A Potential Aggregate of US$5,400,000 of Capital Funding
DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Equity International, Inc. (OTCQB: GEQU) and its fully-owned foreign subsidiaries, a specialist consultancy firm with offices located in Dubai and London, would like to announce that on Friday, January 12, 2018, management filed a Form 8-k with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Form 8-k filed formally disclosed a recently executed Funding Agreement with Xantis Private Equity and also a novated Funding Agreement with William Marshal Plc.
Xantis Private Equity Funding Agreement: On January 11, 2018, the Company entered into a legally binding funding agreement with Xantis S.A., a company incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg that is the legally appointed fund management company of Xantis Private Equity, a sub-fund of Xantis Investments Securitisation Fund, pursuant to which the Xantis Private Equity, through its management company, agreed to lend Global Equity International Inc. a minimum of £2,000,000 (approximately US$2.7 million). The parties agreed that loan would be funded in one or more tranches commencing within the month of January 2018. It was further agreed that each tranche of funding would be evidenced by a Convertible Note, bearing interest at 6% per annum and this interest on the Convertible Notes would be payable semi-annually. In accordance to the agreement, the Convertible Notes will mature on the 366th day following issuance. The principal and any accrued, but unpaid, interest outstanding on the Maturity Date shall be mandatorily converted into shares of our Common Stock. The conversion price under the Convertible Notes shall be equal to the greater of US$0.02 or the average closing price of Borrower’s Common Stock on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board for the prior 60 trading days (subject to equitable adjustments for stock splits and similar events). On Friday, January 12, 2018, Xantis Private Equity through their management company wired an initial tranche of funding amounting to £296,000 or US$400,000.
William Marshal Plc. Novated Funding Agreement: On November 20, 2017, the Company announced that it had entered in a funding agreement with William Marshal Plc., a United Kingdom Public Limited Company listed on the Cyprus Public Exchange Emerging Companies Market. The terms of this agreement were identical to the terms of the recently agreed Xantis Private Equity Funding Agreement. On January 11, 2018, the Company and William Marshal Plc. mutually agreed to novate the previous agreement changing the minimum £2,000,000 (approximately US$2.7 million) of funding to a maximum of £2,000,000. This new agreement was to supersede entirely the November 20, 2017 agreement. Each tranche funded will also be evidenced by a Convertible Note. The loan will carry a 6% coupon and will convert on a mandatory basis 366 days from the date that each tranche is funded. The conversion terms are also identical to that of the Xantis Private Equity Funding Agreement, the greater of US$0.02 or the average closing price of Borrower’s Common Stock on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board for the prior 60 trading days (subject to equitable adjustments for stock splits and similar events).
These two Funding Agreements are a major milestone in the development for Global Equity International Inc. allowing the Company to properly implement its business plan, growth by acquisition, and know that firm commitments can be made in the coming days, weeks and months.
The Capital Funding received will mainly be deployed for inorganic growth via acquisitions of various advisory firms with funds under management, reduction of indebtedness and general working capital purposes.
Over the last 12 months, management has identified various Advisory Firms with Funds Under management, in the United Kingdom and also South East Asia, managing circa US$180,000,000 of Funds.
In June of 2017, management executed letters of intent to acquire two advisory firms with circa US$90,000,000 under management and in excess of 700 clients. The first being a financial advisory firm fully licenced by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with approximately US$51,000,000 of funds under management. The second company is an Isle of Man based “Discretionary Fund Management Group” with approximately US$39,000,000 of funds under management.
On October 25, 2017, management executed a letter of intent to acquire two Asian based financial advisory firms with approximately US$90,000,000 of funds under management. These two advisory firms have a client base into the thousands, a small but highly effective distribution force, 20 more staff and a true regulatory diversification with a second footing in the ever expanding Asian markets.
All four of these targeted acquisitions have been in business for many years, are cash flow positive and profitable and have a firm stronghold position within the financial services sector.
Link to SEC 8-k filing: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1533106/000149315218000473/form8-k.htm
Peter Smith, CEO of Global Equity International Inc., said: “We started the research for the acquisitions in June 2016 and had identified 9 key targets by February 2017. We executed letters of intent with 4 of those targets mid to late last year and have finally put the last piece of the jigsaw together with the funding commitments from Xantis Private Equity and William Marshal Plc. last week. As I have stated in prior press releases, this financial services division is tremendously significant to our ongoing growth. Whilst the initial acquisitions offer good revenues and profits, the hidden values can be much more significant to our Company by having multi-licensed distribution teams in different regions around the globe. We will now step up the research on the next wave of acquisitions with licensed targets again in the UK and South East Asia where we intend to become “the go to Company” for retail financial management. We grew a business similar to this previously, but that was very much a one dimensional company in financial services only; if we could have added into that business a recruitment arm to supply qualified manpower and a capital markets arm to find attractive emerging companies and assist with funding them, we would have had the perfect financial offering. That is exactly what we are building now.”
Enzo Taddei, CFO of Global Equity International Inc., said: “A lot has happened in the last couple of months. In December of 2017, we incorporated a United Kingdom based subsidiary called Argentum 47 Financial Management Limited; this company is fully owned by Global Equity International Inc. and will be the vehicle that acquires the targeted advisory firms with funds under management. Also in December of 2017, we also managed to put a stop to any further material dilution of our stock by agreeing a payment plan, with a Noteholder, on the balance of our convertible debt and we are now in a position to honor the payment plan, in a timely manner, as agreed. Today, we find ourselves with a defined road map to follow: soon we will enter into a legally binding agreement with the owners of each targeted acquisitions and then commence the process of getting all of these targeted acquisitions audited, as the closing of these acquisitions will be very much subject to a successful audit. Seeing as time is money, we have worked diligently over the last few weeks to collate all the necessary due diligence and information required in order to put together a comprehensive audit package for the auditors. Whilst we were in London in December, we interviewed various knowledgeable and experienced people in the financial services sector as we will soon need to start to add to our team as we implement our growth model. It has been difficult getting to the point that the Company is at today but looking back, I believe that the sacrifice has been more than worth it. We have a lot of work ahead of us, especially now that we have the required funding contractually agreed and the first tranche from Xantis sent to our bank.”
About Global Equity International Inc. and Subsidiaries.
Global Equity International Inc., through its wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries, advises worldwide business leaders with their most critical decisions and opportunities pertaining to growth, capital needs, structure and the development of a global presence. With offices in Dubai and London, Global Equity has developed significant relationships in the US, UK, Central Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia to assist clients in realizing their full value and potential by bringing them to external capital and resources that place an emphasis on collaborative thinking. Furthermore, because Global Equity has offices in key financial centers of the world, they are able to introduce their clients to a unique opportunity of listing their shares on any one of the many stock exchanges worldwide.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to anticipated revenues, expenses, earnings, operating cash flows, the outlook for markets and the demand for products. Forward-looking statements are no guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon, among other things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management, including management’s own knowledge and assessment of the Company’s industry and competition. The Company refers interested persons to its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other SEC filings for a description of additional uncertainties and factors, which may affect forward-looking statements. The company assumes no duty to update its forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Mr. Peter James Smith Director and officer of Global Equity International Inc. Tel. + (971) 42 767 576 Mr. Enzo Taddei Director and officer of Global Equity International Inc. Tel. + (1) 321 200 0142 Web : www.globalquityinternational.com Email: ir@globalequityinternational.com