We look forward to welcoming Abcam’s innovative and talented team to Danaher as we continue to help our customers solve some of the world’s biggest healthcare challenges.” 

The Transaction is intended to be effected by way of a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement under English law, subject to the approval of Abcam shareholders, the receipt of certain regulatory approvals, the sanction of the High Court of Justice of England and Wales and other customary closing conditions. A circular containing further information and setting out the timing and process for shareholder approval will be issued to Abcam shareholders in the coming weeks. The Transaction is expected to close mid-2024, subject to satisfaction of these conditions. 

Danaher expects to fund the acquisition using cash on hand and proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper. 

The Company will announce its half-year 2023 results on August 31, 2023. Due to the Transaction, the Company will not be hosting an earnings conference call. 

About Abcam plc 

As an innovator in reagents and tools, Abcam’s purpose is to serve life science researchers globally to achieve their mission faster. Providing the research and clinical communities with tools and scientific support, the Company offers highly validated antibodies, assays, and other research tools to address important targets in critical biological pathways. 

Already a pioneer in data sharing and ecommerce in the life sciences, Abcam’s ambition is to be the most influential company in life sciences by helping advance global understanding of biology and causes of disease, which, in turn, will drive new treatments and improved health. 

Abcam’s worldwide customer base of approximately 750,000 life science researchers’ uses Abcam’s antibodies, reagents, biomarkers, and assays. By actively listening to and collaborating with these researchers, the Company continuously advances its portfolio to address their needs. A transparent program of customer reviews and datasheets, combined with industry-leading validation initiatives, gives researchers increased confidence in their results. 

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the Company has served customers in more than 130 countries. Abcam’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: ABCM). 

Important Notices 

UK Takeover Code does not apply 

Abcam is not a company subject to regulation under the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the ‘UK Takeover Code’), therefore no dealing disclosures are required to be made under Rule 8 of the UK Takeover Code by shareholders of Abcam or Danaher. 

Forward-Looking Statements 

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding Danaher’s and Abcam’s ability to complete the Transaction on the proposed terms or on the anticipated timeline, or at all, including risks and uncertainties related to securing the necessary regulatory approvals and Abcam shareholder approval, the sanction of the High Court of Justice of England and Wales and satisfaction of other closing conditions to consummate the Transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the definitive transaction agreement relating to the Transaction; risks related to diverting the attention of Danaher’s and Abcam’s management from ongoing business operations; failure to realize the expected benefits of the Transaction; significant Transaction costs and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities; the risk of shareholder litigation in connection with the Transaction, including resulting expense or delay; the risk that Abcam’s business will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; Danaher’s ability to fund the cash consideration for the Transaction; risks related to future opportunities and plans for the combined company, including the uncertainty of expected future regulatory filings, financial performance and results of the combined company following completion of the acquisition; disruption from the Transaction, making it more difficult to conduct business as usual or maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; effects relating to the announcement of the Transaction or any further announcements or the consummation of the acquisition on the market price of Abcam’s American depositary shares; regulatory initiatives and changes in tax laws; market volatility; and other risks and uncertainties affecting Danaher and Abcam, including those described from time to time under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Abcam’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in any subsequent reports on Form 6-K, each of which is on file with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Moreover, other risks and uncertainties of which Abcam are not currently aware may also affect each of the companies’ forward-looking statements and may cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. SEC filings for the Company are available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at https://corporate.abcam.com/investors/. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the Company’s website is not a part of, and shall not be incorporated by reference into, this Form 6-K. 

The forward-looking statements made in this announcement are made only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the forward-looking statements and reflect the views stated therein with respect to future events as at such dates, even if they are subsequently made available by Abcam on its website or otherwise. Abcam does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made other than to the extent required by applicable law. 

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It 

Abcam intends to furnish to the SEC under cover of a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K and mail or otherwise provide to its shareholders a circular containing information on the Scheme vote regarding the Transaction (the ‘Scheme Circular’). This announcement is not a substitute for the Scheme Circular or any other document that may be filed or furnished by Abcam with the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to carefully read the entire Scheme Circular (which will include an explanatory statement in respect of the Scheme in accordance with the requirements of the UK Companies Act 2006) and other relevant documents as and when they become available because they will contain important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with or furnished to the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). 

In addition, investors and shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the Scheme Circular and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Company on its Investors website 

(https://corporate.abcam.com/investors/) or by writing to the Company, at 152 Grove Street, Building 1100 Waltham, MA 02453, United States of America. 

Neither this announcement nor any copy of it may be taken or transmitted directly or indirectly into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of such laws or regulations. Persons in possession of this announcement or other information referred to herein should inform themselves about, and observe, any restrictions in such laws or regulations. 

This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with the applicable law and regulation of the United Kingdom and the United States and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom or the United States. 

No Offer or Solicitation 

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. 

