Zeus

A message from Zeus Co-CEOs, Stuart Andrews and Nick Cowles: We have enjoyed a strong first quarter to 30 June 2024, including a particularly successful June during which we acted on 5 placings for our corporate clients and completed 2 block trades. Alongside, we continued to be very active on PLC bid work and expanding our corporate client base with some notable wins.   Corporately we announced the acquisition of the Equity Capital Markets Division of W H Ireland which accelerates our strategy to grow our base of retained PLC clients, increases our relevance as a liquidity venue and enhances our transactional capability which remains at the core of our business.   Looking forward there are signs that the UK equity markets are beginning to recover with inflation falling back to target, a new government and the possibility of rate cuts on the horizon.   We believe we are very well positioned for any recovery with a strong balance sheet, high quality staff and an expanded platform but whatever the future holds we will continue to offer a seamless service to our clients across public and private markets as they consider their financing and strategic needs.   Stuart Andrews and Nick Cowles Co-CEOs of Zeus Read more about Zeus on our website: www.zeuscapital.co.uk.

Zeus is delighted to have acted as Nominated Adviser, Broker and Bookrunner to Devolver Digital Inc. in raising $10 million by way of equity placing, priced at 33p, a 10% premium to the closing price.   Devolver is an award-winning video games publisher in the indie games space with a balanced portfolio of third-party and own-IP. Devolver has an emphasis on premium games and has published over 120 titles, with more than 30 titles in the pipeline scheduled for release over the next three years. Devolver has in-house studios developing first-party IP titles and a complementary publishing brand.   The net proceeds of the placing will be used to further strengthen the balance sheet, providing additional flexibility for Devolver to be able to take up further opportunities as they arise over the medium term and deliver shareholder value.   Read more on the Zeus website: https://lnkd.in/eEgtk_6t   Zeus Team: Nick Cowles, Benjamin Robertson, Kieran Russell and Jake Walker.

The Zeus Team was pleased to host a fundraising day of cycling and golf to raise money for Francis House Children's Hospice.   The cyclists departed for a day of cycling, and awards were given to George Danczak for ‘Climber of the Day’ and Sam Fearon for ‘Rider of the Day’.   Forty four keen golfers took part in the golf event, and prizes were awarded as follows: - Overall Winners: Graeme Summers, Peter Simmonds, Paul Birkett and Mick Foster - Runners-Up: Jordan Warburton, Jimmy Warburton and Dave Forsey - Gold Ball Challenge: Simon Ryan, Mark Seymour-Mead, Mike Holman, James Baskeyfield   Commiserations to Dan Bate, who lost his team’s Gold Ball on the first swing of the day, immediately forfeiting their chance to win in that category!   The Fundraising event was an important opportunity to raise money for Francis House and to also raise awareness of the incredible work that they do. From their site in Didsbury, Francis House is a lifeline to more than 600 families from across Greater Manchester including Stockport, Oldham, Bury, Rochdale, Manchester, Salford and Trafford.   They provide high levels of clinical care to the families of children and young adults with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. Children, young people and family members are welcomed into a friendly, home from home environment. The support offered includes physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual care from a dedicated multi-disciplinary care team.   Many thanks to the team at Champneys Mottram Hall.

In June, the Zeus annual hike was undertaken by the Zeus Team, joined by four-legged friends, Margo and Ellie. The route was the Catbells and Hawes End Circular, Keswick in the Lake District, a 7.1km hike. We’re pleased to report that despite a couple of little slips resulting in nothing more than bruised pride, and having to dress for winter in June, a good time was had by all.   After the hike, the majority of the team convened at the Royal Oak. Much to their amusement, Emma, Graeme and Jake inadvertently visited an alternative Royal Oak a few miles away, before realising their mistake and joining the rest of the gang at the correct venue for dinner and drinks.   #TeamZeus   Zeus Team: Daniel Phillips, Oscar Stack, Chaniel M., Oliver Bolton, John Moran, Tremayne Ducker, James Edis, Victoria Foster, Emma Burn, Graeme Summers, Nick Cowles, Jake Walker and Carl Smith, CFA.

