Consolidation RNS – No Need to Panic7 Oct 2025 07:08
Prem has far too many shares compared to companies of similar size. Therefore, it’s possible AIM Regulation issued a "comply or explain" reminder before the "vote" at the AGM. Reduce your shares or tell us why not? It's possible Prem delayed in the hopes that they'd be further along by now, hence they missed their own self imposed deadline. Though they are not and the LSE may have leaned on them, thus forcing them to act, which would explain the odd timing.
To be clear, comply or explain notices are not about the amount of shares per se but about governance and board control. It's likely the LSE saw 86 billion shares and were like, something isn't right here, why is it so high and why does it keep rising? That many dilutions almost certainly raised a red flag.
Another valid concern among many is — and will be — that they consolidate and dilute immediately after, though it's highly probable this would flag AIM Rule 16, meaning it could be deemed detrimental to the market and/or investors. Basically, you've just consolidated and now you want to dilute? Your SP is already fragile and we've just asked you to tighten up at board level. So if they try to dilute immediately after consolidation, in my opinion, AIM Regulation could block the dilution, or at the very least delay it until the company is in a stronger position.
The irony is that Prem has little to no chance of growth or ever being taken seriously without consolidation, and although it’s a good starting point, they will eventually need another consolidation. My personal guess - all going well - would take place in the summer. A second 10-1 consolidation (after the current one) would bring them to approximately 860 million shares, which would position them nicely with companies of similar size and calibre, making them more attractive to institutions and off-book investors.