10 March
2025
Mindflair
plc
("Mindflair" or the "Company")
Realisation of investments in
Getvisibility amounting to £2.6 million
Mindflair plc, the company investing
in next-generation technology focused on AI, is pleased to announce
that it has agreed to sell its entire directly held unquoted
minority position in Visibility Blockchain Limited
("Getvisibility") to Forcepoint, a global leader in data and cloud
security (the "Disposal"). Getvisibility is a cybersecurity
company focusing on data visibility and control and uses
state-of-the-art artificial intelligence ("AI") to classify and
secure unstructured information. The Disposal is expected to
generate a gross cash inflow to the Company of approximately €2.1
million (£1.8 million).
In addition, Mindflair has an
indirect interest in Getvisibility through its investment in the
first Sure Valley Ventures ("SVV") fund ("SVV1") and through its
shareholding in Sure Ventures plc ("SV plc") which in turn has a
25.9% interest in SVV1.
SVV has indicated that Mindflair can
expect to receive approximately €0.9 million (£0.8 million) as a
result of the distribution from SVV1 of the proceeds from the sale
of SVV1's shareholding in Getvisibility. Mindflair also has a 23.6%
shareholding in SV plc and so may also receive a distribution from
the proceeds that they receive from the disposal of
Getvisibility.
In summary therefore, Mindflair
expects to receive, in aggregate, approximately £2.6 million in
cash from the sale of Getvisibility through the Disposal and sale
of its indirect interest held through its investment in SVV1.
It may also receive additional funds from any distribution made by
SV plc.
The Disposal would represent a
return of 6.0x the total investment made into this company directly
and a circa 4.5x multiple on the total investment made by
SVV1. As at 31 December 2024, the carrying value of the
Company's direct investment in Getvisibility was £1.2 million on an
unaudited basis. The completion of the Disposal is subject to the
satisfaction of certain conditions that are customary for a
transaction of this type. The Company will use part of the
cash inflow from the Disposal to settle the remaining outstanding
loan notes amounting to circa £800,000, and the accrued interest
thereon. A further announcement will be made in due course upon
receipt of the proceeds from the Disposal.
Nicholas Lee, a Director of
Mindflair, said:
"This is an excellent result for
Mindflair and its shareholders, particularly as the Company has
multiple interests in Getvisibility both directly and via its
investments in two other entities. This is a clear example of
the quality of the companies within Mindflair's investment
portfolio and further validation of the Company's investment
strategy. This is the fifth exit event from SVV1 since
inception and, as previously announced, clearly demonstrates that
this fund is very much in the exit phase of its investment cycle.
We look forward to providing further portfolio updates in due
course."
This announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation
and the Directors of the Company are responsible for the
release of this announcement. The person who arranged for the
release of this information is Nicholas Lee, a director of the
Company.
Enquiries:
Mindflair plc
Nicholas Lee, Director
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3368 8961
|
Nominated Adviser
Cairn Financial Advisers
LLP
Liam Murray/Ludovico
Lazzaretti
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7213 0880
|
Joint broker
Peterhouse Capital
Limited
Duncan Vasey/Lucy
Williams
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 0935
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 0936
|
Joint broker
Shard Capital Partners
LLP
Damon Heath
|
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7601 6100
|
Notes to Editors
Mindflair plc (AIM: MFAI) is an
investment company providing investors with access to a portfolio
of next generation technology businesses focused on AI with
significant growth potential. The Company is building an investment
portfolio of high-tech businesses focused on Artificial
Intelligence, across such areas as Internet of Things, Cyber
Security, Machine Learning, Immersive Technologies and Big Data,
which the Board believes demonstrate evidence of traction and the
potential for exponential growth, due to increasing global demand
for development in these sectors. For further information, visit:
http://www.mindflair.tech/.
Sure Valley Ventures
(www.surevalleyventures.com) ("SVV") is a venture capital firm that
invests in early-stage AI software companies in the UK and Ireland.
Investing in AI since the firm's inception in 2017, SVV has a
strong track record of accelerating the growth of private AI
companies through to Series A and beyond.
Caution regarding 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'',
''potentially'', "expect", ''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
(including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof),
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.