The Transaction will be implemented solely pursuant to the Scheme, subject to the terms and conditions of the definitive transaction agreement, which contains the terms and conditions of the Transaction. 

Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (“Morgan Stanley”) which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Abcam and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and Morgan Stanley, its affiliates and its respective officers, employees, agents, representatives and/or associates will not regard any other person as their client, nor will they be responsible to anyone other than Abcam for providing the protections afforded to clients of Morgan Stanley nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or any matter or arrangement referred to herein. 

Lazard & Co., Limited , which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, and Lazard Freres & Co. LLC (together, “Lazard”) are acting exclusively as financial adviser to Abcam and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Abcam for providing any protections afforded to clients of Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective directors, officers, employees or agents) 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 Lazard in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise. 

Abcam plc 

Tommy Thomas, CPA
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 617-577-4205
152 Grove Street, Building 1100
Waltham, MA 02453 

Media enquiries 

FTI Consulting
+44 (0)20-3727-1000
Abcam@fticonsulting.com 

All Resolutions Withdrawn at Abcam’s EGM

CAMBRIDGE, England and WALTHAM, Mass., July 12, 2023 – Abcam plc (“Abcam,” “Company,” “Group”) (Nasdaq: ABCM), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, today held an Extraordinary General Meeting of its shareholders (the “EGM”) that was convened following a requisition notice from Dr. Jonathan Milner dated May 30, 2023 (the “Requisition Notice”).

As previously announced, on June 28, 2023, the Company received a letter of undertaking from Dr. Milner withdrawing the Requisition Notice and therefore the resolutions that Dr. Milner had previously proposed were formally withdrawn at the EGM, in accordance with English law, and were not put to a vote.

About Abcam plc

As an innovator in reagents and tools, Abcam’s purpose is to serve life science researchers globally to achieve their mission faster. Providing the research and clinical communities with tools and scientific support, the Company offers highly validated antibodies, assays, and other research tools to address important targets in critical biological pathways.

Already a pioneer in data sharing and ecommerce in the life sciences, Abcam’s ambition is to be the most influential company in life sciences by helping advance global understanding of biology and causes of disease, which, in turn, will drive new treatments and improved health.

Abcam’s worldwide customer base of approximately 750,000 life science researchers’ uses Abcam’s antibodies, reagents, biomarkers, and assays. By actively listening to and collaborating with these researchers, the Company continuously advances its portfolio to address their needs. A transparent program of customer reviews and datasheets, combined with industry-leading validation initiatives, gives researchers increased confidence in their results.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the Company has served customers in more than 130 countries. Abcam’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: ABCM).

For more information, please visit www.abcam.com or www.abcamplc.com

Abcam plc

Tommy Thomas, CPA
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 617-577-4205

152 Grove Street, Building 1100
Waltham, MA 02453

Media enquiries

US: Joele Frank
+1 212-355-4449
Abcam-JF@joelefrank.com

UK and Europe: FTI
+44 (0)20-3727-1000
Abcam@fticonsulting.com

Trading Update

Cambridge, UK: Abcam plc (“Abcam,” “Company,” “Group”) (Nasdaq: ABCM), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, today provides the following preliminary trading update for the half ending 30 June 2023.

Preliminary results

Period Estimated Reported Revenue Estimated Adjusted Operating Profit %
H1 2023 >£203 million >26%

First half 2023 estimated revenues grew approximately 10% on a reported basis or 5.5% on a constant exchange rate basis as compared to 20% growth on a constant exchange rate basis in the comparable prior period. Adjusted operating profit margin is up by approximately 300 basis points to >26% for the half. Total revenue and adjusted operating profit are trending in-line with first half and full year 2023 Board expectations.

The company continues to see improvements in transactional Net Promoter Score, exiting H1 at +37 for June.

Note:
This trading update is based upon unaudited management accounts and has been prepared solely to provide additional information on trading to the shareholders of Abcam plc. All figures are provisional and subject to further review. It should not be relied on by any other party for other purposes. tNPS score reflects June 2023 month end, the six-month average was +13.

FY2023 Outlook

The Company is reiterating reported revenue guidance of £420 million to £440 million, representing 15% to 20% constant exchange rate revenue growth and adjusted operating profit margins of 27% to 28% with expected adjusted EBITDA margins of 36.5% to 37%.

Adjusted operating profit margins will exclude exceptional costs related to the suspended EGM, strategic review and the ongoing cost refinement program.

The Company will present half-year 2023 results on 31 August 2023 at 4:30pm EDT.

FY2024 Outlook

The Company is reiterating 2024 reported revenue outlook of £475 million to £525 million1, adjusted operating profit margins of 32% to 36%, and adjusted EBITDA margins of 42% to 46%.

 

About Abcam plc

As an innovator in reagents and tools, Abcam’s purpose is to serve life science researchers globally to achieve their mission faster. Providing the research and clinical communities with tools and scientific support, the Company offers highly validated antibodies, assays, and other research tools to address important targets in critical biological pathways.

