Exhibit (a)(5)(M)
– Convenience Translation –
(Only the German version is legally binding)
Novartis BidCo AG
Announcement pursuant to Section 23 para. 2 sentence 1 of the German Securities Acquisition
and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Übernahmegesetz – “WpÜG”)
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OR INTO OR FROM ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD VIOLATE THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
On 11 April 2024, Novartis BidCo, Basel, Switzerland (“Bidder”), has published the offer document regarding its takeover offer (cash offer) (the “Takeover Offer”) to the shareholders of MorphoSys AG, Planegg, Germany (“MorphoSys”) for the acquisition of all no-par value bearer shares (ISIN DE0006632003) (“MorphoSys Shares”) including all no-par value bearer shares represented by American Depositary Shares (ISIN US6177602025) (“MorphoSys ADS”; the MorphoSys Shares and the MorphoSys ADSs collectively the “MorphoSys Securities”) in MorphoSys against payment of a cash consideration in the amount of EUR 68.00 per MorphoSys Share. The acceptance period of the offer expired on 13 May 2024, 24:00 hours (local time Frankfurt am Main, Germany) and 18:00 hours (local time New York, United States of America). The publication pursuant to Section 23 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 2 WpÜG was made on 16 May 2024. The additional acceptance period pursuant to Section 16 para. 2 sentence 1 WpÜG expired on 30 May 2024, 24:00 hours (local time Frankfurt am Main, Germany) / 18:00 hours (local time New York, United States of America).
Outside the offer procedure, the Bidder published the offer document regarding its public delisting purchase offer (cash offer) (the “Delisting Purchase Offer”) to the shareholders of MorphoSys for the acquisition of all MorphoSys Shares not directly held by the Bidder, including all MorphoSys Shares represented by MorphoSys ADSs, against payment of a cash consideration in the amount of EUR 68.00 per share on 4 July 2024. The acceptance period of the Delisting Purchase Offer expired on 2 August 2024, 24:00 hours (local time Frankfurt am Main, Germany) / 18:00 hours (local time New York, United States of America).
Until 2 August 2024, 24:00 hours (local time Frankfurt am Main, Germany) / 18:00 hours (local time New York, United States of America) and therefore after the publication of the offer document of the Takeover Offer and prior to the expiry of one year after the publication pursuant to section 23 para. 1 sentence 1 no. 2 WpÜG, the acceptance of the Delisting Purchase Offer has been declared for a total of 1,037,601 MorphoSys Shares and for a further 179,325 MorphoSys Shares represented by MorphoSys ADSs, i.e. for a total of 1,216,926 MorphoSys Shares. This corresponds to approximately 3.23% of the share capital and share capital with voting rights of MorphoSys. The transfer of the 1,216,926 MorphoSys Shares to the Bidder against payment of the offer price took place on 13 August 2024.
Basel, 13 August 2024
Novartis BidCo AG
Board of Directors
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Important notice:
This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares in MorphoSys AG (“MorphoSys”). The terms and conditions of the takeover offer, as well as further provisions concerning the takeover offer, are published in the offer document, the publication of which has been permitted by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht). Holders of MorphoSys Shares and MorphoSys ADSs (together “MorphoSys Securityholders”) are strongly advised to read the offer document and all other documents regarding the takeover offer, as they contain important information.
The offer relates to shares in a German company and is subject to the statutory provisions of the Federal Republic of Germany governing the conduct of such an offer. For this reason, the offer will be carried out in accordance with the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Übernahmegesetz) (“WpÜG”) and the Regulation on the Content of the Offer Document, the Consideration to be granted in Takeover Offers and Mandatory Offers and the Exemption from the Obligation to Publish and Launch an Offer (Verordnung über den Inhalt der Angebotsunterlage, die Gegenleistung bei Übernahmeangeboten und Pflichtangeboten und die Befreiung von der Verpflichtung zur Veröffentlichung und zur Abgabe eines Angebots – WpÜG-Angebotsverordnung) (“WpÜG Offer Regulation”).
Furthermore, the offer is carried out in accordance with the securities laws of the United States of America (“United States”), including the provisions applicable to tender offers of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“U.S. Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. In order to reconcile certain areas where German law and U.S. law conflict, Novartis BidCo AG (“Bidder”) applied for exemptive or no-action relief from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) prior to the publication of the offer document, which was granted on 9 April 2024 (in total the “U.S. Offer Rules”). Against this background, the Bidder is exempt from compliance with certain provisions of the U.S. Exchange Act for tender offers. As a result, the offer is principally subject to disclosure requirements and other procedural requirements (e.g. with respect to settlement, withdrawal rights and acceptance periods) of the Federal Republic of Germany, which differ not insignificantly from the corresponding U.S. laws.
The Bidder and its affiliates within the meaning of US law (“Affiliates”) or brokers (acting as agents of the Bidder or its Affiliates) may acquire, or make arrangements to acquire, MorphoSys Shares other than in the course of the offer, via the stock exchange at market prices or outside the stock exchange on negotiated terms during the period in which the offer remains open for acceptance or afterwards, provided that (i) such acquisitions or arrangements to acquire (if made during the pendency of the offer) are made outside of the United States; and (ii) such acquisitions or arrangements to acquire comply with the applicable statutory provisions, in particular the WpÜG and, to the extent applicable, the U.S. Offer Rules. This also applies to other securities convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for shares of MorphoSys. The Offer Price must be adjusted to any higher purchase price or an additional payment claim in respect of tendered MorphoSys Shares arises in the amount of the difference between the offer price and the higher purchase price paid outside the offer. To the extent such acquisitions should occur, information about them, including the number and price of the acquired MorphoSys Shares, will be published according to the applicable statutory provisions, especially Sec. 23 para. 2 WpÜG in conjunction with Sec. 14 para. 3 sentence 1 WpÜG, in the German Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) and on the internet at www.novartis.com/investors/morphosys-acquisition. In addition, the financial advisors of the Bidder may also act in the ordinary course of trading in securities of MorphoSys, which may include purchases or agreements to purchase such securities.
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MorphoSys Securityholders who are residing in the United States, or another country outside of the Federal Republic of Germany, may have difficulties to enforce rights and claims arising under (i) the laws of the country of residency or (ii) U.S. federal securities laws (e.g., because MorphoSys is incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany, the Bidder is incorporated in Switzerland and some or all of the Bidder’s officers and directors may be residents of a country other than the country of residency of the MorphoSys Securityholders). A MorphoSys Securityholder may not be able to sue, in a court in the country of residency, a foreign company or its officers or directors for violations of the laws of the country of residency. Further, it may be difficult to compel a foreign company and its Affiliates to subject themselves to a judgment of a court of the country of residency.
The receipt of the offer price pursuant to the offer may be a taxable transaction under applicable tax laws, including those of the country of residence. It is strongly recommended to consult an independent professional advisor immediately regarding the tax consequences of acceptance of the offer. None of the Bidder, any persons acting jointly with the Bidder within the meaning of Sec. 2 para. 5 sentence 1 and sentence 3 WpÜG or any of the Bidder’s or their directors, officers or employees accept responsibility for any tax effects on or liabilities of any person as a result of the acceptance of the offer.
This publication is available
on the internet at: www.novartis.com/investors/morphosys-acquisition
on: 13 August 2024.
Basel, 13 August 2024
Novartis BidCo AG
Board of Directors
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