<div id="readability-page-1"><div>RNS Number : 3429R Bank of America Merrill Lynch 02 February 2026 FORM 8.5 (EPT/RI)PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY AN EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER WITH RECOGNISED INTERMEDIARY STATUS DEALING IN A CLIENT-SERVING CAPACITY Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code (the &#34;Code&#34;)<ul><li>1.</li><li>KEY INFORMATION</li></ul><div><table><tbody><tr><td><ul><li>(a)</li><li>Name of exempt principal trader:</li></ul></td><td>Merrill Lynch International</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>(b)</li><li>Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whoserelevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree</li></ul></td><td>AUCTION TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>(c)</li><li>Name of the party to the offer with which exempt principal trader is connected:</li></ul></td><td>AUCTION TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>(d)</li><li>Date dealing undertaken:</li></ul></td><td>30/01/2026</td></tr><tr><td><ul><li>(e)</li><li>In addition to the company in 1(b) above, is theexempt principal trader making disclosures inrespect of any other party to this offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state &#34;N/A&#34;</li></ul></td><td>N/A</td></tr></tbody></table></div><ul><li>2.</li><li>DEALINGS BY THE EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADER</li></ul>Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(b), copy table 2(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional classof relevant security dealt in.The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.<ul><li>(a)</li><li>Purchases and sales</li></ul><div><table><tbody><tr><td>Class of relevant security</td><td>Purchases/sales</td><td>Total number of securities</td><td>Highest price per unitpaid/received</td><td>Lowest price per unitpaid/received</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Purchase</td><td>5,941</td><td>3.090000 GBP</td><td>3.087382GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Sale</td><td>10,549</td><td>3.106633GBP</td><td>3.070000 GBP</td></tr></tbody></table></div><ul><li>(b)</li><li>Cash-settled derivative transactions</li></ul><div><table><tbody><tr><td>Class of relevant security</td><td>Product descriptione.g. CFD</td><td>Nature of dealinge.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing along/short position</td><td>Number of reference securities</td><td>Price per unit</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Closing a Long Position</td><td>1,533</td><td>4.241710 USD</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Increasing a Long Position</td><td>637</td><td>3.069862 GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Reducing a Short Position</td><td>5,522</td><td>3.090000 GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Reducing a Short Position</td><td>2,877</td><td>3.093670 GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Reducing a Short Position</td><td>194</td><td>3.093670 GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Reducing a Long Position</td><td>1,092</td><td>3.086289 GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Reducing a Long Position</td><td>1,898</td><td>3.086289 GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Increasing a Long Position</td><td>1,319</td><td>3.096721 GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Reducing a Long Position</td><td>1,418</td><td>3.090216 GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Reducing a Long Position</td><td>362</td><td>3.090000 GBP</td></tr><tr><td>0.01p ordinary</td><td>Swaps - Equity Swaps</td><td>Opening a Long Position</td><td>362</td><td>3.090000 GBP</td></tr></tbody></table></div><ul><li>(c)</li><li>Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)</li></ul><ul><li>(i)</li><li>Writing, selling, purchasing or varying</li></ul><div><table><tbody><tr><td>Class ofrelevant security</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Product description e.g. call option</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Number ofsecurities to which option relates</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Exercise priceper unit</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Typee.g. American, European etc.</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Expiry date</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Option money paid/ received per unit</td><td>N/A</td></tr></tbody></table></div><ul><li>(ii)</li><li>Exercise</li></ul><div><table><tbody><tr><td>Class of relevant security</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Product descriptione.g. call option</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Exercising/exercisedagainst</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Number of securities</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Exercise Price per unit</td><td>N/A</td></tr></tbody></table></div><ul><li>(d)</li><li>Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)</li></ul><div><table><tbody><tr><td>Class of relevant security</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Nature of dealinge.g. subscription, conversion</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Details</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Price per unit (if applicable)</td><td>N/A</td></tr></tbody></table></div><ul><li>3.</li><li>OTHER INFORMATION</li></ul><ul><li>(a)</li><li>Indemnity and other dealing arrangements</li></ul><ul><li>Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state &#34;none&#34;</li><li>None</li></ul><ul><li>(b)</li><li>Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives</li></ul><ul><li>Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the exempt principal trader making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or(ii) The voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state &#34;none&#34;</li><li>None</li></ul><div><table><tbody><tr><td>Date of disclosure:</td><td>02/02/2026</td></tr><tr><td>Contact name:</td><td>Kamil Dziedzic</td></tr><tr><td>Telephone number:</td><td>+353 86 168 4821</td></tr></tbody></table></div>Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory InformationService.The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code'sdealing disclosure requirements on +44 (0) 20 7638 0129.The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy. END FERFLLFBQLLZBBF</div></div>

Bank of America Merrill Lynch disclosed dealings related to Auction Technology Group plc under Rule 8.5 of the Takeover Code. On January 30, 2026, Merrill Lynch International purchased 5,941 ordinary shares at a price of £3.09 and sold 10,549 shares at £3.10. Additionally, various equity swaps were executed, including closing and adjusting long and short positions. No other agreements or arrangements were reported. The disclosure was made on February 2, 2026, by Kamil Dziedzic.

REG - BkofA Merrill Lynch Auction Technology - Form 8.5 (EPT/RI)-Auction Technology Group plc