REG - Alpha Growth PLC - Intention to delist from London Stock Exchange

Alpha GrowthAnnouncement

17/03/2025 15:45

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RNS Number : 9923A  Alpha Growth PLC  17 March 2025

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE UK
VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO 596/2014 WHICH IS PART OF ENGLISH
LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED.  ON
PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS
INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

Alpha Growth plc

("Alpha" or the "Company")

Intention to delist from London Stock Exchange

Alpha Growth plc (LSE: ALGW and OTCQB: ALPGF), a leading financial services
specialist in life insurance-linked wealth and asset management, announces its
intention to cancel the listing of the Company's ordinary shares ("Shares") on
the Equity Shares (Transition) category of the Official List of the Financial
Conduct Authority ("FCA") and the admission to trading of its Shares on the
Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (the "Delisting").

Background to and reasons for the Delisting

The Company's Directors and management have made significant operational
progress over the past twelve months, expanding the Board of Directors and
adding to the management team, as well as the acquisition of Jeometri
Insurance Managers Ltd in Guernsey, and establishing the foundation to reach
its goal of managing over $2 billion of assets in 2025. As a result, the
Company has been afforded many opportunities for growth. The Directors are
disappointed that this progress has not been reflected in the Company's share
price and efforts to attract a wider investor interest in the Company's shares
have had limited success, despite efforts by the Company's corporate broker,
Allenby Capital Limited. Whilst Alpha is not the only small cap company to be
affected by its share price lagging its trading performance, the Directors are
determined to take action to resolve the situation.

Although the Company's history and accomplishments are recognised and greatly
appreciated by institutional investors, the Company's relatively small market
capitalisation has meant that a number of institutions are unable to invest
because of constraints as to minimum allocations and maximum positions.
Furthermore, following the change in the listing rules by the FCA in July
2024, the Company's category of listing changed from the "Standard List" to
the "Transition" category. Even though the previous Standard Listing rules
effectively apply indefinitely so long as the Company does not undertake a
reverse takeover, the Company's growth plans are likely to include material
M&A transactions.  Any such acquisitions will require the Company to move
to the "Commercial Companies" category, which will involve significant changes
to corporate governance arrangements and the appointment of a sponsor. Whilst
the Board has identified a suitable sponsor and is enhancing its corporate
governance arrangements, after a great deal of deliberation, it has decided it
will prove far more practicable to complete any such material acquisition(s)
off-market and then seek a re-listing of the enlarged group in the "Commercial
Companies" category as soon as practicable thereafter.

By delisting, the Company can progress the opportunities it has identified
towards achieving its 2B Plan, thereby increasing shareholder value without
factors tied to a listing impacting the opportunity.

Update on auditor

The Company has received numerous questions from its shareholders regarding
the appointment of a new auditor. Appointing an auditor to a Public Interest
Entity ("PIE") such as the Company is not straightforward. The number of audit
firms in the UK who are able to audit PIEs is restricted and the Group's
exposure to life assurance businesses further limits the number of audit firms
and audit partners with the necessary expertise. We have heard anecdotally
that a number of UK audit firms have limited resources and therefore are very
careful about taking on new PIE clients as they are subject to enhanced
scrutiny by the Financial Reporting Council ("FRC").  The Board has
maintained open and cooperative communication with the FRC in relation to
enhancements to the presentation in the financial statements, which has
allowed prospective auditors to take some comfort. The Delisting will further
reduce the risk for the first year of appointment as the Company will not be a
PIE for the upcoming accounting period and a number of prospective auditors
have indicated that accepting the appointment will be easier following the
Delisting. This has further contributed to the decision to Delist.

The Directors remain absolutely committed to delivering value for all
shareholders, with whom the Board are substantially aligned, given their
shareholdings. The Directors believe that this course of action is the most
appropriate to take at this time and fully expect to relist, at some point in
the near future following the completion of a material M&A transaction, on
the "Commercial Companies" category of the Main Market. There can be no
guarantee that the Company will attain a listing of its Shares on the
"Commercial Companies" category nor  can there be any assurances given on the
timescales for any potential future re-listing of the Shares.

Delisting process

As a company listed on the Equity Shares (Transition) category, the Company is
not required to obtain the approval of its shareholders for the Delisting but
is required under UK Listing Rule 21.2.17 to give at least 20 business days'
notice of the intended cancellation.

