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 SUCH JURISDICTION.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 July 2026
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
ADVANCED MEDICAL SOLUTIONS GROUP PLC ("AMS" or the "Company")
by
H.B. FULLER MEDICAL ADHESIVE TECHNOLOGIES INC. ("Bidco"),
a wholly-owned subsidiary of H.B. Fuller Company ("H.B. Fuller")
to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
PUBLICATION OF SCHEME DOCUMENT
On 25 June 2026, following an announcement on 21 May 2026 relating to a possible cash offer for AMS, the boards of directors of AMS and H.B. Fuller announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of AMS by Bidco, a wholly-owned subsidiary of H.B. Fuller (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition will be implemented by way of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement (the "Scheme") under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act").
Capitalised terms used in this announcement shall, unless otherwise defined, have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme Document.
Publication of the Scheme Document
AMS announces that it has today published a circular in relation to the Scheme (the "Scheme Document"), setting out (amongst other things) a letter from the Chair of AMS, an explanatory statement pursuant to section 897 of the Act, the full terms and conditions of the Acquisition and the Scheme, an expected timetable of principal events, notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting and details of the actions to be taken by AMS Shareholders, together with the related Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting.
The Scheme Document is available (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions) on AMS' website at www.admedsol.com and on H.B. Fuller's website at www.hbfuller.com/en. The content of these websites as referred to in this announcement are not incorporated into, and does not form part of, this announcement.
Hard copies of the Scheme Document and Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting will be sent to AMS Shareholders, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in or located in Restricted Jurisdictions. The Scheme Document will also be made available, for information only, to holders of awards and options under the AMS Share Plans and persons with information rights.
Action required
As further detailed in the Scheme Document, before the Court is asked to sanction the Scheme and in order for the Scheme to become Effective, the Scheme will require (amongst other things): (i) the approval of a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled to vote), either in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting, representing no less than 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Shares held by such Scheme Shareholders present and voting at the Court Meeting; and (ii) the passing of the Special Resolutions by the requisite majority of AMS Shareholders at the General Meeting. The Scheme is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where applicable) of the Conditions and further terms that are set out in the Scheme Document.
Notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting of AMS, both of which will be held at the offices of Investec Bank plc at 30 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7QP on 12 August 2026 are set out in Parts VIII and Part IX of the Scheme Document. The Court Meeting is scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m. on that date and the General Meeting at 11:15 a.m. (or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting concludes or is adjourned).
Any changes to the arrangements for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting will be communicated to AMS Shareholders before the relevant Meetings, through AMS' website at www.admedsol.com and by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.
It is important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast (whether in person or by proxy) so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair representation of opinion of AMS Shareholders. Scheme Shareholders and AMS Shareholders are therefore strongly advised to sign and return their Forms of Proxy (by post) or transmit a proxy appointment and voting instruction (electronically online via the relevant Investor Centre or the CREST Electronic Proxy Appointment Service for the Court Meeting) as soon as possible and, in any event, to be received by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 10 August 2026 in respect of the Court Meeting and 11.15 a.m. on 10 August 2026 in respect of the General Meeting in accordance with the instructions set out in the Scheme Document and the Forms of Proxy. Institutional investors may also be able to appoint a proxy electronically via the Proxymity platform. Instructions in relation to voting and the completion of the Forms of Proxy are included in the Scheme Document. Scheme Shareholders and AMS Shareholders are also strongly encouraged to appoint "the Chair of the meeting" as their proxy.
AMS Shareholders should carefully read the Scheme Document in its entirety before making a decision with respect to the Scheme.
Recommendation
The AMS Directors, who have been so advised by Evercore and Investec as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing their advice to the AMS Directors, Evercore and Investec have taken into account the commercial assessments of the AMS Directors. Evercore and Investec are providing independent financial advice to the AMS Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.
The AMS Directors believe that the terms of the Acquisition (including the Scheme) are in the best interests of AMS and AMS Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the AMS Directors unanimously recommend that the Scheme Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and that AMS Shareholders vote in favour of the Special Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting, as certain of the AMS Directors have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of AMS Shares (and those AMS Shares over which they have control), being, in aggregate, 745,766 AMS Shares (representing approximately 0.34 per cent. of the existing issued ordinary share capital of AMS) as at the Latest Practicable Date.
AMS Shareholders should carefully read the Scheme Document in its entirety before making a decision with respect to the Scheme.