Already a pioneer in data sharing and ecommerce in the life sciences, Abcam’s ambition is to be the most influential company in life sciences by helping advance global understanding of biology and causes of disease, which, in turn, will drive new treatments and improved health.

Abcam’s worldwide customer base of approximately 750,000 life science researchers’ uses Abcam’s antibodies, reagents, biomarkers, and assays. By actively listening to and collaborating with these researchers, the Company continuously advances its portfolio to address their needs. A transparent program of customer reviews and datasheets, combined with industry-leading validation initiatives, gives researchers increased confidence in their results.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the Company has served customers in more than 130 countries. Abcam’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: ABCM).

For more information, please visit www.abcam.com or www.abcamplc.com

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance.  Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding Abcam’s portfolio and ambitions, and our future results of operations and financial position such as our outlook for FY2023 and performance goals for FY2024 are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation:  challenges in implementing our strategies for revenue growth in light of competitive challenges; the development of new products or the enhancement of existing products, and the need to adapt to significant technological changes or respond to the introduction of new products by competitors to remain competitive; our customers discontinuing or spending less on research, development, production or other scientific endeavors; failing to successfully identify or integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations or fully recognize the anticipated benefits of businesses or assets that we acquire; the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, including variants, continues to affect our business, including impacts on our operations and supply chains; failing to successfully use, access and maintain information systems and implement new systems to handle our changing needs; cyber security risks and any failure to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our computer hardware, software and internet applications and related tools and functions; failing to successfully manage our current and potential future growth; any significant interruptions in our operations; our products failing to satisfy applicable quality criteria, specifications and performance standards; failing to maintain and enhance our brand and reputation; ability to react to unfavorable geopolitical or economic changes that affect life science funding; failing to deliver on transformational growth projects; our dependence upon management and highly skilled employees and our ability to attract and retain these highly skilled employees; and as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the U.S. securities laws and Nasdaq corporate governance rules and are permitted to file less information with the SEC than U.S. companies, which may limit the information available to holders of our American Depositary Shares (“ADS”); and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Abcam’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 (“Annual Report”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 20, 2023, which is available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov, as such factors may be updated from time to time in Abcam’s subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Abcam disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures

To supplement our audited financial results prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) we present Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Operating Profit Margin, Total Constant Exchange Rate Revenue (“CER revenue”), which are financial measures not prepared in accordance with IFRS (“non-IFRS financial measures”). We believe that the presentation of these non-IFRS financial measures provide useful information about our operating results and enhances the overall understanding of our past financial performance and future prospects, allowing for greater transparency with respect to key measures used by management in its financial and operational decision making.  These non-IFRS financial measures are supplemental in nature as they include and/or exclude certain items not included and/or excluded in the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Further, other companies may calculate these non-IFRS financial measures differently than we do, which may limit the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

Management believes that the presentation of (a) Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Operating Profit Margin, provide useful information to investors and others as management regularly reviews these measures as important indicators of our operating performance and makes decisions based on them, and (b) CER revenue provides useful information to investors and others as management regularly reviews this measure to identify period-on-period or year-on-year performance of the business and makes decisions based on its.

Please see the following “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” for a qualitative reconciliation of non-IFRS financial measures presented in this Trading Update to their most directly comparable IFRS financial measures. We define:

  • Adjusted Operating Profit as profit for the period / year before taking account of finance income, finance costs, tax, exceptional items, share-based payments, and amortization of acquisition intangibles. Exceptional items consist of certain cash and non-cash items that we believe are not reflective of the normal course of our business; and we identify and determine items to be exceptional based on their nature and incidence or by or by their significance (“exceptional items”). As a result, the composition of exceptional items may vary from period to period / year to year.
  • Adjusted Operating Profit Margin as adjusted operating profit calculated as a percentage of revenue.
  • CER as our total revenue growth from one fiscal period / year to the next on a constant exchange rate basis.

Management is unable to present quantitative reconciliations of Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Operating Profit Margin, and CER revenue to their respective most directly comparable IFRS financial measures of Operating Profit, Operating Profit Margin and Reported Revenue on a forward-looking basis, because items that impact these IFRS financial measures are not within our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. Such information may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on our future financial results.

 

Abcam plc

Tommy Thomas, CPA
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 617-577-4205

152 Grove Street, Building 1100
Waltham, MA 02453

 

1 Based on June 2023 exchange rates

Abcam Confirms Dr. Jonathan Milner has Withdrawn EGM Requisition Notice and Related Resolutions

Shareholders are encouraged not to attend or submit voting instructions or proxies related to the EGM

CAMBRIDGE, England and WALTHAM, Mass., June 28, 2023 – Abcam plc (“Abcam,” “Company,” “Group”) (Nasdaq: ABCM), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, today confirmed that it has received a letter of undertaking from Dr. Jonathan Milner withdrawing his notice dated May 30, 2023 (the “Requisition Notice”) which required the Company to call an Extraordinary General Meeting of its shareholders (the “EGM”) to consider certain resolutions proposed by him (the “Resolutions”).

