EQT Fund Management S.à r.l.
17 September 2026
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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
17 September 2026
RECOMMENDED FINAL* CASH ACQUISITION
of
INTERTEK GROUP PLC ("Intertek")
by
ISOTOPE BIDCO LIMITED ("Bidco")
(a newly formed company to be indirectly owned by EQT X EUR SCSp and EQT X USD SCSp, each acting through its manager (gérant) EQT Fund Management S.à r.l., together with certain indirect minority shareholders including, among others, Luxinva and Mubadala) to be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
Publication of Lender Presentation
On 18 June 2026, the boards of Intertek and Bidco announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended final cash acquisition pursuant to which the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Intertek will be acquired by Bidco (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is to be implemented by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme") and is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the circular in relation to the Scheme sent to Intertek Shareholders dated 15 July 2026 (the "Scheme Document").
Capitalised terms used but not otherwise defined in this announcement (the "Announcement") have the meanings set out in the Scheme Document.
In the Scheme Document it was stated that the Acquisition would be partially funded under an interim facilities agreement dated 18 June 2026, as amended and restated from time to time (the "Interim Facilities Agreement") between, among others, Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Deutsche Bank AG, London branch, Morgan Stanley Bank AG, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Bank of America Europe Designated Activity Company, BNP Paribas, HSBC Bank plc, Jefferies Finance LLC, Mizuho Bank Europe N.V., MUFG Bank, Ltd., London Branch, National Westminster Bank plc, NatWest Markets plc, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China Limited, London Branch, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., London Branch, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., ING Bank N.V., London Branch and SMBC Bank International plc which may be replaced prior to the Effective Date by alternative long term debt financing. It is intended that the Interim Facilities shall be replaced with senior secured term loans and/or other senior secured debt (the "Senior Debt Financing") prior to the Effective Date. In connection with the Senior Debt Financing, certain potential lenders have today received a lender presentation (the "Lender Presentation"). The Lender Presentation is being made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons in, or resident in, Restricted Jurisdictions, on Bidco's website at www.documentlibrary.co.uk/documents/.
* The financial terms of the Acquisition are final and will not be increased, save that Bidco reserves the right to increase the financial terms of the Acquisition where: (i) there is an announcement on or after the date of the Announcement of an offer or possible offer, including a partial offer, or a firm intention to make an offer for Intertek by any third party offeror or potential offeror, including where any such announcement is made by Intertek; or (ii) the Panel otherwise provides its consent.
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Enquiries |
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Morgan Stanley (Lead Financial Adviser to Bidco) Anthony Zammit Hugh Moran Jimmy Bastock Ying Huang |
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+44 (0)20 7425 8000 |
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Barclays (Financial Adviser to Bidco) Adrian Beidas Richard Probert Anjaneya Shiroor Neal West |
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+44 (0)20 7623 2323 |
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Deutsche Bank (Financial Adviser to Bidco) Anthony Parsons Simon Hollingsworth Oliver Ives Ammar Altaf |
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+44 (0)20 7260 1000 |
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FGS Global (Communications Adviser to Bidco) Faeth Birch Chris Ryall Sophia Johnston |
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Freshfields LLP is acting as legal adviser to EQT and Bidco. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Advokatfirman Vinge KB are acting as regulatory counsel to Bidco. Linklaters LLP is acting as legal adviser to Luxinva. Clifford Chance LLP is acting as legal adviser to Mubadala.
Important notices
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc ("Morgan Stanley") which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Bidco and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Morgan Stanley nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matters referred to in this Announcement. Neither Morgan Stanley, its affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees and 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 Morgan Stanley in connection with this Announcement or any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its Investment Bank ("Barclays"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting exclusively for Bidco and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this Announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Barclays nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to in this Announcement.
Deutsche Bank AG is a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany with its principal office in Frankfurt am Main. It is registered with the district court (Amtsgericht) in Frankfurt am Main under No HRB 30 000 and licensed to carry on banking business and to provide financial services. The London branch of Deutsche Bank AG is registered in the register of companies for England and Wales (registration number BR000005) with its registered address and principal place of business at 21, Moorfields, London EC2Y 9DB. Deutsche Bank AG is subject to supervision by the European Central Bank (ECB), Sonnemannstrasse 22, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht or BaFin), Graurheindorfer Strasse 108, 53117 Bonn and Marie-Curie-Strasse 24-28, 60439 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. With respect to activities undertaken in the United Kingdom, Deutsche Bank AG is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. It is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of Deutsche Bank AG's authorisation and regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from Deutsche Bank AG on request. Deutsche Bank AG, acting through its London branch is and has been acting solely for Bidco and no other person in connection with the matters referred to in this Announcement and will not regard, and has not regarded, any other person as its client and has not been and will not be responsible to any person other than Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Deutsche Bank AG, acting through its London branch, or for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this Announcement.
