OBE Oberon Investments Group Plc

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014. Which is part of the United Kingdom domestic law pursuant to the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (SI 2019/310) ("UK MAR").

("Oberon", or the "Company", or the "Group")

Placing to raise £2.5 million

Oberon Investments Group plc (AQSE: OBE), the boutique investment management, wealth planning and corporate broking group, announces that it has raised  £2.50 million before expenses, through a placing (the "Placing") via Oberon Capital, of 55,555,554 new ordinary shares of 0.5 pence each (the "Placing Shares") in the Company at a price of 4.5 pence per share (the "Issue Price").

The Placing was considerably oversubscribed and was supported by new and existing shareholders, including directors and staff of Oberon.  The proceeds will support the expansion of the Company's key business divisions to accelerate growth across the Group as well as for working capital purposes.

Background to the Placing

Oberon is a financial boutique comprising three divisions: Investment Management, Wealth Planning and Corporate Advisory & Broking. Since listing, the Group has integrated several well-established teams with proven track records, experience and longevity.

Oberon has created a strong foundation and is now experiencing significant growth. The Company's results for the 6 months to 30 September 2024, reported a 74% increase in revenue to £4.8m. Based on current trading, management believes it will meet revenue expectations for FY25. 

The Directors of Oberon believe there are many opportunities available to Oberon across each of its divisions, primarily within Oberon Capital, its corporate broking division, which is expected to achieve a year on year increase in revenue of more than 50%. 

Oberon is seeking to take advantage of opportunistic acquisitions, whether of teams of professionals, or through corporate acquisitions.  Current opportunities, both of which remain subject to agreement and other conditions, include the acquisition of a wealth management team and the addition of a new team of investment managers.

Simon McGivern, CEO of Oberon Investments Group, said: "We are delighted with the support we have received from both new and existing shareholders for this fundraising.  Notably, staff and directors have participated in this round, subscribing for 15% of the raise, which is a strong reflection of the positive outlook from within the company.

Following a wave of mergers among mainstream brokers and wealth managers, we see a 'once in a cycle' opportunity for our corporate broking and wealth management divisions.  The foundations we have created, which include a strong balance sheet, ongoing shareholder support and the efforts of our teams, give us a tremendous platform for the future.   We feel Oberon presents a compelling opportunity for talented teams, offering a dynamic and ambitious full-service boutique where individuals can truly focus on their clients and thrive."

Admission

The Placing Shares will be issued and allotted under the Company's existing authorities obtained at the Company's last annual general meeting held on 3 September 2024.  Application has been made for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AQSE ("Admission") and it is expected that Admission, and commencement of dealings, will take place at 8.00 a.m. on 18 February 2025.

The Placing Shares, when issued, will be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the Company's existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive dividends and other distributions declared on or after the date of issue.

Total Voting Rights

Following Admission, the Company's issued and fully paid share capital will consist of 742,070,442 Ordinary Shares, all of which carry one voting right per share. The Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in treasury. Therefore, the total number of ordinary shares and voting rights in the Company will be 742,070,442. This figure 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 FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

Director Participation

Mike Cuthbert, Non-Executive Director Chairman of the Company, has subscribed for 222,222 shares in the Placing, for consideration of £10,000.  The independent directors of the Company, having exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence, consider that this subscription is fair and reasonable as far as the shareholders of the Company are concerned.  Following this subscription, Mike Cuthbert will own 707,049 shares in the Company, representing 0.10% of the Company's issued share capital, as enlarged by the Placing.

Alex Hambro, a Non-Executive Director of the Company, has subscribed for 555,555 shares in the Placing, for consideration of £25,000.  The independent directors of the Company, having exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence, consider that this subscription is fair and reasonable as far as the shareholders of the Company are concerned.  Following this subscription, Alex Hambro will own 2,198,412 shares in the Company, representing 0.30% of the Company's issued share capital, as enlarged by the Placing.

The Directors of the Company take responsibility for this announcement.

For further information please contact:

Important Notices

Oberon Investments Limited (trading as Oberon Capital) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the "FCA") in the United Kingdom and is acting exclusively for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing and will not regard anyone (including any Placees) (whether or not a recipient of this Announcement) as a client, and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Placing or any other matters referred to in this Announcement.

Neither this Announcement, nor any copy of it, nor the information contained in it, is for publication, release, transmission, distribution or forwarding, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which publication, release or distribution would be unlawful (or to any persons in any of those jurisdictions). This Announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or issue, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, acquire or subscribe for shares in the capital of the Company in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or any other state or jurisdiction (or to any persons in any of those jurisdictions). This Announcement has not been approved by the London Stock Exchange. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdictions.

The Placing Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority or under any securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold, resold, pledged, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in compliance with the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. The Placing Shares have not been approved, disapproved or recommended by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other U.S. regulatory authority, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Placing Shares. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or the Republic of South Africa.

No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in the United States, United Kingdom or elsewhere. All offers of the Placing Shares and Subscription Shares will be made pursuant to an exemption from the requirement to produce a prospectus under the EU Prospectus Regulation or the UK Prospectus Regulation.

This Announcement is not being distributed by, nor has it been approved for the purposes of section 21 of FSMA by, a person authorised under FSMA. This Announcement is being distributed and communicated to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply.

The distribution of this Announcement, the Placing and/or the offering of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company or its affiliates that would permit an offering of the Placing Shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to the Placing Shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company to inform themselves about, and to observe, such restrictions.

This Announcement may contain and the Company may make verbal statements containing "forward-looking statements" with respect to certain of the Company's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition, performance, strategic initiatives, objectives and results. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as "aim", "anticipate", "target", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "seek", "may", "could", "outlook" or other words of similar meaning. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, the actual future financial condition, performance and results of the Company may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations set forth in any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this Announcement by or on behalf of the Company speak only as of the date they are made. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's judgment at the date of this Announcement and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results and the Company cautions that its actual results of operations and financial condition, and the development of the industry in which it operates, may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement and/or information incorporated by reference into this Announcement. The information contained in this Announcement is subject to change without notice and except as required by applicable law or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publish any updates, supplements or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement to reflect any changes in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, except where required to do so under applicable law.

No statement in this Announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or estimate, and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of the Company for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of the Company.

Neither the content of the Company's website (or any other website) nor the content of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Company's website (or any other website) is incorporated into or forms part of this Announcement.