In light of this letter from Dr. Jonathan Milner and the withdrawal of the Requisition Notice, in accordance with English law, a motion withdrawing the Resolutions will be presented at the EGM, which is scheduled to be held at 2.00 p.m. (BST) || 9:00am (EDT) on July 12, 2023. Shareholders are encouraged not to attend, not to submit voting instructions or proxies for, and not take any other action in relation to the EGM.

Abcam issued the following statement:

The Abcam Board and management team appreciate the constructive discussions we have had with our shareholders and will continue to maintain an ongoing dialogue. Our Board remains focused on our recently announced process to explore strategic alternatives for the Company, which will evaluate a broad range of options to maximize shareholder value, including a potential sale of the Company.

About Abcam plc

As an innovator in reagents and tools, Abcam’s purpose is to serve life science researchers globally to achieve their mission faster. Providing the research and clinical communities with tools and scientific support, the Company offers highly validated antibodies, assays, and other research tools to address important targets in critical biological pathways.

Already a pioneer in data sharing and ecommerce in the life sciences, Abcam’s ambition is to be the most influential company in life sciences by helping advance global understanding of biology and causes of disease, which, in turn, will drive new treatments and improved health.

Abcam’s worldwide customer base of approximately 750,000 life science researchers’ uses Abcam’s antibodies, reagents, biomarkers, and assays. By actively listening to and collaborating with these researchers, the Company continuously advances its portfolio to address their needs. A transparent program of customer reviews and datasheets, combined with industry-leading validation initiatives, gives researchers increased confidence in their results.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the Company has served customers in more than 130 countries. Abcam’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: ABCM).

For more information, please visit www.abcam.com or www.abcamplc.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbour provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the upcoming EGM, are forward-looking statements, and are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation: challenges in implementing our strategies for revenue growth in light of competitive challenges; the development of new products or the enhancement of existing products, and the need to adapt to significant technological changes or respond to the introduction of new products by competitors to remain competitive; our customers discontinuing or spending less on research, development, production or other scientific endeavors; failing to successfully identify or integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations or fully recognize the anticipated benefits of businesses or assets that we acquire; the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including variants, continues to affect our business, including impacts on our operations and supply chains; failing to successfully use, access and maintain information systems and implement new systems to handle our changing needs; cyber security risks and any failure to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our computer hardware, software and internet applications and related tools and functions; failing to successfully manage our current and potential future growth; any significant interruptions in our operations; our products failing to satisfy applicable quality criteria, specifications and performance standards; failing to maintain and enhance our brand and reputation; ability to react to unfavorable geopolitical or economic changes that affect life science funding; failing to deliver on transformational growth projects; our dependence upon management and highly skilled employees and our ability to attract and retain these highly skilled employees; as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the US securities laws and Nasdaq corporate governance rules and are permitted to file less information with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) than US companies, which may limit the information available to holders of our ADSs; and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2022, filed with the SEC on 20 March 2023, which is available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

Abcam plc

Tommy Thomas, CPA
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 617-577-4205

152 Grove Street, Building 1100
Waltham, MA 02453

Media enquiries

US: Joele Frank
+1 212-355-4449
Abcam-JF@joelefrank.com

UK and Europe: FTI
+44 (0)20-3727-1000
Abcam@fticonsulting.com

Abcam plc: FY2024 Guidance

CAMBRIDGE, England and WALTHAM, Mass. — Abcam plc (“Abcam,” “Company,” “Group”) (Nasdaq: ABCM), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, today provides the following updates.

Although the Company acknowledges that these financial updates are being provided outside our normal reporting cycles, the Board and management team believe that it is in the best interests of shareholders to provide this updated disclosure given the extraordinary circumstances that the Company is facing surrounding the strategic review and upcoming EGM.

FY2024 Outlook

Today, based on current trading, the Company is providing the following guidance for FY2024.

Reported revenue of approximately £475 million to £525 million1, representing 11.3% to 13.4% CER revenue CAGR2 and 10.0% to 12.1% organic revenue CAGR3 from FY2019.

Including the ongoing cost refinement actions announced last month, 2024 adjusted operating profit margins are expected to be between 32% to 36%, and adjusted EBITDA margins are expected to be between 42% and 46%.

Reported Return on Capital Employed of 14% to 18% is expected.  Return on Capital Employed, excluding the impact of BioVision in FY2024, would be 15% to 19%, with incremental value being delivered over the coming years.