Expected timetable of principal events
An expected timetable of principal events for the Scheme is set out in the Scheme Document and is also reproduced in the appendix to this announcement. Subject to the requisite approval of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting and of AMS Shareholders at the General Meeting, the satisfaction or waiver (if capable of waiver) of the other Conditions set out in the Scheme Document and the sanction of the Scheme by the Court at the Sanction Hearing, the Scheme is currently expected to become Effective in Q3 or Q4 2026. The dates and times given are indicative only and based on AMS' and Bidco's current expectations and may be subject to change. If any of the expected dates and/or times set out in the expected timetable change, then AMS or Bidco (as applicable) will give adequate notice(s) of such changes in an announcement released through a Regulatory Information Service.
AMS will make further announcements through a Regulatory Information Service as appropriate, with such announcements also being available on AMS' website at www.admedsol.com and on H.B. Fuller's website at www.hbfuller.com/en .
An update to the expected timetable is expected to be announced following receipt of the relevant regulatory and antitrust approvals upon which the Acquisition is conditional.
Cancellation of admission to trading on AIM of AMS Shares and re-registration of AMS
Prior to the Scheme becoming Effective, it is intended that AMS will make an application to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of the AMS Shares to trading on AIM to be cancelled with effect from shortly after the Effective Date.
The last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, AMS Shares on AIM is expected to be the Business Day immediately prior to the Effective Date and no transfers will be registered after 6.00 p.m. (London time) on that day other than to Bidco (or as Bidco may direct) pursuant to the AMS Articles, as proposed to be amended by the Special Resolutions to be proposed at the General Meeting.
On the Effective Date, share certificates held by Scheme Shareholders in respect of AMS Shares will cease to be valid and should be destroyed. In addition, entitlements to AMS Shares held in CREST will be cancelled on the Effective Date.
It is also proposed that, following the Effective Date and after the admission to trading of AMS Shares on AIM has been cancelled, AMS will be re-registered as a private limited company under the relevant provisions of the Act.
Questions
If AMS Shareholders have any questions about this announcement, the Scheme Document, the Court Meeting or the General Meeting, or you are in any doubt as to how to submit your proxies electronically or how to complete the Forms of Proxy, please call AMS' registrar, Computershare, on +44 (0)370 703 0158. Please use the country code if calling from outside the UK. Lines are open between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except public holidays in England and Wales). Calls are charged at the standard geographical rate and rates may vary by provider. Calls from outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate. Different charges may apply to calls from mobile telephones and calls may be monitored or recorded for security and training purposes. Please note that the Shareholder Helpline operators cannot provide advice on the merits of the Acquisition or the Scheme or give any financial, tax, investment or legal advice.
Enquiries
|
Advanced Medical Solutions plc |
+44 (0) 160 654 5508 |
|
Chris Meredith, Chief Executive Officer Eddie Johnson, Chief Financial Officer Michael King, Head of Investor Relations |
|
|
Evercore Partners International LLP (Joint Financial Adviser) |
+44 (0) 207 653 6000 |
|
Simon Elliott Julian Oakley Israel Akinrinsola Harrison George |
|
|
Investec Bank plc (Joint Financial Adviser, Nominated Adviser and Corporate Broker) |
+44 (0) 207 597 5970 |
|
Gary Clarence Harry Hargreaves Nick Prowting Miha Grzina |
|
|
Optimum Strategic Communications (PR Adviser) |
+44 (0) 204 566 8543 |
|
Mary Clark Nick Bastin Isabelle Abdou |
Goldman Sachs and Perella Weinberg are acting as financial advisers to H.B. Fuller. Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP is acting as legal adviser to H.B. Fuller.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is acting as legal adviser to AMS in connection with the Acquisition.
About Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc
AMS is a world-leading independent developer and manufacturer of innovative tissue-healing technology, focused on quality outcomes for patients and value for payers. AMS has a wide range of surgical products including tissue adhesives, sutures, haemostats, internal fixation devices and internal sealants, which it markets under its brands LiquiBand®, RESORBA®, LiquiBandFix8®, LIQUIFIX™, Peters Surgical, Ifabond, Vitalitec and Seal-G®. AMS also supplies wound care dressings such as silver alginates, alginates and foams through its ActivHeal® brand as well as under white label. Since 2019, AMS has made seven acquisitions: Sealantis, an Israeli developer of innovative internal sealants, Biomatlante, a French developer and manufacturer of surgical biomaterials, Raleigh, a leading UK coater and converter of woundcare and bio-diagnostics materials, AFS Medical, an Austrian specialist surgical business, Connexicon, an Irish tissue adhesives specialist, Syntacoll, a German specialist in collagen-based absorbable surgical implants and Peters Surgical, a global provider of specialty surgical sutures, mechanical haemostasis and internal cyanoacrylate devices.
