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
4 December 2025
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION
of
SPECTRIS PLC ("SPECTRIS")
by
PROJECT AURORA BIDCO LIMITED ("BIDCO")
(a special purpose vehicle indirectly wholly-owned by investment funds and vehicles advised or sponsored by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. and its affiliates ("KKR"))
to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006
SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE AND LEADERSHIP CHANGES
On 2 July 2025, the boards of Spectris and Bidco, a special purpose vehicle indirectly wholly owned by investment funds and vehicles advised or sponsored by KKR, announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer by Bidco for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Spectris (the "Acquisition").
On 5 August 2025, the boards of Spectris and Bidco announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended increased cash offer pursuant to which Spectris Shareholders will be entitled to receive an offer value of £41.75 per Spectris Share, comprising £41.47 in cash and an interim dividend of 28 pence per Spectris Share, for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Spectris (the "Increased Cash Offer").
The Acquisition is being implemented by means 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 Spectris Shareholders dated 29 July 2025 (the "Scheme Document"), as amended by the terms of the Increased Cash Offer.
Capitalised terms used in this announcement shall, unless otherwise defined, have the meanings set out in the Scheme Document.
Full details of the Acquisition are set out in the Scheme Document. All references to times in this announcement are to London time.
On 2 December 2025, Spectris and Bidco announced that the Court had sanctioned the Scheme at the Sanction Hearing held on 2 December 2025.
Spectris and Bidco are pleased to announce that, following delivery of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies today, the Scheme has now become Effective in accordance with its terms and, pursuant to the Scheme, the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Spectris is now owned by Bidco.
Settlement of consideration
Under the terms of the Scheme, a Scheme Shareholder on the register of members of Spectris at the Scheme Record Time, being 6:00 p.m. on 3 December 2025, will be entitled to receive £41.47 in cash for each Scheme Share held. Settlement of the consideration to which any Scheme Shareholder is entitled will be effected as set out in the Scheme Document.
Settlement of the consideration to which any Scheme Shareholder is entitled will be effected by the despatch of cheques (for shares held in certificated form) or the crediting of CREST accounts (for shares held in uncertificated form) as soon as practicable, and in any event not later than 14 days after the Effective Date, as set out in the Scheme Document.
Suspension and cancellation of trading of Spectris Shares
The admission to trading of Spectris Shares on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market will be suspended with effect from 7:30 a.m. today. As a result of the Scheme having become Effective, share certificates in respect of Scheme Shares will cease to be valid documents of title and entitlements to Scheme Shares in uncertificated form in CREST are being cancelled.
It is expected that the de‐listing of Spectris Shares from the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and the cancellation of the admission to trading of Spectris Shares on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities will take effect by 7:30 a.m. on 5 December 2025.
Leadership Changes
Spectris announces that, following the Scheme becoming Effective, Andrew Heath has informed the board of Spectris plc of his decision to retire as Chief Executive Officer of the Spectris Group and as a director of Spectris plc on 31 December 2025, following seven successful years leading the business. Further to Bidco's announcement on 7 November 2025, it is noted that Andrew Heath will join the board of Project Aurora Topco Limited ("Topco"), the principal decision-making board for the Spectris Group.
Bidco announces that Andrew Williams, the Chairman of the board of Topco, will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Spectris Group effective from 1 January 2026 until a permanent Chief Executive Officer is appointed. A search for the permanent Chief Executive is underway.
Bidco further announces that Derek Harding has informed the Spectris plc Board of his decision to step down as President of Spectris Scientific and as a director of Spectris plc on 31 December 2025, following six successful years as Group CFO and later President of Spectris Scientific.
As of the Effective Date, the board of Topco consists of Andrew Williams (Chairman of the Board), Patrick Murphy (Vice Chairman of the Board), Josh Weisenbeck, Christopher Drewsen, Sophia Kakarakis and Andrew Heath.
Changes to the Spectris plc Board
As the Scheme has now become Effective, Spectris duly announces that, as of today's date, Alison Henwood, Cathy Turner, Kjersti Wiklund, Mandy Gradden, Mark Williamson, Nick Anderson and Ravi Gopinath have tendered their resignations as non-executive directors of Spectris plc and have stepped down from the Spectris plc Board.
In addition, Andrew Williams, Joshua Weisenbeck, Christopher Drewsen and Sophia Kakarakis have been or will be appointed as directors of the Spectris plc Board on or around today's date. For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Effective Date, the principal decision-making board of the Spectris Group is Topco.
