1 Jul 2026 07:00
LEI: 213800LFMHKVNTZ7GV45
1 July 2026
RIVER GLOBAL PLC
("River Global" or the "Company")
Completion of the Sale of Asset Management Business to Liontrust Asset Management plc
and
Consequential Board Changes
Further to the announcement made on 16 March 2026 River Global is pleased to announce the completion of the sale to Liontrust Asset Management plc ("Liontrust") of the entire issued share capital of River Global Holdings Limited ("RGH") the holding company of River Global's asset management business (the "Sale").
Under the terms of the Sale River Global has received initial consideration, satisfied by the issue to River Global of 2,970,232 ordinary shares in Liontrust (the "Initial Consideration Shares"), credited as fully paid.
As announced on 9 June 2026 River Global is currently in the process of implementing a court approved Capital Reduction and Return of Capital under the terms of which the Initial Consideration Shares will be distributed to Shareholders pro rata to their holding of A ordinary shares in the Company up to a maximum in value of the Merger Reserve Balance of £8,723,665. It is currently anticipated that the Capital Reduction and Return of Capital will become effective on or around 29 July 2026 with the distribution of the Initial Consideration Shares following shortly thereafter. Further announcements will be made in due course.
In accordance with AIM Rule 15, following completion of the Sale, the Company has become an AIM Rule 15 cash shell and as such will technically be required to make an acquisition or acquisitions which constitute a reverse takeover under AIM Rule 14 on or before the end of December 2026 or be re-admitted to trading on AIM as an investing company under the AIM Rules (which requires the raising of at least £6m) failing which the Company's shares would then be suspended from trading on AIM pursuant to AIM Rule 40. Admission to trading on AIM would be cancelled six months from the date of suspension should the suspension not have been lifted.
At this stage the Board has not concluded whether it intends to undertake a reverse takeover, be re-admitted to AIM or cancel its admission to trading on AIM in accordance with the AIM Rules. The Company will be maintained for the time being for the purpose of receiving and crystalising future benefits from the Sale and any other benefits due and the A Ordinary Shares and the B Shares will continue to be traded on AIM.
Following completion of the Sale the Company has no trading activities or operating cashflow and is dependent on cash made available under the terms of the Sale for its working capital requirements.
As a consequence of the sale, the Board has determined to reduce its size to reflect the Company's simplified structure and, as such, Gary Marshall and Richard Pavry have agreed to step down as Executive Directors of the Company with effect from completion of the Sale on 30 June 2026.
The Company's registered office will also relocate to 2 Savoy Court, London WC2R 0EZ with effect from 1 July 2026.
The rights attaching to the B shares in the Company remain unaffected by completion of the Sale.
For further information, please contact:
River Global
Gary Marshall, CFOO
Martin Gilbert, Chairman
Tel: +44 (0) 7788 338157
H/Advisors
Neil Bennett
Rachel Cohen
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7379 5151
Panmure Liberum Limited
Nominated Adviser and Broker
Atholl Tweedie
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7886 2500
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