AMS' products, manufactured in the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Thailand, India, the Czech Republic and Israel, are sold globally via a network of multinational or regional partners and distributors, as well as via AMS' own direct sales forces in the UK, Germany, Austria, France, Poland, Benelux, India, the Czech Republic and Russia. AMS has R&D innovation hubs in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France and Israel. Established in 1991, AMS has more than 1,800 employees. For more information, please see www.admedsol.com.
Person responsible
The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of AMS is Eddie Johnson, Chief Financial Officer.
Rule 26.1
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement will be available on the Company's website www.admedsol.com and on H.B. Fuller's website at www.hbfuller.com/en by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day following the date of this announcement.
Important notices
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell or subscribe for or any invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise.
The Acquisition shall 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, together with the Forms of Proxy, contains 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 any decision in respect of, or other response to, the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information in the Scheme Document (or, if the Acquisition is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer document).
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English and Welsh law, the AIM Rules 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 England and Wales.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus-equivalent document.
Disclaimers
Evercore Partners International LLP ("Evercore"), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as joint financial adviser to the Company and no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than AMS for providing the protections afforded to clients of Evercore nor for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Evercore nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Evercore in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein, any offer or otherwise. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Evercore by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or successor legislation, or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, neither Evercore nor any of its affiliates accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the contents of this announcement, and no representation, express or implied, is made by it, or purported to be made on its behalf, in relation to the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification of any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with AMS or the matters described in this document. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Evercore and its affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which they might otherwise have in respect of this announcement, or any statement contained herein.
Investec Bank plc ("Investec") is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA and the PRA. Investec is acting exclusively as joint financial adviser and corporate broker to AMS and no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than AMS for providing the protections afforded to clients of Investec, nor for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Investec nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Investec in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein, any offer or otherwise. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Investec by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, neither Investec nor any of its affiliates accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the contents of this announcement, and no representation, express or implied, is made by it, or purported to be made on its behalf, in relation to the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification of any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with AMS or the matters described in this announcement. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Investec and its affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above in this paragraph) which they might otherwise have in respect of this announcement, or any statement contained herein.
Goldman Sachs International, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the United Kingdom, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (together, "Goldman Sachs") are acting exclusively for H.B. Fuller as financial advisers and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than H. B. Fuller for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs, nor for providing advice in connection with the matters set out in this announcement. Neither Goldman Sachs nor any of Goldman Sachs' subsidiaries, affiliates or branches owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct, indirect, consequential, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Goldman Sachs in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Perella Weinberg UK Limited ("Perella Weinberg Partners"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting exclusively for H.B. Fuller in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and for no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than H.B. Fuller for providing the protections afforded to its clients nor for providing advice in relation to the matters set out in this announcement. Neither Perella Weinberg Partners nor any of its affiliates and 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 Perella Weinberg Partners in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
The information in this announcement has not been audited or otherwise independently verified and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information or opinions contained herein. None of the Company or any of its affiliates, advisors or representatives shall have any liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss whatsoever arising from any use of this announcement, or its contents, or otherwise arising in connection with this announcement.
This announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase any shares in the Company, nor shall it or any part of it or the fact of its distribution form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or commitment or investment decisions relating thereto, nor does it constitute a recommendation regarding the shares of the Company.
Certain statements, statistics and projections in this announcement are or may be forward looking. By their nature, forward‑looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or assumptions that may or may not occur and actual results or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any particular expectation will be met and reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements contained in this announcement regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on the knowledge and information available only at the date of this announcement's preparation.
The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or keep current the information contained in this announcement, including any forward‑looking statements, or to correct any inaccuracies which may become apparent and any opinions expressed in it are subject to change without notice.
References in this announcement to other reports or materials, such as a website address, have been provided to direct the reader to other sources of information on AMS which may be of interest. Neither the contents of AMS' website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks from AMS' website nor any additional materials contained or accessible thereon, are incorporated in, or form part of, this announcement.
Overseas Shareholders
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law, the Takeover Code, UK MAR, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the AIM Rules 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 England. Nothing in this announcement should be relied on for any other purpose.