FY2023 Outlook

The Company reiterates its FY2023 guidance of reported revenue of approximately £420 million to £440 million, representing 15% to 20% constant exchange rate revenue growth and expected adjusted operating profit margin of between 27% to 28%, with expected adjusted EBITDA margins of 36.5% to 37%


About Abcam plc

As an innovator in reagents and tools, Abcam’s purpose is to serve life science researchers globally to achieve their mission faster. Providing the research and clinical communities with tools and scientific support, the Company offers highly validated antibodies, assays, and other research tools to address important targets in critical biological pathways.

Already a pioneer in data sharing and ecommerce in the life sciences, Abcam’s ambition is to be the most influential company in life sciences by helping advance global understanding of biology and causes of disease, which, in turn, will drive new treatments and improved health.

Abcam’s worldwide customer base of approximately 750,000 life science researchers’ uses Abcam’s antibodies, reagents, biomarkers, and assays. By actively listening to and collaborating with these researchers, the Company continuously advances its portfolio to address their needs. A transparent program of customer reviews and datasheets, combined with industry-leading validation initiatives, gives researchers increased confidence in their results.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the Company has served customers in more than 130 countries. Abcam’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: ABCM).

For more information, please visit www.abcam.com or www.abcamplc.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance.  Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding Abcam’s portfolio and ambitions, and our future results of operations and financial position such as our outlook for FY2023 and performance goals for FY2024 are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation:  challenges in implementing our strategies for revenue growth in light of competitive challenges; the development of new products or the enhancement of existing products, and the need to adapt to significant technological changes or respond to the introduction of new products by competitors to remain competitive; our customers discontinuing or spending less on research, development, production or other scientific endeavors; failing to successfully identify or integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations or fully recognize the anticipated benefits of businesses or assets that we acquire; the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, including variants, continues to affect our business, including impacts on our operations and supply chains; failing to successfully use, access and maintain information systems and implement new systems to handle our changing needs; cyber security risks and any failure to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our computer hardware, software and internet applications and related tools and functions; failing to successfully manage our current and potential future growth; any significant interruptions in our operations; our products failing to satisfy applicable quality criteria, specifications and performance standards; failing to maintain and enhance our brand and reputation; ability to react to unfavorable geopolitical or economic changes that affect life science funding; failing to deliver on transformational growth projects; our dependence upon management and highly skilled employees and our ability to attract and retain these highly skilled employees; and as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the U.S. securities laws and Nasdaq corporate governance rules and are permitted to file less information with the SEC than U.S. companies, which may limit the information available to holders of our American Depositary Shares (“ADS”); and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Abcam’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 (“Annual Report”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 20, 2023, which is available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov, as such factors may be updated from time to time in Abcam’s subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Abcam disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures

To supplement our audited financial results prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) we present Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Operating Profit Margin, Total Constant Exchange Rate Revenue (“CER revenue”), which are financial measures not prepared in accordance with IFRS (“non-IFRS financial measures”). We believe that the presentation of these non-IFRS financial measures provide useful information about our operating results and enhances the overall understanding of our past financial performance and future prospects, allowing for greater transparency with respect to key measures used by management in its financial and operational decision making.  These non-IFRS financial measures are supplemental in nature as they include and/or exclude certain items not included and/or excluded in the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Further, other companies may calculate these non-IFRS financial measures differently than we do, which may limit the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

Management believes that the presentation of (a) Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Operating Profit Margin, provide useful information to investors and others as management regularly reviews these measures as important indicators of our operating performance and makes decisions based on them, (b) CER revenue provides useful information to investors and others as management regularly reviews this measure to identify period-on-period or year-on-year performance of the business and makes decisions based on it, and (c) Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative expenses and Adjusted Research & Development expenses provide useful information to investors and others as management regularly reviews these measures to identify period-on-period or year-on-year performance of the business and makes decisions based on it, and (d) Free Cash Flow provides useful information to investors and others because management regularly reviews this measure as an important indicator of how much cash is generated by business operations, excluding capital related items, and provides an indication of the amount of cash available for discretionary investing or financing after removing capital related items, and makes decisions based on it.

Please see the following “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” for a qualitative reconciliation of non-IFRS financial measures presented in this Trading Update to their most directly comparable IFRS financial measures. We define:

  • Adjusted Operating Profit as profit for the period / year before taking account of finance income, finance costs, tax, exceptional items, share-based payments, restructuring activities, and amortization of acquisition intangibles. Exceptional items consist of certain cash and non-cash items that we believe are not reflective of the normal course of our business; and we identify and determine items to be exceptional based on their nature and incidence or by or by their significance (“exceptional items”). As a result, the composition of exceptional items may vary from period to period / year to year.
  • Adjusted Operating Profit Margin as adjusted operating profit calculated as a percentage of revenue.
  • CER as our total revenue growth from one fiscal period / year to the next on a constant exchange rate basis.