Enquiries
| Spectris |
|
| Teneo (PR Adviser to Spectris) Martin Robinson
|
+44 79 7707 1178 |
| Goldman Sachs International (Lead Financial Adviser to Spectris) Anthony Gutman
|
+44 20 7774 1000 |
| Rothschild & Co (Lead Financial Adviser to Spectris) Ravi Gupta
|
+44 20 7280 5000 |
| BofA Securities (Rule 3 Adviser, Joint Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to Spectris) Ed Peel
|
+44 20 7628 1000 |
| Barclays (Joint Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker to Spectris) Neal West |
+44 20 7623 2323 |
|
Bidco |
|
| J.P. Morgan Cazenove (Sole Financial Adviser to KKR and Bidco) Richard Walsh
|
+44 20 3493 8000 |
| FGS Global (PR Adviser to KKR and Bidco) Faeth Birch
|
+44 20 7251 3801
|
Slaughter and May is acting as legal adviser to Spectris.
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (regulatory) are acting as legal advisers to KKR and Bidco.
LEI Number: 213800Z4CO2CZO3M3T10
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 will be implemented solely pursuant to the terms 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, shall contain the full terms and Conditions of the Acquisition.
This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or prospectus-equivalent document.
Disclaimers
Goldman Sachs International ("Goldman Sachs"), which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Spectris and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Spectris for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs, or for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Goldman Sachs 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 Goldman Sachs in connection with the Acquisition, any statement contained in this announcement or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Goldman Sachs as to the contents of this announcement.
N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co"), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Spectris and for no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Spectris for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rothschild & Co, nor for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Rothschild & Co 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 Rothschild & Co in connection with the Acquisition, any statement contained in this announcement or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Rothschild & Co as to the contents of this announcement.
Merrill Lynch International ("BofA Securities"), which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Spectris and for no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Spectris for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to in this announcement. Neither BofA Securities, 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 BofA Securities in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.
Barclays Bank PLC, acting through its investment bank ("Barclays"), which is authorised by the PRA and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA and the PRA, is acting exclusively for Spectris and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than Spectris for providing the protections afforded to clients of Barclays nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter referred to in this announcement.
J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove ("J.P. Morgan Cazenove") and which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the PRA and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA, is acting as financial advisor exclusively for KKR and Bidco and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than KKR and Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or its affiliates, nor for providing advice in relation to the Acquisition or any other matter or arrangement referred to herein.
No person has been authorised to give any information or make any representations other than those contained in this announcement and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorised by Spectris, the Spectris Directors, Bidco, the Bidco Directors or by Goldman Sachs, Rothschild & Co, BofA Securities, Barclays, J.P. Morgan Cazenove or any other person involved in the Acquisition. Neither the publication of this announcement nor holding the Meetings, the Sanction Hearing, or filing the Court Order shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Spectris Group or the Bidco Group since the date of this announcement or that the information in, or incorporated into, this announcement is correct as at any time subsequent to its date.
If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
Overseas shareholders
This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English and Welsh 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 England and Wales.
The availability of the Acquisition to Spectris Shareholders who are not resident in the UK may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or of which they are citizens. Persons who are not resident in the UK or who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the UK (including Restricted Jurisdictions) should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the UK or who are subject to the laws of another jurisdiction to participate in the Acquisition, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or to which they are subject. Any failure to comply with the applicable legal or regulatory requirements of any jurisdiction may constitute a violation of securities laws or regulations in that jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and regulation, 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 Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Acquisition shall not be made available, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a 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 form 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, the Scheme Document 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 acceptance 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, from, or by use of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) or 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.
The Acquisition will be subject to the applicable requirements of English law, the Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange and the FCA.
Additional information for U.S. investors
U.S. Spectris Shareholders should note that the Acquisition relates to an offer for the shares of a UK company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under English company law. The Acquisition is therefore not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the U.S. Exchange Act, as amended. Accordingly, the Acquisition is subject to the requirements and practices applicable to a scheme of arrangement involving a target company in the UK listed on the London Stock Exchange, which differ from the requirements of the U.S. tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. If, in the future, Bidco exercises its right to implement the Acquisition by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the Takeover Offer into the U.S., the Acquisition will be made in compliance with applicable U.S. tender offer rules and regulations.
The financial information with respect to Spectris included in this announcement has been or will have been prepared in accordance with IFRS and thus may not be comparable to financial information of U.S. companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.
It may be difficult for Spectris Shareholders to enforce their rights and any claims they may have arising under the U.S. federal securities laws in connection with the Acquisition, since Spectris and Bidco are each located in a country other than the United States, and some or all of their respective officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the United States. U.S. Spectris Shareholders may not be able to sue Spectris or Bidco, or their respective officers or directors, in a non-U.S. court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel Spectris or Bidco and their respective affiliates to subject themselves to the jurisdiction or judgment of a U.S. court for violations of the U.S. securities laws.