Zeus is delighted to be advising PI Industries Ltd., a $7bn Indian listed company (NSE: PIIND, BSE: 523642), on its £33 million recommended cash offer for Plant Health Care plc (PHC: AIM), drawing upon Zeus' significant expertise in executing cross border and complex M&A transactions. The offer represents a premium of 57% to Plant Health Care’s closing price on 25 June 2024, and a 95% premium to its 3-month VWAP. It is expected to close by mid- August 2024, subject to shareholder approval, and is intended to be implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement. PI Industries Ltd. is a multi-billion dollar leading agrisciences company, manufacturing and distributing a variety of Agri inputs and other fine chemicals for a customer base across Asia, the Americas, Africa and Europe. Headquartered in Mumbai, India, PI was founded in 1946 and exports to over 30 countries, operating out of four global offices. It is listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange. Zeus Team: Nick Cowles, James Edis, Louisa Waddell, Emma Burn and John Moran. Read more on the Zeus website: https://lnkd.in/ertz2F6i

Zeus is delighted to have acted as Joint Bookrunner to Petro Matad Ltd in raising £7.0million ($8.9 million) by way of an equity placing and subscription. Petro Matad, the AIM quoted Mongolian oil company, is currently prioritising the development of the Heron oil discovery in Block XX but also continues to seek new opportunities in both conventional hydrocarbon exploration and production activities, as well as in the renewable energy sector to compliment the current acreage portfolio. The net proceeds of the fundraise will primarily be used to put Heron-1 and Heron-2 into production, as well as drilling the Gobi-Bear 1 exploration well and developing renewable energy projects. Members of the Zeus team included: Simon Johnson (Corporate Broking), Louisa Waddell and Alexandra Campbell-Harris (Investment Banking) and Daniel Slater, CFA (Research). View on the Zeus website: https://lnkd.in/eNVU5Aen

What's your favourite podcast? Zeus' A Different Perspective with Nick Searle? ;) Very kind words from this week's guest Magnus Houston and taking the time to tells us about his extraordinary career. Listen and subscribe https://lnkd.in/dytYtxCp https://lnkd.in/d5pey9K3

Zeus’ Research team continues to increase coverage with eight recent initiations across six sectors. - Corero Network Services - NCC Group - Litigation Capital Management - Foxtons Group - Public Policy Holding Company - i3 Energy - Orcadian Energy - Topps Group   Read the research on the Zeus Research Portal: https://lnkd.in/eUYYp6vc Zeus Analysts: Bob Liao, CFA, Robin Savage, Carl Smith, CFA, Daniel Slater, CFA and Andy Hanson.

Zeus acted as Nominated Adviser and Joint Bookrunner to Strix Group plc in raising £8.7 million by way of an equity placing   Strix Group plc, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of kettle safety controls and other components and devices involving water heating and temperature control, steam management and water filtration.   Members of the Zeus team included: Nick Cowles, Jordan Warburton, Louisa Waddell and John Moran (Investment Banking); Dominic King (Corporate Broking).   Read more on the Zeus website: https://lnkd.in/eTCpryUH

Zeus is delighted to have acted as Nominated Adviser, Broker and Bookrunner to SysGroup plc, to raise c.£11.0 million by way of an oversubscribed equity placing and subscription, together with a retail offer to raise up to a further £0.5 million.   SysGroup plc is a technology partner specialising in the delivery and management of cloud, data and security services to power Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning transformation. The Group offers an integrated set of modern technologies that collectively meets customers’ end-to-end data needs including connectivity, cloud hosting, delivery, analytics and governance of customer data, as well as a security layer for users and applications.   Net proceeds of the proposed Fundraise will be used to fund an internal transformation project, strengthen the balance sheet and provide liquidity for future M&A opportunities.   Zeus Team: Jordan Warburton, Nick Cowles, Alexandra Campbell-Harris, Emma Burn, Oscar Stack (Investment Banking); Nick Searle (Equity Sales); and Bob Liao, CFA and Carl Smith, CFA (Research).   View on the Zeus website: https://lnkd.in/eH-K44dH