Management is unable to present quantitative reconciliations of Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Operating Profit Margin, and CER revenue to their respective most directly comparable IFRS financial measures of Operating Profit, Operating Profit Margin and Reported Revenue on a forward-looking basis, because items that impact these IFRS financial measures are not within our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. Such information may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on our future financial results.

 

Abcam plc

Tommy Thomas, CPA
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 617-577-4205

152 Grove Street, Building 1100
Waltham, MA 02453

 

1 Based on exchange rates at June 2023

2 Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) calculated based on 5.5 year period between June 2019 and December 2024 based on exchange rates at June 2019

3 CAGR calculated based on 5.5 year period between June 2019 and December 2024.

Abcam Announces Review of Strategic Alternatives

Cambridge, UK / Waltham, MA: Abcam plc (“Abcam,” “Company,” “Group”) (Nasdaq: ABCM), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, today announces that, having listened to and extensively engaged with shareholders, the Board of Directors has unanimously decided to initiate a process to explore strategic alternatives for the Company. The comprehensive process will begin immediately and will evaluate a broad range of options to maximize shareholder value, including a potential sale of the Company.  As previously disclosed, Abcam has received strategic inquiries from multiple parties over the past few weeks.

The Company commented: “Abcam is a unique asset that provides innovative products and solutions for the global life sciences community.  Our Board is fully aligned in its belief that the best way to maximize value for shareholders is to comprehensively review the Company’s strategic alternatives, including a potential sale of Abcam.  We will pursue the pathway that maximizes value for our shareholders and also ensures successful outcomes for our customers and employees.”

The Board of Directors has retained Lazard and Morgan Stanley as financial advisors to assist in its review of strategic alternatives. Latham & Watkins has been appointed as legal advisor in connection with the review process.

There can be no assurance regarding the results or outcome of this review. Abcam does not intend to comment further on this strategic review process and will make further announcements in accordance with its ongoing disclosure obligations and pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.


About Abcam plc

As an innovator in reagents and tools, Abcam’s purpose is to serve life science researchers globally to achieve their mission faster. Providing the research and clinical communities with tools and scientific support, the Company offers highly validated antibodies, assays, and other research tools to address important targets in critical biological pathways.

Already a pioneer in data sharing and ecommerce in the life sciences, Abcam’s ambition is to be the most influential company in life sciences by helping advance global understanding of biology and causes of disease, which, in turn, will drive new treatments and improved health.

Abcam’s worldwide customer base of approximately 750,000 life science researchers’ uses Abcam’s antibodies, reagents, biomarkers, and assays. By actively listening to and collaborating with these researchers, the Company continuously advances its portfolio to address their needs. A transparent program of customer reviews and datasheets, combined with industry-leading validation initiatives, gives researchers increased confidence in their results.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the Company has served customers in more than 130 countries. Abcam’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: ABCM).

For more information, please visit www.abcam.com or www.abcamplc.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance.  Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the timing and scope of a process to explore strategic alternatives for the Company, including a potential sale of Abcam, and Abcam’s portfolio and ambitions.  These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation:  challenges in implementing our strategies for revenue growth in light of competitive challenges; the development of new products or the enhancement of existing products, and the need to adapt to significant technological changes or respond to the introduction of new products by competitors to remain competitive; our customers discontinuing or spending less on research, development, production or other scientific endeavors; failing to successfully identify or integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations or fully recognize the anticipated benefits of businesses or assets that we acquire; the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, including variants, continues to affect our business, including impacts on our operations and supply chains; failing to successfully use, access and maintain information systems and implement new systems to handle our changing needs; cyber security risks and any failure to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our computer hardware, software and internet applications and related tools and functions; failing to successfully manage our current and potential future growth; any significant interruptions in our operations; our products failing to satisfy applicable quality criteria, specifications and performance standards; failing to maintain and enhance our brand and reputation; ability to react to unfavorable geopolitical or economic changes that affect life science funding; failing to deliver on transformational growth projects; our dependence upon management and highly skilled employees and our ability to attract and retain these highly skilled employees; and as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the U.S. securities laws and Nasdaq corporate governance rules and are permitted to file less information with the SEC than U.S. companies, which may limit the information available to holders of our American Depositary Shares (“ADS”); and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Abcam’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 (“Annual Report”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 20, 2023, which is available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov, as such factors may be updated from time to time in Abcam’s subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Abcam disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

Abcam plc

Tommy Thomas, CPA
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 617-577-4205

152 Grove Street, Building 1100
Waltham, MA 02453

Media enquiries

US: Joele Frank
+1 212-355-4449
Abcam-JF@joelefrank.com

UK and Europe: FTI
+44 (0)20-3727-1000
Abcam@fticonsulting.com

Abcam highlights successful execution of strategic priorities to drive shareholder value

Files investor presentation; urges shareholders to vote AGAINST all resolutions at July 12 EGM

