REG - Capai PLC - Licence and Option Agreement for Author42 Platform

capAIAnnouncement

25/07/2025 07:20

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RNS Number : 5896S  Capai PLC  25 July 2025

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ("ANNOUNCEMENT") AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS
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APPLICABLE LAW.

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF
REGULATION 2014/596/EU, WHICH IS PART OF THE DOMESTIC LAW OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND ("UK") PURSUANT TO THE MARKET
ABUSE (AMENDMENT) (EU EXIT) REGULATIONS (SI 2019/310) ("UK MAR"). UPON THE
PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION (AS DEFINED IN UK
MAR) IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

 

25 July 2025

capAI plc

(the "Company" and, together with its subsidiaries and subsidiary
undertakings, the "Group" or "capAI")

 

Execution of Licence and Option Agreement for Author42 Platform

 

capAI (LSE: CPAI) is pleased to announce that, following receipt of regulatory
clearance, it has now executed a definitive Licence and Option Agreement
("LOA") with R42 Group LLC ("R42") for Author42, its generative artificial
intelligence ("AI") publishing platform.

 

The LOA follows the non-binding heads of terms between capAI and R42,
announced on 7 July 2025, and marks the formal launch of capMedia, capAI's
dedicated AI-led publishing division. The LOA gives capAI immediate control of
Author42, with a commercially disciplined path to full intellectual property
("IP") ownership.

 

About Author42

 

Author42 is a next-generation generative AI platform designed to assist
authors, publishers, and content creators in producing high-quality fiction
and non-fiction works. It integrates narrative generation, character
development, and market intelligence to enable faster, more data-informed
storytelling.

 

Principal Commercial Terms

 

Under the LOA, capAI has secured an exclusive, worldwide right to use,
develop, commercialise and sub-license the Author42 platform for a period of
12 months ("Licence Period"), with full operational and strategic control. The
LOA also grants capAI a discretionary option (the "Option") to acquire full
ownership of the IP associated with Author42.

 

Key terms include:

 

No Upfront Cost, Immediate Control

The LOA has been executed as a deed, and carries no upfront payment or
consideration, giving capAI operational freedom without initial capital
outlay.

 

Good Faith Development Obligation

capAI is committed to advancing the Author42 platform in good faith, including
maintaining a dedicated development team, overseen via the capAI / R42
Alliance Steering Committee.

 

Discretionary Option to Acquire Full IP Ownership

capAI has the right-but not the obligation-to acquire 100% of the Author42 IP
(including any enhancements or derivative works) at any time during the
Licence Period; R42 cannot oblige capAI to exercise the Option under the terms
of the LOA.

 

£2 Million Option Consideration

If exercised, capAI will settle the £2 million Option consideration through:

 

·      the issue of new ordinary shares of nominal value £0.00001 each
in the capital of capAI ("Ordinary Shares"), valued using the 20-trading day
volume-weighted average price (VWAP) per Ordinary Share prior to Option
exercise ("Consideration Shares"); or

 

·      if regulatory constraints apply (e.g., Rule 9 of the UK Takeover
Code or insufficient prospectus headroom), a combination of Consideration
Shares (subject to such regulatory constraints) and non-transferable unsecured
convertible loan notes ("UCLNs"). The UCLNs would carry a 10% non-compounding
annual interest rate.

 

Admission

Any Consideration Shares issued under the Option (or new Ordinary Shares
issued upon UCLN conversion) will be admitted to listing on the equity shares
(transition) category of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority
("FCA") and to trading on the main market for listed securities of London
Stock Exchange plc.

 

Exit Participation (Post-Acquisition)

Upon full Author42 IP transfer, R42 will be entitled to 20% of the net
proceeds from any monetisation, sale, or liquidity event involving all or
substantially all of the Author42 IP. This ensures long-term alignment without
affecting capAI's operational control.

 

Reversion Rights

If capAI does not exercise the Option within the Licence Period, all rights
revert to R42, including any improvements or derivative works created by
capAI.

 

This structure offers capAI near-term flexibility while securing long-term
strategic value alignment with R42.