The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by the laws and/or regulations of those jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes who are subject to the laws and/or regulations of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves about and observe any such applicable laws and/or regulations in their jurisdiction. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to the laws of another jurisdiction to participate in the Acquisition or to vote their AMS Shares with respect to the Scheme at the Court Meeting, the Resolutions at the General Meeting, or to execute and deliver Forms of Proxy appointing another person as proxy to vote at the Court Meeting or the General Meeting on their behalf, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are located or to which they are subject. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of 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.
Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition shall not be made available, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws or regulations 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 or regulations of that jurisdiction.
The Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements of English law, the Takeover Code, the Panel, the AIM Rules, the London Stock Exchange and the FCA.
Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction or any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws or regulations of such 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.
Further details and information in relation to Overseas Shareholders are contained in the Scheme Document.
Additional Information for US investors
The Acquisition relates to the shares of an English company which are admitted to trading on AIM and is proposed to be effected by means of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under the laws of England and Wales. An acquisition effected by means of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements applicable in the United Kingdom to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure and procedural requirements of the United States tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. However, if in the future Bidco were to elect to implement the Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer and determined to extend such Takeover Offer into the United States, such Takeover Offer would be made in compliance with all applicable United States laws and regulations, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, Section 14(e) of the US Exchange Act and Regulation 14E thereunder. Such a Takeover Offer would be made in the United States by Bidco and no one else.
In the event that the Acquisition is implemented by way of Takeover Offer, in accordance with normal United Kingdom practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act (if applicable), Bidco or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares or other securities of AMS outside of the United States, other than pursuant such Takeover Offer, during the period in which such Takeover Offer would remain open for acceptance. Also, Investec and its affiliates may continue to act as exempt principal traders or exempt market makers in AMS Shares on the London Stock Exchange and will engage in certain other purchasing activities consistent with their respective normal and usual practice and applicable law, as permitted by Rule 14e-5(b)(9) under the US Exchange Act. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices and would comply with applicable law, including the US Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase shall be disclosed as required in the UK, shall be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and shall be available to all investors (including US investors) on the London Stock Exchange website at www.londonstockexchange.com.
The receipt of consideration by a US holder for the transfer of its AMS Shares pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes and under applicable US state and local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws. Each AMS Shareholder is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the applicable tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them, including under applicable United States federal, state and local, as well as overseas and other, tax laws.
Financial information relating to AMS included in the Scheme Document has been or shall have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and may not be comparable to financial information of United States companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("US GAAP"). US GAAP differs in certain significant respects from accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom. None of the financial information in the Scheme Document has been audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States or the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
It may be difficult for US holders of AMS Shares to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal securities laws in connection with the Acquisition, since AMS is organised in a country other than the United States, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of, and some or all of its assets may be located in, jurisdictions other than the United States. As a result, US holders of AMS Shares may not be able to effect service of process upon a non-US company or its officers or directors or to enforce against them a judgment of a US court for violations of federal or state securities laws of the United States, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the US federal securities laws. US holders of AMS Shares 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 jurisdiction or judgment.
Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any US state securities commission has approved or disproved or passed judgment upon the fairness or the merits of the Acquisition or determined if the Scheme Document is adequate, accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code
Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10th Business Day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.
Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent. or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day following the date of the relevant dealing.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.
Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).
Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.
No profit forecasts or estimates
The AMS Profit Forecast constitutes an ordinary course profit forecast for AMS published before the start of the Offer Period for the purposes of Note 2(a) on Rule 28.1 of the Takeover Code. As required by Rule 28.1(c)(i) of the Takeover Code, the AMS Profit Forecast, the assumptions on the basis of which it was compiled and the AMS Directors' confirmations in relation to it are set out in Part X of the Scheme Document.
Other than the AMS Profit Forecast, no statement in this announcement or the Scheme Document is intended, or is to be construed, as a profit forecast, profit estimate or quantified financial benefits statement for any period and no statement in this announcement or the Scheme Document should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Bidco or AMS for the current or future financial years will necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share for Bidco or AMS.
Rounding
Certain figures included in this announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
Requesting hard copy documents
In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Takeover Code, AMS Shareholders may request a hard copy of this announcement (and any information incorporated by reference in this announcement, including the Scheme Document), free of charge, by contacting AMS' registrar, Computershare, on +44 (0)370 703 0158. Please use the country code if calling from outside the UK. Lines are open between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except public holidays in England and Wales). Calls are charged at the standard geographical rate and rates may vary by provider. Calls from outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate. Different charges may apply to calls from mobile telephones and calls may be monitored or recorded for security and training purposes. Please note that the Shareholder Helpline operators cannot provide advice on the merits of the Acquisition or the Scheme or give any financial, tax, investment or legal advice.