Under CEO Alan Hirzel’s leadership, Abcam has transformed as a business, created significant value for all stakeholders, and outperformed the market

The Company is on track to deliver its 2024 revenue and profit margin goals

Abcam’s strong, independent, and highly qualified Board is effectively overseeing execution of the Company’s strategy

Jonathan Milner’s demands to become Executive Chairman and remove three directors from the Board will put shareholders’ investment in Abcam at risk

Cambridge, UK / Waltham, MA: Abcam plc (“Abcam,” “Company,” “Group”) (Nasdaq: ABCM), a global leader in the supply of life science research tools, today filed an investor presentation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company (the “EGM”) to be held on July 12, 2023 at 2:00pm (BST) || 9:00am (EDT). The full presentation and other materials related to the EGM are available at https://corporate.abcam.com/investors/2023-egm.

The Company issued the following statement:

We believe Jonathan Milner’s attempt to wrest control of Abcam and become its de facto CEO will jeopardize Abcam’s recent momentum as well as its day-to-day operations, growth strategy and competitive position.

Jonathan Milner has not been operationally involved in Abcam for nearly a decade. Since then, the Company has matured into a fundamentally different business and has successfully executed its Abcam 2.0 strategy. Revenues have nearly tripled under CEO Alan Hirzel’s leadership, growing by 183% during his tenure, while Abcam has also expanded globally and increased its market share. With the groundwork now in place, Abcam is set to benefit as sales rise and margins improve.

Jonathan Milner has failed to articulate to shareholders or the Company what appointing him to an Executive Chairman role would mean in practice or what new strategy he is seeking to deploy. The Board believes this sudden and significant shift in both operational and executive leadership of Abcam will put shareholders’ investment at risk and cause an uncertain period of disruption. The Company urges shareholders to vote “AGAINST” all eight of the resolutions being put forward at the EGM.

Key points of the presentation:

  • Over the last decade, Abcam has transformed into a leading life science tools player, creating significant value for all shareholders and other stakeholders, and has outperformed the market.
    • Over the course of Alan Hirzel’s tenure as CEO prior to COVID-19, Abcam’s total shareholder return (“TSR”) of 178% outpaced life sciences tools peers (167%)1 and Russell 3000 (77%).
    • Over the past twelve months, Abcam’s 27% TSR has significantly outperformed the same group of life science tools peers (-12% over the same period).
    • Abcam has transitioned away from being a simple broker of third-party antibodies towards being an innovation-oriented, quality-focused partner to life science researchers, driving profitable, sustained market share gains.
    • This is a fundamentally different business from Jonathan Milner’s transactional “Amazon of Antibodies”, a catalogue of predominantly third-party products, which led to a high level of customer complaints.
  • Abcam is successfully executing on its five-year growth strategy to drive long-term value.
    • The Company is on track to deliver its 2024 revenue goals of £450 million to £525 million, with adjusted operating profit margins of greater than 30%.
    • As Abcam is delivering on its six key priorities for long-term durable growth, the Company has doubled its revenue over the past five years and delivered profitable, sustained market share gains.
    • The timing of Jonathan Milner’s campaign is opportunistic as investment requirements from the five-year growth strategy are largely complete, underpinning the sustained organic growth and accelerated margin improvement back towards historic levels.
  • Jonathan Milner’s demands are not in the best interests of all shareholders and will put shareholders’ investment in Abcam at risk.
    • Abcam has worked tirelessly and in good faith with Jonathan Milner in order to avoid an expensive and distracting proxy contest. The Board moved quickly to consider his request to return to the Board – but when invited to join the Board, Jonathan Milner rejected this invitation and changed his demands.
    • Jonathan Milner has called a costly EGM so that he can attempt to appoint himself Executive Chairman and remove three directors from the Board, with no proposed alternative candidates.
    • The changes proposed by Jonathan Milner would cause a sudden and significant shift in leadership during a critical inflection point and would jeopardize the Company’s recent momentum as well as its day-to-day operations, growth strategy and competitive position.
    • While he was on the Board, Jonathan Milner endorsed the strategic plan developed by Alan Hirzel that has delivered significant value to shareholders.
  • Abcam’s strong, independent, and highly qualified Board is effectively overseeing the execution of the Company’s strategy.
    • Abcam’s Board has the right experience, skillset, and deep knowledge of both the life sciences industry and the Company’s business model to continue overseeing the execution of the strategy and deliver value to all shareholders and other stakeholders.
    • Abcam’s Board has sought to engage with Jonathan Milner to bring this matter to a close in line with good governance procedures. Jonathan Milner chose this route rather than to constructively engage.
    • Peter Allen, Michael Baldock, and Sally Crawford have played essential roles in overseeing Abcam’s transformation, and their removal would be damaging for all stakeholders.
  • Abcam’s remuneration program, the Profitable Growth Incentive Plan (PGIP), is aligned with shareholder interests and incentivizes long-term value creation.
    • Incentive arrangements for 150 leaders in the business are aligned to Abcam’s long-term strategy for doubling revenue by 2024. This compensation framework was put in place before the Company moved to a sole US listing.
    • Extensive shareholder consultation was undertaken during the establishment of this framework.
    • Notably, Jonathan Milner voted in favor of the remuneration program and its metrics and did not raise any concerns about the metrics at that time, or at any point before April 28, 2023.