The receipt of Cash Consideration pursuant to the Scheme by U.S. Spectris Shareholders as consideration for the transfer of its Spectris Shares pursuant to the Scheme may be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes and under applicable U.S. state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each Spectris Shareholder (including U.S. Spectris Shareholders) is urged to consult their independent professional adviser immediately regarding the tax consequences of the Acquisition applicable to them.
Neither the SEC nor any U.S. state securities commission has approved, disproved or passed judgment upon the fairness or the merits of the Acquisition or determined if this announcement is adequate, accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the U.S.
In accordance with normal United Kingdom practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the U.S. Exchange Act, Bidco, certain of its affiliated companies and their nominees or brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, shares or other securities of Spectris outside of the U.S., 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 Rule 14e-5(b) of the U.S. Exchange Act, J.P. Morgan Cazenove (and/or certain of its affiliates) will continue to act as exempt principal traders in Spectris shares on the London Stock Exchange. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase were to be made, they would occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices and would comply with applicable law, including the U.S. Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase 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 Spectris contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact 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 assumptions, expectations, valuations, targets, estimates, forecasts and projections of Bidco and Spectris about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement include statements relating to the expected effects of the Acquisition on the Bidco Group, the Spectris Group and the Enlarged Group, the expected timing and scope of the Acquisition and other statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "prepares", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected to", "is subject to", "budget", "targets", "aims", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecast", "intends", "anticipates", "seeks", "prospects", "potential", "possible", "assume" 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 Spectris believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statement are reasonable, Bidco and Spectris can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks (known and unknown) and uncertainties (and other factors that are in many cases beyond the control of Bidco and/or Spectris) because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future.
There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of the Bidco Group, the Spectris Group and/or the Enlarged Group and 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, where permitted, waiver) of the Conditions, as well as additional factors, such as: domestic and global business and economic conditions; asset prices; market-related risks such as fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates, industry trends, competition, changes in the behaviour of other market participants, changes in government and regulation, changes in the policies and actions of governments and/or regulatory authorities (including changes related to capital, tax and tariffs), changes in political and economic stability (including exposures to terrorist activities, the UK's exit from the European Union, Eurozone instability, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, disruption in business operations due to reorganisation activities, interest rate, inflation, deflation and currency fluctuations), the timing impact and other uncertainties of future or planned acquisitions or disposals or offers, the inability of the Enlarged Group to realise successfully any anticipated benefits or savings when the Acquisition is implemented (including changes to the board and/or employee composition of the Enlarged Group), the inability of the Bidco Group to integrate successfully the Spectris Group's operations and programmes when the Acquisition is implemented, the Enlarged Group incurring and/or experiencing unanticipated costs and/or delays (including IT system failures, cyber-crime, fraud and pension scheme liabilities), or difficulties relating to the Acquisition when the Acquisition is implemented. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could affect future operations and/or 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.
Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement. Neither the Bidco Group nor the Spectris Group, nor any of their respective associates or directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, warranty, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Other than in accordance with their legal or regulatory obligations (including under the Code, the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the DTRs), neither the Bidco Group nor the Spectris Group is under or undertakes any obligation, and each of the foregoing expressly disclaims 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 a website
This announcement and other documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26 of the Code will be available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Spectris' website at www.spectris.com and Bidco's website at https://www.documentdisplay.com/offer-for-spectris-plc/, in each case by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the publication of this announcement. Neither the content of the websites referred to in this announcement nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks in this announcement is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
Right to request hard copies
Spectris Shareholders, persons with information rights and participants in the Spectris Share Plans may, subject to applicable securities laws, request a hard copy of this announcement by contacting Spectris' registrars, Equiniti, between 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales) on +44 (0)371 384 2586, or by submitting a request in writing to Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA, United Kingdom, with an address to which the hard copy may be sent. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. 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. Spectris Shareholders may, subject to applicable securities laws, also request that all future documents, announcements and information to be sent in relation to the Acquisition should be in hard copy form.
Electronic communications
Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain information provided by Spectris Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Spectris may be provided to Bidco during the Offer Period as required under section 4 of Appendix 4 to the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.
No profit forecasts or profit estimates
No statement in this announcement 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 should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Bidco or Spectris for the current or future financial years will necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share for Bidco or Spectris, as appropriate.
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 figures that precede them.