For persons who receive a copy of this announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this announcement will not be sent unless so requested. 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.
Electronic communications / information relating to AMS Shareholders
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by AMS Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from AMS may be provided to Bidco during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 to the Takeover Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Takeover Code.
APPENDIX
EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
The following indicative timetable sets out expected dates for the implementation of the Scheme.
|
Event
|
Time and/or date |
|
Latest time for lodging Forms of Proxy for the:
|
|
|
Court Meeting (BLUE form) |
11:00 a.m. on 10 August 2026(1) |
|
General Meeting (WHITE form) |
11:15 a.m. on 10 August 2026(2) |
|
Voting Record Time for the Court Meeting and the General Meeting |
6.00 p.m. on 10 August 2026(3) |
|
Court Meeting
|
11:00 a.m. on 12 August 2026 |
|
General Meeting
|
11:15 a.m. on 12 August 2026(4) |
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The following dates are indicative only and are subject to change(5):
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Court Sanction Hearing
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a date expected to be in Q3 or Q4 2026, subject to satisfaction (or, if applicable, waiver) of the relevant Conditions ("D")
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Last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, and disablement in CREST of, AMS Shares |
D + 1 Business Day |
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Scheme Record Time |
6.00 p.m. on D + 1 Business Day |
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Disablement in CREST of AMS Shares |
6.00 p.m. on D + 1 Business Day |
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Dealings in AMS Shares suspended |
7.30 a.m. on D + 2 Business Days |
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Effective Date of the Scheme
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D + 2 Business Days |
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Cancellation of admission of AMS Shares to trading on AIM |
7:00 a.m. on the next Business Day at the Effective Date |
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Latest date for despatch of cheques and crediting of CREST for Cash Consideration due under the Scheme |
Within 14 days of the Effective Date |
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Long Stop Date |
11:59 on 25 June 2027(6) |
Notes:
1. These dates and times are indicative only and will depend on, amongst other things, the date upon which: (i) the Conditions are satisfied or (if capable of waiver) waived; (ii) the Court sanctions the Scheme; and (iii) a copy of the Court Order is delivered to the Registrar of Companies for registration. If any of the expected times and/or dates above change: (a) the revised times and/or dates will be notified to AMS Shareholders by announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, with such announcement being made available on AMS' website at www.admedsol.com and on H.B. Fuller's website at www.hbfuller.com/en; and (b) if required by the Panel, AMS will send notice of the change(s) to AMS Shareholders and, for information only, to AMS Share Plan Participants. All references in this document to times are to London time unless otherwise stated.
2. It is requested that BLUE Forms of Proxy for the Court Meeting be lodged no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period that is not a Business Day) before the time and date set for the Court Meeting. A copy of a completed and signed BLUE Form of Proxy not so lodged may be:
a) emailed to externalproxyqueries@computershare.co.uk at any time prior to the start of the Court Meeting (or any adjournment thereof); or
b) handed to the chair of the Court Meeting, or AMS' registrar, Computershare, on behalf of the chair of the Court Meeting, at the start of the Court Meeting (or any adjournment thereof).
3. WHITE Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting must be lodged no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of such 48-hour period that is not a Business Day) before the time and date set for the General Meeting. WHITE Forms of Proxy for the General Meeting not lodged by this time will be invalid.
4. If either the Court Meeting or the General Meeting is adjourned, the Voting Record Time for the relevant adjourned Meeting will be 6.00 p.m. on the date falling two Business Days before the date of the adjourned Meeting.
5. To commence at 11.15 a.m. or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting shall have concluded or been adjourned.
6. Following sanction of the Scheme by the Court, the Scheme will become Effective in accordance with its terms upon a copy of the Court Order being delivered to the Registrar of Companies for registration. This is presently expected to occur on the Business Day following the date of the Court Sanction Hearing, subject to satisfaction or (where capable of waiver) waiver of the Conditions. The events which are stated as occurring on subsequent dates are conditional on the Effective Date and operate by reference to this date.
7. This is the latest date by which the Scheme may become Effective unless Bidco and AMS agree (and the Panel and, if required, the Court permit) a later date or if the Panel requires an extension to the Long Stop Date pending final determination of an issue under section 3(g) of Appendix 7 to the Takeover Code.