Extension of PUSU Deadline

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 OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FALLING UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE") AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE CODE. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT AN OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY OFFER WILL BE MADE

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

21 October 2026

SThree plc (“SThree” or the “Company”)

Extension of PUSU Deadline

On 9 September 2026, the Board of SThree announced it had received an approach from Circle8 Group Inc. ("Circle8") regarding a possible all-cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of the Company.

On 7 October 2026, the Company announced that following a revised proposal from Circle8, the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Panel") had consented to an extension of the relevant deadline under Rule 2.6(a) of the Code to 5.00 pm on 21 October 2026 ("PUSU Deadline").

Discussions between SThree and Circle8 are ongoing. To allow further time for these discussions to progress, the Board of SThree has requested, and the Panel has consented to, a further extension of 28-days to the PUSU Deadline.

Accordingly, in accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Code, Circle8 is required, by not later than 5.00 p.m. (London time) on 18 November 2026, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for the Company in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or 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. This deadline can be further extended by the Board of SThree, with the consent of the Panel, in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code.

There can be no certainty that any firm offer for the Company will be made, nor as to the terms on which any offer will be made. A further announcement will be made if and when appropriate.

Clifford Chance LLP is acting as legal adviser to SThree plc.

Important Information

The person responsible for releasing this announcement on behalf of SThree plc is Kate Danson, Company Secretary.

Goldman Sachs International, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for SThree and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than SThree for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs International, or for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement.

Investec Bank plc ("Investec"), which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the PRA and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA and PRA, is acting exclusively for SThree and for no one else in connection with the matters set out in this Announcement and none of Investec nor any of its affiliates, branches or subsidiaries will be responsible to any person other than SThree for providing the protections afforded to clients of Investec, nor for providing advice in relation to any matter referred to in this Announcement. Neither Investec nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates or any of its and their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents owes or accepts any duty, liability or shall be held responsible in any way whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential losses (whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) arising in connection with, or from the use of, this Announcement or the contents of this Announcement or reliance on the information contained herein, except to the extent this would be prohibited by law or regulation.

Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG ("Berenberg"), which is authorised and regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority and is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting through its London Branch as financial adviser and broker exclusively for SThree and no one else in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than SThree for providing the protections afforded to clients of Berenberg for providing advice in connection with any matter referred to herein. Neither Berenberg nor any of its affiliates (nor their respective partners, 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 Berenberg in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Rule 26.1 disclosure

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Code, a copy of this announcement will, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in restricted jurisdictions, be available on SThree's website at www.sthree.com/en-gb/investor-centre/offer-from-circle8-group-inc/ by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the business day following the date of this announcement. For the avoidance of doubt, the content of the website referred to in this announcement is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.