No recommendation
No news or research item is a personal recommendation to deal. Hargreaves Lansdown may not share ShareCast's (powered by Digital Look) views.
(Sharecast News) - Quantum Blockchain Technologies said on Thursday that it had entered into a binding agreement to sell its remaining equity interest in Forcrowd, the Italian fintech and crowdfunding platform in which it first invested in October 2019.
The AIM-traded company said the disposal formed part of its strategy to focus resources and management attention on blockchain technologies, Bitcoin mining optimisation and artificial intelligence-driven solutions.
QBT said it would sell its residual 23.39% stake in Forcrowd following completion and registration of a 400,000 capital increase completed by Forcrowd this week.
The stake will be acquired by a group of Italian investors with experience in financial services, investment management and corporate finance, together with an existing shareholder of Forcrowd.
The transaction comprises the sale of a 5.47% interest under a previously agreed option arrangement for 25,000, and the sale of the remaining 17.92% holding for 130,000.
QBT said aggregate gross proceeds from the disposal would be 155,000. Completion remains conditional on registration of the capital increase with the relevant Italian corporate authorities and is expected within five business days thereafter.
On completion, QBT will no longer hold any interest in Forcrowd.
The company said executive chairman and chief executive officer Francesco Gardin would also step down as chairman of Forcrowd on completion, ending QBT's involvement in the company's governance.
Gardin has served as chairman of Forcrowd since QBT's initial investment without receiving remuneration, directors' fees, bonuses, share awards or other compensation for the role.
QBT said the disposal represented an appropriate conclusion to its investment and would allow management to focus on commercialising and developing its proprietary technologies.
"We are pleased to conclude the disposal of our remaining investment in Forcrowd," Gardin said.
"The transaction brings additional cash resources to QBT and allows the Company to further focus on the execution of its strategic objectives."
Gardin said he was pleased the stake was being acquired by investors with strong financial and investment expertise, adding that stepping down as chairman would mark the conclusion of QBT's long-standing involvement with Forcrowd.
At 1146 BST, shares in Quantum Blockchain Technologies were down 2.65% at 0.36p.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
See latest RNS on Investegate