Silence Therapeutics (SLN) SC 13GSilence Therapeutics / Artal International S.C.A. ownership change

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934*

(Amendment No.    )

Silence Therapeutics plc

(Name of Issuer)

Ordinary Shares, nominal value £0.05 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

82686Q101**

(CUSIP Number)

August 24, 2023

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

☐ Rule 13d-1(b)

☒ Rule 13d-1(c)

☐ Rule 13d-1(d)

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

CUSIP No. 82686Q101

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CUSIP No. 82686Q101

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CUSIP No. 82686Q101

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Silence Therapeutics plc (the “Issuer”)

72 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8TH

(i) Invus Public Equities, L.P. (“Invus Public Equities”)

750 Lexington Avenue, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Citizenship: Bermuda limited partnership

(ii) Invus Public Equities Advisors, LLC (“Invus PE Advisors”)

750 Lexington Avenue, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Citizenship: Delaware limited liability company

(iii) Artal International S.C.A. (“Artal International”)

Valley Park, 44, Rue de la Vallée, L-2661, Luxembourg

Citizenship: Luxembourg limited partnership

(iv) Artal International Management S.A. (“Artal International Management”)

Valley Park, 44, Rue de la Vallée, L-2661, Luxembourg

Citizenship: Luxembourg société anonyme

(v) Artal Group S.A. (“Artal Group”)

Valley Park, 44, Rue de la Vallée, L-2661, Luxembourg

Citizenship: Luxembourg société anonyme

(vi) Westend S.A. (“Westend”)

Valley Park, 44, Rue de la Vallée, L-2661, Luxembourg

Citizenship: Luxembourg société anonyme

(vii) Stichting Administratiekantoor Westend (the “Stichting”)

Claude Debussylaan, 46, 1082 MD Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Citizenship: Netherlands foundation

(viii) Mr. Amaury Wittouck

Valley Park, 44, Rue de la Vallée, L-2661, Luxembourg

Citizenship: Belgium

The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Reporting Persons.”

Ordinary Shares, nominal value £0.05 per share (the “Shares”)

The CUSIP Number is 82686Q101. This CUSIP applies to the American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, each representing three Shares. No CUSIP has been assigned to the Shares.

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This Item 3 is not applicable.

(a) Amount beneficially owned:

As of the date hereof, Invus Public Equities beneficially owns 7,500,000 Shares represented by an aggregate of 2,500,000 ADSs directly held by Invus Public Equities. Invus PE Advisors, as the general partner of Invus Public Equities, controls Invus Public Equities and accordingly may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares beneficially owned by Invus Public Equities. The Geneva branch of Artal International, as the managing member of Invus PE Advisors, controls Invus PE Advisors and, accordingly, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares that Invus PE Advisors may be deemed to beneficially own. Artal International Management, as the managing partner of Artal International, controls Artal International and, accordingly, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares that Artal International may be deemed to beneficially own. Artal Group, as the sole stockholder of Artal International Management, controls Artal International Management and, accordingly, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares that Artal International Management may be deemed to beneficially own. Westend, as the parent company of Artal Group, controls Artal Group and, accordingly, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares that Artal Group may be deemed to beneficially own. The Stichting, as the majority stockholder of Westend, controls Westend and, accordingly, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares that Westend may be deemed to beneficially own. Mr. Wittouck, as the sole member of the board of the Stichting, controls the Stichting and, accordingly, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares that the Stichting may be deemed to beneficially own.

(b) Percent of class:

Each of the Reporting Persons may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the percentage of Shares listed on such Reporting Person’s cover page. Calculations of the percentage of Shares beneficially owned are based on 110,242,666 Shares as of June 30, 2023 based on information set forth in the Issuer’s Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 2023.

(c) As of the date hereof, the number of shares as to which Invus Public Equities, Invus PE Advisors, Artal International, Artal International Management, Artal Group, Westend, the Stichting and Mr. Wittouck has:

(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:

7,500,000

(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

0

(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

7,500,000

(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

0

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following  ☐.

This Item 6 is not applicable.

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This Item 7 is not applicable.

This Item 8 is not applicable.

This Item 9 is not applicable.

Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification:

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the Issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

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SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: September 1, 2023

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