 

Related Party Considerations

 

The entry by capAI and R42 into the LOA constitutes a material related party
transaction for the purposes of DTR 7.3 and was, accordingly, voted upon by
the statutory directors of capAI (the "Directors") deemed independent in
relation to the LOA, comprising Richard Edwards, Sarah Davy and Marcus Yeoman
(excluding Professor Nag, who constituted a "related party" (as such term is
defined in IFRS)), and such independent Directors consider the material
related party transaction in respect of the LOA to be fair and reasonable from
the perspective of the Company and holders of Ordinary Shares ("Shareholders")
who are not a related party. Shareholders should note that Professor Nag
recused himself from all deliberations concerning the LOA, ensuring robust
governance and full compliance with applicable regulatory standards. These
steps reflect the Company's ongoing commitment to transparent corporate
governance and robust Shareholder protections

 

Substantial Property Transaction

 

The grant of the Option does not itself constitute a substantial property
transaction for the purposes of section 190 of the UK Companies Act 2006, as
amended ("CA 2006").

 

However, if capAI elects to exercise the Option, such exercise would require
R42 to transfer the Author42 IP and the Company to allot and issue of the
Consideration Shares and UCLNs (as applicable and in compliance with
applicable regulatory obligations) by the Company on exercise of the Option
under the LOA constitute a 'substantial property transaction' under section
190 of CA 2006, as the Company will allot and issue Consideration Shares
and/or UCLNs with an aggregate value of £2,000,000 to R42, which is a body
corporate connected with Ronjon Nag, a Director designated as Executive
Director.

 

The Company may therefore proactively seek Shareholder approval of such
possible 'substantial property transaction' at a forthcoming general meeting.
This approach reflects the Board's commitment to ensuring full compliance with
the relevant thresholds, disclosure obligations, and governance procedures
under applicable regulation.

 

Management Commentary

Richard Edwards, Executive Chairman of capAI, commented:

"This LOA signals the official launch of capMedia and our broader intent to
redefine publishing using AI. Author42 gives us a platform to accelerate
next-generation storytelling at scale-fully aligned with our incubate-and-own
model."

 

Professor Ronjon Nag, Executive Director of capAI, added:

"The publishing sector is ripe for intelligent automation, and Author42
demonstrates what's now possible. It's a category-building opportunity, and
capAI is now structurally positioned to lead."

 

Further updates will be provided as the Author42 platform progresses toward
full launch.

 

For the purposes of UK MAR, the person responsible for arranging release of
this Announcement on behalf of capAI is Richard Edwards, Executive Chairman.

 

Enquiries

 

Company:

capAI plc hello@capaiplc.com

 

Broker Enquiries:

Peterhouse Capital Limited Tel: +44 (0) 207 469 0930

 

Important Legal Information

 

The information contained in this Announcement is for background purposes only
and does not purport to be full or complete, nor does this Announcement
constitute or form part of any invitation or inducement to engage in
investment activity. No reliance may be placed by any person for any purpose
on the information contained in this Announcement or its accuracy, fairness or
completeness. The contents of this Announcement are not to be construed as
legal, financial or tax advice.

 

This Announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation
to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe
for, any securities, nor shall it (or any part of it), or the fact of its
distribution, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any
contract therefor.

 

This Announcement may include forward-looking statements, which are based on
current expectations and projections about future events, including about the
Groups operations, strategy, financial performance, development milestones,
and the future prospects of its business divisions, including capMedia Inc and
the Author42 platform. These statements may include, without limitation, any
statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target",
"believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "may", "anticipate", "estimate", "plan",
"project", "will", "can have", "likely", "should", "would", "could" and any
other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof.

 

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject
to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ
materially. These risks include, but are not limited to: successful execution
of definitive agreements; regulatory approvals; development timelines; market
acceptance; technological shifts; and broader economic conditions. No
representation or warranty is made or will be made that any forward-looking
statement will come to pass, and no assurance can be given that any
forward-looking statement will prove accurate. Except as required by law,
capAI undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking
statement. The forward-looking statements in this Announcement speak only as
at the date of this Announcement.

 

 

 

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