Accordingly, the Company has requested that: (i) the FCA cancel the listing of
the Shares on the Official List of the FCA; and (ii) the London Stock Exchange
cancels the admission to trading of the Shares on the Main Market for listed
securities of the London Stock Exchange. It is anticipated that the Delisting
will become effective from 8:00 a.m. (London time) on 15 April 2025. Investors
holding Shares following the Delisting will remain a shareholder of the
Company and continue to be entitled to exercise all the rights attaching to
the Shares.

The principal effects of the Delisting will be that:

·     there will no longer be a formal market mechanism enabling
shareholders to trade their Ordinary Shares;

·     the regulatory and financial reporting regime applicable to
companies whose shares are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange
will no longer apply;

·     shareholders will no longer be afforded the protections given by
the Listing Rules, such as the requirement to be notified of certain material
developments or events (including substantial transactions, financing
transactions, related party transactions and certain acquisitions and
disposals) and the separate requirement to seek shareholder approval for
certain other corporate events such as reverse takeovers or fundamental
changes in the Company's business;

·     shareholders will no longer be required to publicly disclose any
change in major shareholdings in the Company under the DTRs; and

·     the Company will no longer be subject to the provisions of the
Market Abuse Regulation (as in force in the United Kingdom) regulating inside
information and other matters, which will make it easier for the Company to
keep shareholders up to date on developments.

The Company will remain a public limited company (and so, for example, will be
required to hold an AGM in each year), and the provisions of the Takeover Code
will continue to apply to the Company.

Gobind Sahney, Chairman, stated: "The delisting of Alpha Growth's shares,
albeit for what we expect to be a short period, will allow us the mechanism to
explore and progress some substantive value accretive activities whilst also
allowing us to appoint an auditor who can support us whilst we significantly
grow our AUM, revenue and profit. Shareholders will continue to hold shares in
the Company, and it is our intention to re-list in the near future at a price
which we hope demonstrates the Board's ability to generate shareholder value.
We would like to thank our existing shareholders for their continued support
as we take these necessary steps to realise true shareholder value."

The Company intends to publish its interim accounts for the year ending 31
December 2024 on or before 31 March 2025, as required by the UK Listing Rules.

The Company will make further announcements in due course, as appropriate.

** ENDS **

For more information, please visit www.algwplc.com (http://www.algwplc.com) or
contact the following:

 

 Alpha Growth plc                                   +44 (0) 20 3959 8600
 Gobind Sahney, Executive Chairman                  info@algwplc.com (mailto:info@algwplc.com)
                                                    +44 (0) 20 3328 5656

 Allenby Capital Limited
 Amrit Nahal (Sales and Corporate Broking)
 Nick Athanas / Piers Shimwell (Corporate Finance)
                                                    ir@algwplc.com (mailto:ir@algwplc.com)

 UK Investor Relations - Mark Treharne

 

About Alpha Growth plc

Specialist in Longevity Assets

Alpha Growth plc is a financial advisory business providing specialist
consultancy, advisory, and supplementary services to institutional and
qualified investors globally in the multi-billion dollar market of longevity
assets. Building on its well-established network, the Alpha Growth group has a
unique position in the longevity asset services and investment business, as a
listed entity with global reach. The group's strategy is to expand its
advisory and business services via acquisitions and joint ventures in the UK
and the US to attain commercial scale and provide holistic solutions to
alternative institutional investors who are in need of specialised skills and
unique access to deploy their financial resource in longevity assets.

Longevity Assets and Non-correlation

As a longevity asset, it is non-correlated to the real estate, equity capital
and commodity markets.  Its value is a function of time because as time
passes the value gets closer to the face value of the policy. Hence creating a
steady increase in the net asset value of the investment. This makes it highly
attractive to investors wishing to counteract volatility within an investment
portfolio and add yield.

Note: The Company only advises on and manages Longevity Assets that originate
in the USA where the structured and life settlement market is highly
regulated.

Forward Looking Statements Disclaimer

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this document are forward-looking,
which reflect the Company's or, as appropriate, the Company's directors'
current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These
risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and
financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Forward-looking
statements contained in this document regarding past trends or activities
should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will
continue in the future. The Company does not undertake any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance
on forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
document.  Readers should not treat the contents of this document as advice
relating to legal, taxation or investment matters, and are to make their own
assessments concerning these and other consequences, including the merits of
information and the risks.  Readers of this announcement are advised to
conduct their own due diligence and agree to be bound by the limitations of
this disclaimer.

Important Notice

The content of this announcement has not been approved by an authorised person
within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). This
announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company.
The information in this announcement is subject to change.

 

 

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