30 August 2024
ReNeuron Group plc
("ReNeuron" or the "Company")
Corporate update and
cancellation of admission to trading on AIM
ReNeuron Group plc (in
administration) (AIM: RENE), a UK based leader in stem cell derived
exosome technologies, provides the
following corporate update in regards the Company's ongoing
administration process ("Administration Process") and notifies
of the cancellation of the Company's ordinary shares ("Ordinary Shares") from trading on
AIM.
Update on Creditor Position
Further to the announcement on 2
August 2024 (the "Announcement"), Stephen Cork and Mark
Smith of Cork Gully LLP (the "Joint Administrators"), have remained
in discussions with the ReNeuron's main creditors to seek to
clarify the liabilities of the Company and ascertain the Company's
financial solvency in light of its current cash resources. The
Joint Administrators anticipate being able to resolve matters such
that the Company can exit Administration on a going concern basis
in due course. However, this will only occur when the necessary
legal documentation has been agreed and the Joint Administrators
are working with creditors on this basis.
Update on Financing Discussions
As set out in the Announcement, the
Company has been seeking to identify potential investors that would
be willing to invest in new equity capital to enable the Company to
continue to trade on a going concern basis and function as an
appropriately staffed research and development organization.
However, in view of the limited quantum of funds identified to date
and the terms of those potential investors, the Board of ReNeuron
has determined that it is not in the interests of existing
shareholders to progress with a highly dilutive fundraise and
continue to incur the additional costs and regulatory obligations
of being listed on AIM.
Cancellation from AIM
In light of the above, as the Joint
Administrators and the Board of ReNeuron no longer consider that
there is a realistic possibility that the Company could raise
sufficient funds to enable the Company to exit the Administration
Process with sufficient working capital that would permit the
restoration of trading on AIM on acceptable terms, notwithstanding
the ongoing creditor discussions. Therefore, pursuant to Rule 41 of the AIM Rules, and with the ordinary
shares of the Company having been suspended for more than six
months, the Company's admission to trading on AIM will be cancelled
with effect from 7.00 a.m. on 2 September 2024 ("Cancellation").
Upon the Cancellation becoming
effective, Allenby Capital will cease to be nominated adviser to
the Company pursuant to the AIM Rules.
Next steps
The Joint Administrators will
continue discussions with creditors to seek to determine the
solvency of the business. Once this has been determined, the
Joint Administrators, in consultation with the Board, will decide
the appropriate course of action. There are a number of possible
options available to the Company, including, but not limited to,
continuation as a private company.
On the assumption that the Joint
Administrators can secure documented agreements with the key
outstanding creditors, the Board intends to exit administration as
private company. Post administration, the Company proposes to
continue with a small team lead by Iain Ross and Randolph Corteling
and will have sufficient cash to exploit and potentially
commercialise specific unencumbered research assets, intellectual
property and existing licences to form the basis of a standalone
development and licensing business and thereby create an immediate
increase in shareholder value and ultimately help to secure an exit
for the business.
Notwithstanding that the Company
will no longer be subject to the AIM Rules, post cancellation the
Joint Administrators and the ReNeuron board is committed to keeping
shareholders abreast of developments and will continue to publish
news of these developments on its website as
appropriate.
Takeover Code
The Company will currently remain
subject to the Takeover Code for a period of at least ten years
following the Cancellation, provided the Company continues to have
its place of central management and control in the UK, Channel
Islands or Isle of Man. However, in the event that, subsequent to
the Cancellation further Board changes result in the Company's
place of central management and control being outside the UK,
Channel Islands or Isle of Man, then the Company may not be subject
to the Takeover Code.
It should be noted that the future
scope of the application of the Takeover Code is currently under
review by the Panel and is the subject matter of a public
consultation paper (PCP 2024/1) which proposes a refocusing and
significant narrowing of the types of companies that are subject to
the Takeover Code. This public consultation closed on 31 July 2024.
If these rule changes are adopted in the form and broadly in the
timescale proposed, the Company would cease to be subject to the
Takeover Code three years after the date of implementation of such
changes.
Enquiries:
Cork
Gully LLP
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+44 (0)20
7268 2150 or
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Stephen Cork, Joint
Administrator
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reneuron@corkgully.com
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Mark Smith, Joint
Administrator
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ReNeuron Group plc
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www.reneuron.com/investors
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Iain Ross, Executive
Chairman
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Via Cork
Gully
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Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser and
Broker)
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+44 (0)20
3328 5656
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James Reeve/George Payne/Dan
Dearden-Williams (Corporate Finance)
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Stefano Aquilino/Kelly Gardiner
(Sales & Corporate Broking)
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