TIDMMERC

RNS Number : 7709W

Mercia Technologies PLC

17 November 2017

 
 RNS              17 November 2017

Mercia Technologies PLC

("Mercia" or the "Group")

New Direct Investment in GBP5.0million syndicated round

Mercia Technologies PLC (AIM: MERC), the national investment group focused on the funding and scaling of innovative technology businesses with high growth potential from the UK regions, is pleased to announce a new direct investment into Aston EyeTech Limited ("Aston EyeTech"), a spinout from Aston University, Birmingham, which has developed a range of proprietary hardware and software products in ocular care.

Mercia's investment of GBP1.8million gives the Group a direct equity stake of 19.4% and is part of a GBP5.0million Series A funding round, alongside an Asian-based investment syndicate. The funding will be used to accelerate product development and launch Aston EyeTech's latest state-of-the-art product range.

The Birmingham-based company is a spinout from the UK's top ranked School of Optometry at Aston University, one of Mercia's 19 university partners. Aston EyeTech is already revenue generating and aims to disrupt the optometry industry by combining high quality portable and digital eye tests with artificial intelligence driven software platforms. As with Mercia's other direct investments, Aston EyeTech has been supported within Mercia's managed funds portfolio through seed and its early stages of development before now becoming a new direct investment Emerging Star.

Carl Francis, CEO of Aston EyeTech, said: "With our cutting-edge technology, skilled team and supportive shareholders, Aston EyeTech has all the ingredients needed to disrupt the $200.0billion global eye health care industry. It is personally gratifying to see high quality investors, such as Mercia and our new Asian partners, attracted to this significant opportunity."

Peter Dines, Head of Life Sciences & Biosciences at Mercia Technologies PLC, said: "Having worked closely with the Aston EyeTech over the past three years, initially investing at seed stage from our managed funds and providing commercial and strategic guidance as a Board member, we have seen the business grow rapidly with an impressive team of talented individuals. We are pleased to continue to support the business as it joins our direct investment portfolio. This is another example of the high quality businesses that Mercia's team has sourced both regionally and via our university partners. We firmly believe that Aston EyeTech has significant potential to disrupt a large and growing global market."

For further information, please contact:

 
Mercia Technologies PLC 
 Mark Payton, Chief Executive Officer 
 Martin Glanfield, Chief Financial Officer 
 www.merciatech.co.uk                                         +44 (0)330 223 1430 
Cenkos Securities plc 
 Stephen Keys, Camilla Hume (NOMAD and Joint Broker)          +44 (0)20 7397 8900 
Canaccord Genuity Limited                                     +44 (0)20 7523 8000 
Simon Bridges, Emma Gabriel (Joint Broker) 
 
  Buchanan 
  Bobby Morse, Victoria Hayns, Chris Lane, Stephanie Watson 
  www.buchanan.uk.com                                           +44 (0)20 7466 5000

About Mercia Technologies PLC

Mercia is a national investment group focused on the funding and scaling of innovative technology businesses with high growth potential from the UK regions. Mercia benefits from 19 university partnerships and offices across the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland providing it with access to high quality, regional deal flow. Mercia Technologies PLC is quoted on AIM with the epic "MERC".

Mercia's 'Complete Capital Solution' initially nurtures businesses via its third party funds (now with circa GBP336.5million under management following recent mandate wins) and then over time Mercia can provide further funding to its Emerging Stars by deploying direct investment follow-on capital from its own balance sheet. Since its IPO in December 2014, Mercia has invested over GBP41.0million directly across its portfolio of 'Emerging Stars'.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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