Valereum Plc is pleased to announce that it has received consent from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (“GFSC”) to complete the acquisition of the Gibraltar Stock Exchange (“GSX”).
This is subject only to conventional conditions pertaining to regulatory and working capital as required.
This will create the foundation of a new international network headquartered in Gibraltar. The future focus of the GSX will be to expand the access to European capital for early stage and small-cap companies in the Middle East, India and Africa where there is a huge opportunity to empower entrepreneurs across the region. There is a significant gap in the available small cap markets where we will provide solutions building from the ecosystem of accelerators and incubators through a full suite of private and public markets. This will provide a new transnational access to capital.
In addition Valereum will be launching its NFT strategy in the first quarter of next year linking real world assets via NFT ownership.
Full details of Valereum’s strategy will be announced as the changes occur.
In addition Valereum is delighted to announce that its candidates for the new board of the GSX have all been approved by the GFSC.
These appointments will officially take place with the completion of the change of control process.
Chairman: Richard Poulden, the Chairman of Valereum Plc.
Executive Director: Patrick L Young
Chief Financial Officer: Jack Sun
Non-Executive Directors:
Simon Brickles
James Lasry
The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.
Chairman Richard Poulden noted:
“We are delighted to have received this news from the GFSC and look forward to completing the acquisition of the GSX. It is auspicious to be announcing this on the day of the Gibraltar Financial Services Lunch in London.
We have ambitious plans for the GSX and for Valereum linking the fiat and digital worlds. All our expansion plans will be fully regulated in the environments in which we plan to operate.
The GSX will harness proven exchange technology from established providers and will be updated with full front to back trading and clearing functionality on a significant scale and expandability.
Just as The Rock of Gibraltar has been a physical port for centuries, GSX will encourage a new generation of companies and assets to see Gibraltar as a virtual node in financial trade. In time we will seek an international listing for the Valereum group as we see this as a compelling investment proposition.
We have created an excellent board to move the exchange forward and I am particularly pleased that Simon Brickles will remain as a Non-Executive Board member providing counsel from his extensive knowledge of exchanges and as the founding Father of the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”).
Equally our robust governance structure includes James Lasry, a Partner at Hassans International Law Firm Limited where he is Head of Funds and Deputy Head of Financial Services. James has been a stalwart at the epicenter of Gibraltar’s financial centre development particularly in the funds segment.
Patrick L Young has been invaluable to Valereum already in helping plan our strategy and he brings a wealth of knowledge and forward thinking to the business of exchanges.”
Management Backgrounds:
Richard Poulden read law at Oxford and then qualified as a Barrister. He moved into merchant banking where he worked for Samuel Montagu & Co. Following an MBA at the London Business School and an exchange program with Harvard Business School, he joined the international management consultancy firm, Arthur D Little, where he worked in their European strategy practice. He was also co-founder of its Financial Industries Group. He served in the UK Leadership Team of Electronic Data Systems. He has founded or co-founded successful companies in technology, healthcare, retail and natural resources. In addition to Valereum Mr Poulden is Chairman of AIM traded Wishbone Gold Plc.
Patrick L Young is a highly experienced figure in the exchange world. The former CEO of SIBEX and a non-executive director of Liquidnet Europe as well as being closely involved with industry associations in the world of exchanges and blockchain. His first book “Capital Market Revolution!” was the first bestselling book relating to fintech (FT Prentice Hall 1999) while he has been involved in the development of exchange projects across the world, including advising many of the world’s leading exchanges. Patrick publishes the Exchange Invest newsletter which is acknowledged by the world’s leading executives in market structure as “The Exchange of Information” for the bourse business.
Jack Sun is a highly experienced business and finance executive with more than 15 years global working experience where he established strong business connections, specialised in internal controls, and operational controls and systems to aid profitable growth. He has a deep knowledge of international finance and the IPO process. In addition to being a qualified accountant, Jack has degrees from the Said Business School Oxford and the Judge Business School Cambridge. Jack started his accounting profession with Aspect Enterprise Solutions Ltd in London Mayfair. His most recent role includes Group COO/CFO of Betex Group Plc and Group COO of PCG Entertainment Plc.
Simon Brickles is the Chairman of the Gibraltar Stock Exchange. He practiced as a barrister before heading up two smaller companies markets in the UK. He is a highly experienced director who has served on the boards of stock exchanges, private and publicly quoted companies. Simon was educated at Cambridge University.
James Lasry is a Partner at Hassans International Law Firm. He is Head of the Funds Team and Deputy Head of Financial Services. He has been instrumental in setting up the majority of Gibraltar’s funds, including the first experienced investor fund and the first protected cell company fund. He is Chairman of the Gibraltar Funds and Investments Association. James advised the Government of Gibraltar on its funds legislation and he was involved in the drafting of the Financial Services (Experienced Investor Funds) Regulations 2005. He is a member of the Gibraltar Finance Centre Council and a Certified Investment Fund Director. He read literature, music and law at Johns Hopkins and Bar-Ilan Universities.
The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.
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Enquiries:
Valereum Plc
Richard Poulden, Chairman
Tel: +971 4584 6284
