Equals Group plc (LON:EQLS) today provided an update on the review of its strategic options.

On 10 July 2024 the Board of Equals announced that it had received an improved indicative non-binding proposal from the consortium comprising Embedded Finance Limited (“Railsr”) and TowerBrook Capital Partners (U.K.) LLP regarding a possible all-cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Equals at a price of 135 pence per Equals Share.

On 4 September 2024 the Board announced that J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC had joined the Consortium and that discussions in relation to a fully equity financed bid had reached an advanced stage.

The Board of Equals today announces that the Consortium has substantially completed its due diligence and negotiations between the Company and the Consortium are at an advanced stage.

In order to allow further time for these negotiations to conclude, the Board of Equals has requested that the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers extends the current deadline of 5.00 pm on 2 October 2024 by which time the Consortium must either announce a firm intention to make an offer for the Company or announce that it does not intend to make an offer.

In the light of this request, an extension has been granted by the Panel and the Consortium is required, by not later than 5.00 pm on 30 October 2024, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer or announce that it does not intend to make an offer.

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

In accordance with Rule 2.5(a) of the Code, the Consortium reserves the right to make an offer for Equals on less favourable terms than those set out in this announcement: (i) with the agreement or consent of the Board of Equals; or (ii) following the announcement by Equals of a Rule 9 waiver pursuant to the Code; or (iii) if a third party announces a firm intention to make an offer or a possible offer for Equals which, at that date, is on less favourable terms than those contemplated by the Proposal; or (iv) if Equals announces, declares, makes, or pays any dividend or any other distribution or return of value to shareholders, to make an equivalent reduction to the Proposal.