5 March 2024
Investment Evolution Credit
plc
("IEC",
the "Company" or the Group)
IEC Proposed Expansion into
Spain Utilising AI Lending Technology & Related Party
Transaction
Investment Evolution Credit plc
(AQSE: IEC) - 5 March 2024: IEC, a global fintech group
specialising in online consumer loans, is pleased to announce the
signing of an implementation agreement ("Spain Implementation
Agreement") for the establishment of a new Delaware subsidiary
company MRAL Spain Corporation ("MRAL Spain"), which will conduct
consumer credit lending operations in Spain, representing a
significant development in IEC's growth strategy and continued
expansion in the global consumer finance market.
The Spain Implementation Agreement
has been entered into between the Company, IEC's wholly owned
United States subsidiary Investment Evolution Corporation ("IEC
US"), and a Spanish company Investment Evolution Credit SA ("Spain
Co"), which is not part of the Group. Pursuant to the terms of the
Spain Implementation Agreement, IEC will vend in the rights for
MRAL Spain to use the 'Mr. Amazing Loans' brand and Spain Co will
vend in its artificial intelligence lending platform technology in
exchange ("the Transaction") for 51 per cent and 49 per cent of
MRAL Spain respectively. The result of this will allow the
Company to launch consumer lending in the Spanish market via the
newly formed entity, MRAL Spain. Sam Prasad and Paul Mathieson,
directors of the Company, are shareholders in Spain Co.
Spain Implementation Agreement Highlights:
Establishment of MRAL
Spain:
MRAL Spain will be established as a
Delaware corporation in the United States with the primary
objective of launching consumer lending operations in Spain,
utilising the advanced lending platform, systems, expertise and of
IEC, IEC US and partners under the Spain Implementation
Agreement.
Enhanced Automation,
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Software/Systems:
Spain Co has agreed to assign
certain proprietary rights including its consumer lending platform
technologies and systems to MRAL Spain, enabling an accelerated
timeline of MRAL Spain to launch consumer lending in the Spanish
market. The proprietary rights include Spain Co's consumer lending
platform including its proprietary enhanced automation, artificial
intelligence and machine learning software and systems in consumer
loan underwriting, its business relationships, know-how and access
to and use of its members of staff.
Licensing of Brand and
Technology:
IEC US will grant MRAL Spain
non-exclusive, recurring rights to use the "Mr. Amazing Loans" logo
and brand in Spain and its consumer lending systems, business
relationships, know-how and access to and use if its members of
staff to enhance the branding, operational capabilities and
scalability of MRAL Spain.
Strategic
Alignment:
The expansion of the Company's
business into Spain aligns with IEC's strategy to continue to
expand operations in the consumer finance industry globally through
acquisitions and strategic partnerships, aiming to deliver
sustained growth and value to IEC shareholders.
Paul Mathieson, Chief Executive Officer of Investment
Evolution Credit plc, stated
"We are excited to announce IEC's proposed expansion into the
Spanish consumer finance market, representing a significant growth
opportunity for IEC and highlighting our commitment to providing
innovative consumer finance solutions globally. We are confident
this expansion will generate shareholder value and strengthen IEC's
position as a global leader in consumer finance."
Related Party Transaction
Sam Prasad, Chief Financial Officer
of IEC, is the sole director and 12.1% beneficial shareholder of
Spain Co and Paul Mathieson, CEO of IEC, is a 26.4% beneficial
shareholder of Spain Co. The Transaction constitutes a related
party transaction for the purposes of Rule 4.6 of the AQSE Growth
Market Access Rulebook.
The directors of IEC independent of
the Transaction, being Neil Patrick and Glendys Aguilera, confirm
that, having exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence, the
related party transaction is fair and reasonable insofar as the
shareholders of IEC are concerned.
IEC is an experienced regulated
licensed lender under the corporate entity Investment Evolution
Corporation and consumer brand Mr. Amazing Loans in the United
States with state consumer lending licenses in the 6 states of
California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada and New Jersey and
an established track-record of regulatory compliance for over 13
years. IEC plans to expand its United States lending model to the
United Kingdom market in due course by providing £2,000 to £10,000
online personal loans with fixed affordable repayments,
subject to the receipt of all necessary
authorisations and permits.
This announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and
the Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents
of this announcement.
Enquiries:
Investment Evolution Credit plc
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Paul Mathieson
Chairman & CEO
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iec@investmentevolution.com
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Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (IEC AQSE Corporate
Adviser)
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Ludovico Lazzaretti
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+44 (0) 20 7213 0880
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Jo Turner
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Axis Capital Markets Limited (IEC Corporate
Broker)
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Ben Tadd
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+44 (0) 20
3026 0449
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Lewis Jones
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For
more information please visit: www.investmentevolution.com/investors