This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, an 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 the Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Intertek in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Acquisition will be made solely by means of the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition including details of how to vote in respect of the Acquisition. Any vote in respect of the Scheme or other response in relation to the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document).
This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus or exemption document.
The statements contained in this Announcement are made as at the date of this Announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and publication of this Announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set forth in this Announcement since such date.
Overseas shareholders
The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in or into jurisdictions other than the UK or the United States, and the availability of the Acquisition to Intertek Shareholders who are not resident in the UK or the United States, may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the law of any jurisdiction other than the UK should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person. This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law and the Code and the 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 of jurisdictions outside of the UK.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Acquisition by any such use, means, instrumentality or from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction.
Copies of this Announcement and formal documentation relating to the Acquisition will not be, and must not be, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the Acquisition. If the Acquisition is implemented by way of Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law or regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.
Additional information for US investors
The Acquisition is being made to acquire the shares of an English company by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under English law. A transaction effected by means of a scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Scheme will be subject to disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the UK to schemes of arrangement, which are different from the disclosure requirements of the US tender offer rules and the US proxy solicitation rules. The financial information included in this Announcement and the Scheme documentation, if any, has been or will have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and thus may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the US. If Bidco exercises its right to implement the acquisition of the Intertek Shares by way of a Takeover Offer, such offer will be made in compliance with applicable US laws and regulations.
The receipt of cash pursuant to the Acquisition by a US holder as consideration for the transfer of its Scheme Shares pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes and under applicable United States state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each Intertek Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them.
It may be difficult for US holders to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the US federal securities laws, since Bidco and Intertek are located in countries other than the US, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the US. US holders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgement.
In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Bidco or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Intertek Shares outside of the US, other than pursuant to the Acquisition, until the date on which the Acquisition and/or Scheme becomes effective, lapses or is otherwise withdrawn. Also, in accordance with the Code, normal United Kingdom market practice and Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, each of Morgan Stanley, Barclays, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Goldman Sachs International (and/or certain of each of their affiliates) will continue to act as an exempt principal trader in Intertek Shares on the London Stock Exchange. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases and activities by exempt principal traders will be disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.
Forward-looking statements
This Announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this Announcement), oral statements made regarding the Acquisition, and other information published by Bidco and Intertek contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of Bidco and Intertek about future events, and therefore involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Intertek and the Wider Intertek Group to market risks and statements expressing management expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions, including, where relevant, information as to future potential cost savings, synergies, earnings, cash flow, return on capital employed, production and prospects. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject to", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Although Bidco and Intertek believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Bidco and Intertek can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the satisfaction (or waiver, as applicable) of the Conditions, as well as additional factors, such as: macroeconomic risks, including global or market downturns, inflation, supply chain and logistics constraints, materials shortages, and contraction or changing requirements in specific sectors; increased litigation activity and regulatory actions; the impact of competition; changes in customer preferences; major IT systems failures or data security breaches, whether arising from internal or external factors, including failure to implement appropriate IT strategies or maintain systems with required functionality; failure to adequately protect the Intertek Group's confidential information, customers' confidential information or personal data; risks concerning borrower credit quality; delays in implementing proposals; future business combinations or disposals; failure to identify and respond to changes in clients' operations and supply chains, including those arising from developments such as artificial intelligence, cyber threats and climate change; and the impact of tax or other legislation and other regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Wider Intertek Group operates. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. Neither Bidco nor Intertek, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this Announcement will actually occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as at the date of this Announcement (unless otherwise specified). Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations (including under the UK Listing Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA), neither Bidco nor Intertek is under any obligation, and Bidco and Intertek expressly disclaim any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Publication on website
A copy of this Announcement will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Bidco's website at www.documentlibrary.co.uk/documents/. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of that website are not incorporated into and do not form part of this Announcement.
Requesting hard copies
Intertek Shareholders may request a hard copy of this Announcement (and any information incorporated by reference in this Announcement) by contacting the Group Company Secretary during normal business hours at cosec@intertek.com or +44 (0) 20 7396 3400 or by submitting a request in writing to Intertek Group plc, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PS. If you have received this Announcement in electronic form, copies of this Announcement and any document or information incorporated by reference into this document will not be provided unless such a request is made.
Such persons may also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent to them in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.
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