Horizon Discovery Group plc Acknowledges Statement by Abcam

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

Horizon Discovery Group plc

Horizon Discovery Group plc Acknowledges Statement by Abcam

Horizon Discovery Group plc ("Horizon" or the "Company") (LSE:HZD) notes the announcement made this morning by Abcam plc ("Abcam") confirming that it does not intend to make an offer for Horizon.

Horizon continues to be focused on creating long-term value for shareholders and consolidating its position as a world leader in high-growth, next generation life-science tools markets such as gene-editing and gene modulation. Horizon has a strong and highly experienced management team, strengthened by yesterday's appointment of Terry Pizzie as Chief Executive Officer, who are ideally positioned to execute the Company's growth plan. The Board of Directors (the "Board") of Horizon is highly confident about Horizon's future as an independent company.

Horizon would like to reiterate the strong outlook for the Company's future performance, as laid out in the Company's preliminary full year results statement on 8 May 2018.

Terry Pizzie, Chief Executive Officer of Horizon, said: "The Board notes the announcement by Abcam plc that they do not intend to make an offer for the business. As stated in our full year results yesterday, we have made a solid start to trading for FY 2018 in line with Board expectations and I am now looking forward to leading the Company through its next phase of growth."

Enquiries:

About Horizon Discovery Group plc www.horizondiscovery.com

Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE:HZD) ("Horizon ") is a world leader in gene editing and gene modulation technologies. Horizon designs and engineers cells using its translational genomics platform, a highly precise and flexible suite of DNA editing tools (rAAV, ZFN, CRISPR and Transposon) and, following the acquisition of Dharmacon, Inc., its functional genomics platform comprising gene knockdown (RNAi) and gene expression (cDNA, ORF) tools, for research and clinical applications that advance human health. Horizon's platforms and capabilities enable researchers to alter almost any gene or modulate its function in human or mammalian cell-lines.

Horizon offers an extensive range of catalogue products and related research services to support a greater understanding of the function of genes across all species and the genetic drivers of human disease and the development of personalised molecular, cell and gene therapies. These have been adopted by over 10,000 academic, drug discovery, drug manufacturing and clinical diagnostics customers around the globe, as well as in the Company's own R&D pipeline.
Horizon is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market under the ticker "HZD".

IMPORTANT NOTICES

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.  Any offer (if made) will be made solely by certain offer documentation which will contain the full terms and conditions of any offer (if made), including details of how such offer may be accepted.  This announcement has been prepared in accordance with English law and the Code, and information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been prepared in accordance with laws outside of the United Kingdom.  The release, distribution or publication of this announcement in jurisdictions outside of the United Kingdom may be restricted by the 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.

Evercore Partners International LLP ("Evercore"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as financial adviser for Horizon and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the matters in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Horizon for providing the protections afforded to clients of Evercore, nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to herein.

Numis Securities Limited ("Numis"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting solely for Horizon as joint financial adviser, broker and NOMAD and for no one else in relation to the possible offer, the content of this announcement and other matters described in this announcement, and will not be responsible to anyone other than Horizon for providing the protections afforded to the clients of Numis or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the possible offer, the content of this announcement or any other matters described in this announcement.