RE: VELA FRESH START21 Oct 2020 13:22
During the period a number of proposals for the resolution of the Company's obligation to repay £550,000 of bonds were put to the Board. I am pleased to say that on 31 July 2020 the Company announced a capital re-organisation, conversion of its Bonds, the disposal of certain of its assets and a fundraise of £1.0 million (before expenses). All these actions are explained in the announcement issued on 31 July 2020.
On 26 August 2020 we completed the proposals outlined on 31 July 2020, including the appointment of a new Executive Director, James Normand. James will bring to Vela his long experience of making and advising on corporate acquisitions and disposals, including most recently as chairman of All Active Asset Capital Limited; and I give him my warmest welcome. Sadly, as part of the reorganisation referred to above, Antony Laiker, my fellow director, decided to step down as Executive Director and to leave the board. I should like to express my gratitude to Antony for his work and dedication to Vela over the previous number of years.
Certain announcements, especially such as those published on 31 July 2020 and 26 August 2020, reflect a huge amount of work behind the scenes and to that extent I should like to thank Peterhouse Capital, Hewitsons, Allenby Capital, haysmacintyre and Bailey Wilson for their important contributions, especially during unsocial hours.
Your company is now debt free, well capitalised with a portfolio of six investments (details of which can be found on the Company's website - www.velatechplc.com) and cash on deposit, at 30 September 2020, of £1,628,000. The cash at 30 September 2020 includes proceeds of £925,480 generated as a result of the exercise of warrants during September. The Company has post period end invested £250,000 in Mode Global Holdings plc, a UK-based fintech group, as announced on 5 October 2020.
The Board is currently considering a number of investment opportunities in line with its existing investing policy and certain of these potential new investments are at an advanced stage of due diligence, documentation and/or completion. The Board anticipates a lively second half of the financial year and announcements will be made by the Company at the appropriate time.