26 Mar 2020 07:00
Pires Investments PLC
("Pires" or the "Company")
Market update
The Company is pleased to announce that, as at 25 March 2020, its unaudited net asset value was approximately £2.4 million, equivalent to 3.6 pence per share compared to the Company's share price of 1.8 pence as at the market close on 25 March 2020. The Company has been increasing its focus on the technology sector (with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber security, IOT and augmented/virtual reality) such that around £1.58 million or 65% of the Company's gross assets are now represented by investments in the sector.
As part of this focus on technology, the Company has disposed of the majority of its holding in Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Limited ("Eco"), prior to the recent market turmoil and the setback in oil prices, generating total net cash proceeds of £1.57 million and realising a total net profit on disposal of almost £1 million from this investment. Eco currently represents less than 5% of the Company's net asset value.
The Company is also pleased to highlight some developments with respect to certain companies in its technology portfolio.
As previously announced, Artomatix, a developer of artificial intelligence ("AI") software technology that reduces the cost of content creation for animated movies and video games and augmented reality/virtual reality applications by over 85% through AI automation was sold to San Francisco based Unity Technologies Inc (www.unity.com) in Q4 2019. Pires achieved a return of €803,274 from this investment of which €721,274 has already been received, with the balance of around €82,000 expected in June 2021.
This represents a significant return for the Company compared to its initial investment in Sure Valley Ventures ("SVV") of £1.1 million which was made on 21 November 2019. The sale of Artomatix represents a cash multiple of around 5x the initial investment made by SVV.
During 2019, Warducks Limited secured a €3.3 million series A investment from EQT Ventures (https://eqtventures.com/) one of Europe's leading venture capital funds, representing a 4x uplift on the company's valuation at the time of the investment by SVV. Warducks Limited is a company focused on the building of high quality augmented and virtual reality games.
Chairman, Peter Redmond said;
"I am very pleased with the progress that is being made by our investments in the technology sector although, disappointingly our shares still trade at a significant discount to our underlying net asset value."
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.
Enquiries:
Pires Investments plc Peter Redmond, Chairman Nicholas Lee, Director
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Tel: +44 (0) 20 3368 8961 |
Nominated Adviser Cairn Financial Advisers LLP Liam Murray Ludovico Lazzaretti
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Tel: +44 (0) 20 7213 0880 |
Broker Peterhouse Capital Limited Duncan Vasey/Lucy Williams |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 0935 Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 0936
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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.