Augmentum Fintech : Results of Initial Issue

9 July 2021

LEI: 213800OTQ44T555I8S71

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This announcement does not constitute, and may not be construed as, an offer to sell or an invitation or recommendation to purchase, sell or subscribe for any securities or investments of any description, or a recommendation regarding the issue or the provision of investment advice by any party.

Augmentum Fintech plc

(“Augmentum” or the “Company”)

Results of Initial Issue

Augmentum Fintech plc, the UK’s only listed specialist fintech investment trust, is pleased to announce that it has raised gross proceeds of £55 million through the issue of 40,590,406 ordinary shares of £0.01 each (the "Ordinary Shares") at an issue price of 135.5p per share by way of the Initial Placing, Open Offer, Offer for Subscription and Intermediaries Offer (the "Initial Issue") as described in the summary, registration document and securities note published by the Company on 17 June 2021 (together which comprise the "Prospectus"). 

As announced on 8 July 2021, the Board, taking into account both the strong level of support received from potential investors in the Initial Issue and the depth of the Portfolio Manager’s pipeline of investment opportunities, determined to increase the size of the Initial Issue to approximately £55 million (from approximately £40 million) and, accordingly, the Company will issue a total of 40,590,406 Ordinary Shares at the Issue Price of 135.5 pence per Ordinary Share.

The Initial Issue was heavily oversubscribed with demand significantly exceeding both the target issue size and the maximum issue size. All valid applications received in respect of Qualifying Shareholders' Open Offer Entitlements under the Open Offer will be met in full, and applications under the Initial Placing, Excess Application Facility, Offer for Subscription and Intermediaries Offer have been scaled back.

The Initial Issue of 40,590,406 Ordinary Shares will be split as follows:

• 18,648,695 Ordinary Shares under the Initial Placing;
• 17,623,024 Ordinary Shares under the Open Offer (including the Excess Application Facility);
• 1,452,530 Ordinary Shares under the Offer for Subscription; and
• 2,866,157 Ordinary Shares under the Intermediaries Offer.

Neil England, Chairman of Augmentum, commented:

“Augmentum remains unique as the UK’s only listed specialist fintech investment trust. This is our third successful raise since our IPO in March 2018, and the Board and I are pleased that the demand for the Initial Issue has significantly exceed both our original target of £40 million and the maximum size of £55 million. I would like to thank our existing shareholders for their support and welcome the many new investors that have participated in this fundraise.”

Tim Levene, CEO of Augmentum Fintech Management Limited, commented:

“The success of this fundraise reflects increasing awareness amongst investors of the growing opportunity presented by fintech, not just in the UK but across Europe. This is especially the case given the step change seen in digital adoption as a result of the disruption caused by Covid which has benefited many of our portfolio companies, and which is a trend that looks set to continue. We look forward to supporting our current portfolio and capitalising on our qualified pipeline of new investment opportunities.”

Applications have been made for admission of the Ordinary Shares to the premium segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trading on the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange's main market. Admission is expected to occur at 8.00 a.m. on 13 July 2021.

Following the Initial Issue, the Company's issued share capital will comprise 181,013,697 Ordinary Shares and this is the total number of Ordinary Shares with voting rights in the Company. This figure (181,013,697) may be used by Shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

Terms used but not defined in this announcement shall have the meaning given to them in the tripartite prospectus (comprising a summary, a registration document and a securities note) published by Augmentum Fintech plc on 17 June 2021.

Enquiries:

Augmentum Fintech Tim Levene, Portfolio Manager Nigel Szembel, Investor Relations	[phone] [phone] [e-mail]
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Sponsor, Joint Bookrunner and Intermediaries Offer Adviser) Liz Yong, Luke Simpson, Huw Jeremy, Tom Pocock (Investment Banking) Alex Howe, Chris Bunstead, Ed Welsby, Richard Harris (Sales) Sohail Akbar, Max Irwin (ECM Syndicate) Alistair Boyle (Intermediaries)	[phone]
Singer Capital Markets (formerly N+1 Singer) (Joint Sponsor and Joint Bookrunner) Harry Gooden, Robert Peel, James Moat, Alaina Wong (Investment Banking)	[phone]
Frostrow Capital LLP Paul Griggs, Company Secretary	[phone]

Disclaimer

This announcement is an advertisement and does not constitute a prospectus and investors must subscribe for or purchase any shares referred to in this announcement only on the basis of information contained in the Prospectus published by the Company and not in reliance on this announcement. Copies of the Prospectus may, subject to certain access restrictions, be obtained from the registered office of the Company and at the National Storage Mechanism at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and on the Company's website, www.augmentum.vc. Neither the content of the Company's website, nor the content on any website accessible from hyperlinks on its website for any other website, is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement nor, unless previously published by means of an RIS announcement, should any such content be relied upon in reaching a decision as to whether or not to acquire, continue to hold, or dispose of, securities in the Company. This announcement does not constitute, and may not be construed as, an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase investments of any description or a recommendation regarding the issue or the provision of investment advice by any party. No information set out in this announcement is intended to form the basis of any contract of sale, investment decision or any decision to purchase shares in the Company. Approval of the prospectus by the FCA should not be understood as an endorsement of the securities that are the subject of the Prospectus. Potential investors are recommended to read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with a decision to invest in the Company's securities.

This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under any applicable securities laws of any state, county or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and in compliance with the securities laws of any state, county or any other jurisdiction of the United States. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States.

Furthermore, any securities that may be issued in connection to the matters referred to herein may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in, into or within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. Persons except under circumstances that would not result in the Company being in violation of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Further, this announcement is not for release, publication or distribution into Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, the Republic of South Africa, Japan or any member state of the EEA (other than any member state of the EEA where the Company's securities may be lawfully marketed) or any other jurisdiction where such distribution is unlawful.

The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this announcement and/or any document and/or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Each of Peel Hunt LLP, Nplus1 Singer Capital Markets Limited and Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP (the "Banks") is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting exclusively for the Company and for no-one else and will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this announcement or the Prospectus) as its client in relation to the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue) and the other arrangements referred to in the Prospectus and this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients, nor for providing advice in connection with the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue), any Admission and the other arrangements referred to in this announcement and in the Prospectus.

Apart from the liabilities and responsibilities, if any, which may be imposed on a Bank by FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any other jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, none of the Banks nor any person affiliated with any of the Banks makes any representation, express or implied, in relation to, nor accepts any responsibility whatsoever for, the contents of this announcement or the Prospectus including its accuracy, completeness or verification, nor for any other statement made or purported to be made by it or on its behalf, or on behalf of the Company or any other person in connection with the Company, the Shares, the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue) or any Admission and nothing contained in the Prospectus is or shall be relied upon as a promise or representation in this regard.  The Banks (together with their respective affiliates) accordingly, to the fullest extent permitted by law, disclaim all and any liability whether arising in tort, contract or which they might otherwise have in respect of this announcement, the Prospectus or any other statement. 

The value of the Shares and the income from them is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise due to stock market and currency movements.  When you sell your investment you may get back less than you originally invested. Figures refer to past performance and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Returns may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations.

This announcement contains forward looking statements, including, without limitation, statements including the words "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. Such forward looking statements involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement and cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. The Company, the Portfolio Manager and the Banks expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results or any change in the assumptions, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based unless required to do so by FSMA, the Prospectus Regulation Rules, UK Market Abuse Regulation or other applicable laws, regulations or rules.

The information in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. None of the Banks nor any of their respective affiliates, accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to this announcement, including the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of the announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Each of the Banks and its affiliates, accordingly disclaim all and any liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise which they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.