Statement re Final Possible Offer

EQT Fund Management S.à r.l.

12 May 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 SUCH JURISDICTION.

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A POSSIBLE OFFER FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE"). IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE. ACCORDINGLY, THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT AN OFFER WILL BE MADE.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

12 May 2026

Final Offer for Intertek Group plc ("Intertek")

Total value to Intertek shareholders of up to £61.077 per Intertek share

EQT X EUR SCSp and EQT X USD SCSp (collectively referred to as "EQT"), each represented by its manager (gérant) EQT Fund Management S.à r.l., announces that, on 11 May 2026, it submitted a further improved and final* indicative proposal to the Board of Intertek regarding a possible cash offer to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Intertek (the "Final Proposal").

The Final Proposal follows EQT's third increased proposal submitted to Intertek on 5 May 2026 at £58.00 in cash per Intertek share (the "Further Increased Proposal"), which the Board of Intertek rejected on 8 May 2026.

The Final Proposal delivers a total value to Intertek shareholders of up to £61.077 per Intertek share, comprising:

·      £60.00 per share in cash consideration (the "Cash Consideration"); and

·      the final dividend for the 2025 full year of up to 107.7 pence per share announced by Intertek on 3 March 2026 (the "FY25 Final Dividend"), which Intertek shareholders may receive and retain if approved at the Intertek Annual General Meeting on 20 May 2026 without any reduction to the Cash Consideration.

The Cash Consideration under the Final Proposal represents a premium of:

·      59% to the closing share price of £37.70 per share as at 9 April 2026 (being the day before EQT submitted its initial proposal to Intertek); and

·      61% to the 1-month VWAP of £37.18 per share as at 9 April 2026 (being the day before EQT submitted its initial proposal to Intertek).

If the FY25 Final Dividend is approved and paid in full, the total value of the Final Proposal represents a premium of up to:

·      62% to the closing share price of £37.70 per Intertek share as at 9 April 2026 (being the day before EQT submitted its initial proposal to Intertek); and

·      64% to the 1-month VWAP of £37.18 per Intertek share as at 9 April 2026 (being the day before EQT submitted its initial proposal to Intertek).

EQT believes the Final Proposal delivers certain and accelerated cash value at a full valuation for Intertek shareholders, superior to the range of outcomes associated with Intertek's standalone prospects. EQT has submitted this Final Proposal with a view to progressing swiftly towards a recommended firm offer in the interests of Intertek shareholders.

There can be no certainty that an offer will be made.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, EQT is required, by no later than 5.00 p.m. on 14 May 2026 (the "PUSU Deadline"), either to announce a firm intention to make an offer for Intertek in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or to announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. The PUSU Deadline may be extended with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Panel") in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

*The financial terms of the Final Proposal are final and will not be increased, except that EQT reserves the right to increase the financial terms of the Final Proposal where: (i) there is an announcement on or after the date of this 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.

In accordance with Rule 2.5 of the Code, EQT reserves the right to make an offer for Intertek on less favourable terms than those set out in this announcement or the Final Proposal: (i) with the agreement or recommendation of the Board of Intertek; (ii) if a third party announces an offer or possible offer, including a partial offer, or firm intention to make an offer for Intertek which, at that date, is of a value less than the value implied by the Final Proposal, including where any such announcement is made by Intertek; or (iii) following the announcement by Intertek of a Rule 9 waiver transaction pursuant to the Code or a reverse takeover. EQT reserves the right to introduce other forms of consideration and/or vary the mix or composition of consideration of any offer. EQT reserves the right to reduce the terms of the Final Proposal by the amount of any dividend, distribution or other return of value which is announced, declared, made, paid or becomes payable by Intertek after the date of this announcement, other than the FY25 Final Dividend if approved at the Intertek Annual General Meeting on 20 May 2026.

Enquiries
FGS Global (Communications Adviser) Faeth Birch Chris Ryall Sophia Johnston	[e-mail]
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (Financial Adviser)	[phone]
Anthony Zammit
Hugh Moran Jimmy Bastock
Ying Huang

About EQT

EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 269 billion in total assets under management (EUR 142 billion in fee-generating assets under management) as of 31 March 2026, within two business segments - Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com

Follow EQT on LinkedIn, X, YouTube and Instagram

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 EQT and no one else in connection with the possible offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than EQT for providing the protections afforded to clients of Morgan Stanley nor for providing advice in relation to the possible offer or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Morgan Stanley nor any of its 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 Morgan Stanley in connection with this announcement or any statement contained herein or otherwise.

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any 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, whether pursuant to this announcement or otherwise.

The release, distribution or publication of this announcement in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be restricted by laws of the relevant jurisdictions and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

Notice to US Intertek shareholders

In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, EQT 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 the United States, other than pursuant to an offer, before or during the period in which such offer, if made, remains open for acceptance. Also, in accordance with Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, Morgan Stanley (and/or certain of its 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 will be disclosed as required in the United Kingdom, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website, www.londonstockexchange.com.

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (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 [phone] if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Publication on a website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons in or resident in restricted jurisdictions, on EQT's website at www.documentlibrary.co.uk by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day immediately following the date of this announcement. The content of any website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

 

END