For immediate release
11 November
2024
Gfinity PLC
("Gfinity" or the
"Company")
New business development and trading
update
As previously announced on 26 September
2024, the Board of Gfinity plc
(AIM:GFIN), which specialises in digital media and
monetisation, intended to explore new business
opportunities to develop and expand the Company's core focus of
digital media content, further leveraging the infrastructure
commercially available in the Company and intended to use the
proceeds from the recent funding to explore these
opportunities.
The Board is pleased to announce that it has
signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with 0M
Technology Solutions Ltd ("0M") to commercialise 0M's advanced
artificial intelligence technology, Connected IQ ("CIQ"), which is
specifically targeted at the connected video market.
Gfinity and 0M intend to agree and sign a detailed legally
binding agreement as soon as possible, and in any event no later
than 6 months from the date of the MoU.
The MOU outlines the scope of potential
collaboration between Gfinity and 0M and which envisages that
Gfinity will enter into an exclusive licence agreement with 0M
("Licence") for the use of CIQ and will pay a licence royalty fee
to 0M expected to be equivalent to 30% of net profits generated by
Gfinity from the Licence. CIQ has been developed by 0M and is
now at the stage of being ready to be launched for commercial
launch. The Board believes that the Licence will provide an
opportunity for Gfinity to combine its current network and
relationships within the advertising sector and digital media
monetisation, together with the initial relationships CIQ has
already established with top-tier agencies, sell-side platforms, to
commercialise CIQ.
David Halley, CEO of Gfinity, commented: "This
proposed partnership represents an opportunity for Gfinity to
combine innovative AI technology with scalable solutions in the
fast-growing connected video and advertising industry. With the
current rate of growth of video content through platforms such as
Connected TV and Youtube, video is becoming the dominant medium for
information online, and Gfinity can provide a valuable service to
the monetisation of this market. The MOU aligns with our strategic
focus on delivering value to our shareholders by capitalising on
key industry trends."
The MoU is non-binding and there is no
certainty that definitive binding agreements will be entered into
in due course or on the terms as set out in the MoU. Shareholders
should note that while the Board is excited about CIQ's potential
market, CIQ is still at an early stage with no sales track record
and there is no certainty as to how sales might develop under the
Licence. 0M is a newly formed company with no published
accounts.
In addition, the MoU envisages that Gfinity
will have the option, but not the obligation, to buy 0M, CIQ and
its associated intellectual property after the first anniversary of
the date of execution of the binding Licence agreement ("Effective
Date") for a consideration of £2 million. The Option will otherwise
lapse on the third anniversary of the Effective Date.
Given the lack of trading and commercialisation to
date, the current value of 0M and assets, which are
the subject of the Option, is limited unless and until the
commercialisation by Gfinity under the Licence is successful, which
is not guaranteed. The Option price and value of the
Licence is based on the Board's current assessment of potential
outcomes of commercialisation and prospective sales in 2025 and
beyond, based on the Board's own internal estimates, the current
status of the software and the potential pipeline of
customers.
A further announcement will be made in due
course when binding agreements are completed.
0M is beneficially owned by Robert
Keith, who is currently interested in 704,419,692 Ordinary Shares
held by him directly and indirectly and which represent
approximately 20.7% of the Company's existing Ordinary Share
Capital. Accordingly, the execution of any binding agreement with
0M will be a related party transaction pursuant to Rule 13 of the
AIM Rules for Companies, and will be dealt with accordingly at the
time.
Current
trading
As previously reported, during the last year
Gfinity has completed a 12-month cost-cutting
programme, reducing headcount and technology
expenses. Following this
restructuring, these changes have been reflected in
improvement in profitability in the last quarter of 2024 and the
Board is pleased to announce that it currently expects
to meet its objective to achieve monthly profitability by the end
of 2024, whilst leveraging its strengthened commercial resources in
the coming year.
Other Information
A copy of
this announcement is available at the Company's website:
www.gfinityplc.com
The information contained within
this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside
information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU)
No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("UK MAR"). The person who
arranged for the release of this announcement on behalf of the
Company was David Halley, Chief Executive.
Enquiries:
Gfinity Plc
|
David Halley
|
+44 (0)7516 948427
|
Beaumont Cornish Limited
Nominated Adviser and
Broker
|
Roland Cornish
Michael Cornish
|
+44 (0)207 628 3396
www.beaumontcornish.co.uk
|
Further Information
Beaumont Cornish
Limited ("Beaumont Cornish"), which is authorised and
regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct
Authority, is acting as nominated adviser to the Company in
connection with this announcement and will not regard any other
person as its client and will not be responsible to anyone else for
providing the protections afforded to the clients of Beaumont
Cornish or for providing advice in relation to such proposals.
Beaumont Cornish has not authorised the contents of, or any part
of, this document and no liability whatsoever is accepted by
Beaumont Cornish for the accuracy of any information, or opinions
contained in this document or for the omission of any information.
Beaumont Cornish as nominated adviser to the Company owes certain
responsibilities to the London Stock Exchange which are
not owed to the Company, the Directors, Shareholders, or any other
person.
Forward
Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are or
may be deemed to be forward looking statements. Forward looking
statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as
''believe'' ''could'' "should" ''envisage'' ''estimate'' ''intend''
''may'' ''plan'' ''will'' or the negative of those variations or
comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These
forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but
rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions
regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations,
performance, future capital and other expenditures, competitive
advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Such forward
looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs and
assumptions and are based on information currently available to the
Directors. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking
statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general
economic and business conditions competition environmental and
other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the
availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured
and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond
the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements
contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors
believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure
investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward
looking statements.
ENDS