Abcam urges shareholders to vote AGAINST all Resolutions at the EGM on July 12, 2023.

EGM Details

The EGM will be held at the offices of FTI Consulting at 200 Aldersgate, Aldersgate Street, London, EC1A 4HD, United Kingdom on July 12, 2023 at 2:00pm (BST) || 9:00am (EDT). The Company encourages all shareholders to closely review the Shareholder Circular, which provides important and detailed instructions about how to participate and vote.

HOW TO VOTE

ADS Holders Ordinary Shareholders
Instruct the Depositary how to vote the Ordinary Shares represented by your ADS by following the instructions on the Depositary Notice and WHITE Voting Instruction Card and/or such other instructions as may be provided to you by or on behalf of your broker or intermediary Submit proxies electronically using the online voting service at www.sharevote.co.ukor through the CREST voting service, or in a hard copy using the WHITE Form of Proxy, by following the instructions set out in the Shareholder Circular
Such voting instructions must be validly submitted so as to be received by the Depositary by no later than 10:00 am (EDT) on July 6, 2023 All proxy appointments must be submitted so as to be received by the Company’s registrar by no later than 2:00 pm (BST) on July 10, 2023
A copy of the Shareholder Circular calling the EGM and setting out further information is available at https://corporate.abcam.com/investors/2023-egm
If you have any questions or need assistance in voting, please contact Abcam’s proxy solicitor Morrow Sodali LLC at (800) 662-5200 (toll-free in N. America) or at + 1 (203) 658-9400 or by email at ABCM@info.morrowsodali.com

 

About Abcam plc

As an innovator in reagents and tools, Abcam’s purpose is to serve life science researchers globally to achieve their mission faster. Providing the research and clinical communities with tools and scientific support, the Company offers highly validated antibodies, assays, and other research tools to address important targets in critical biological pathways.

Already a pioneer in data sharing and ecommerce in the life sciences, Abcam’s ambition is to be the most influential company in life sciences by helping advance global understanding of biology and causes of disease, which, in turn, will drive new treatments and improved health.

Abcam’s worldwide customer base of approximately 750,000 life science researchers’ uses Abcam’s antibodies, reagents, biomarkers, and assays. By actively listening to and collaborating with these researchers, the Company continuously advances its portfolio to address their needs. A transparent program of customer reviews and datasheets, combined with industry-leading validation initiatives, gives researchers increased confidence in their results.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the Company has served customers in more than 130 countries. Abcam’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: ABCM).

For more information, please visit www.abcam.com or www.abcamplc.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbour provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words.  Any express or implied statements contained in this announcement that are not statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the implementation of the Company’s business plan or the financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements, and are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation: challenges in implementing our strategies for revenue growth in light of competitive challenges; the development of new products or the enhancement of existing products, and the need to adapt to significant technological changes or respond to the introduction of new products by competitors to remain competitive; our customers discontinuing or spending less on research, development, production or other scientific endeavors; failing to successfully identify or integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations or fully recognize the anticipated benefits of businesses or assets that we acquire; the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including variants, continues to affect our business, including impacts on our operations and supply chains; failing to successfully use, access and maintain information systems and implement new systems to handle our changing needs; cyber security risks and any failure to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our computer hardware, software and internet applications and related tools and functions; failing to successfully manage our current and potential future growth; any significant interruptions in our operations; our products failing to satisfy applicable quality criteria, specifications and performance standards; failing to maintain and enhance our brand and reputation; ability to react to unfavorable geopolitical or economic changes that affect life science funding; failing to deliver on transformational growth projects; our dependence upon management and highly skilled employees and our ability to attract and retain these highly skilled employees; as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules under the US securities laws and Nasdaq corporate governance rules and are permitted to file less information with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) than US companies, which may limit the information available to holders of our ADSs; and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2022, filed with the SEC on 20 March 2023, which is available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

Abcam plc

Tommy Thomas, CPA
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 617-577-4205

152 Grove Street, Building 1100
Waltham, MA 02453

Media enquiries

US: Joele Frank
+1 212-355-4449
Abcam-JF@joelefrank.com

UK and Europe: FTI
+44 (0)20-3727-1000
Abcam@fticonsulting.com

1Life science tools peers include Bio-Rad, Bio-Techne, Illumina, Maravai, Repligen, Sartorius, Tecan and Waters.