20 December
2022
Quantum Blockchain Technologies
Plc
(“QBT” or “the Company”)
Grant of Options,
PDMR Dealings and Extension of Consultancy Agreement
The board of Quantum Blockchain Technologies (AIM: QBT) is
pleased to inform shareholders that the Company has entered into a
number of additional consultancy agreements with industry experts
who are now part of the Company’s research and development
(“R&D”) team.
The Company has granted 37,500,000 options (the "Options") to
certain consultants, members of the R&D team and in house
staff, over new ordinary shares of 0.25
pence each in the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) as
follows:
- Options over 25,000,000 Ordinary Shares exercisable at
5 pence per new Ordinary Share which
are all immediately exercisable.
| Options Granted |
Exercise Period Ends |
| 7,500,000 |
31/03/2023 |
5,000,000
5,000,000
5,000,000
2,500,000 |
22/05/2025
15/12/2024
06/06/2023
28/02/2023 |
- Options over 12,500,000 Ordinary Shares exercisable at
10 pence per new Ordinary Share with
exercise periods as shown below
| Options Granted |
Exercise Period Ends |
5,000,000
5,000,000
2,500,000 |
30/06/2023
22/05/2025
15/12/2024 |
Included in the above totals are:
5,000,000 Options issued to the Company’s Non-Executive Director
Mr Peter Fuhrman, (as anticipated in
the 12 September 2022 announcement),
as follows:
- 2,500,000 exercisable at 5 pence
at any time up to 15/12/2024,
- 2,500,000 exercisable at 10 pence
at any time up to 15/12/2024,
2,500,000 Options issued to Mr Mark
Trafeli, the newly appointed Non-Executive Director, as
follows:
- 2,500,000 exercisable at 5 pence
at any time up to 15/12/2024,
10,000,000 Options issued to the Company’s cryptography expert
specialising in cryptocurrency mining blockchain optimisations,
whose 10,000,000 Options (initially announced on 2 June 2021) expired in June 2022, and whose contract has been extended,
as follows:
- 5,000,000 Options exercisable at 5
pence at any time up to 22/05/2025,
- 5,000,000 Options exercisable at 10
pence between 06/05/2023 to
22/05/2025.
The Company now has outstanding Options exercisable at
5 pence over 137,500,000 Ordinary
Shares and Options exercisable at 10
pence over 127,500,000 Ordinary Shares. Options expire
between 2023 and 2026.
The number of Options still available to be issued (as duly
authorised at the General Meeting held on 6
May 2022) is 35,000,000.
Francesco Gardin, CEO and
Chairman of QBT, commented: “Our option-based reward policy,
applied to all non-University key members of the R&D team is
now in place. While we have awarded new options to those
consultants who were engaged this year by the Company, we have also
extended the terms for some of the options which have previously
been allocated, while increasing the exercise price of part of
them.
“The R&D team is very
focused on its highly demanding challenge of improving the core
SHA-256 performance, which the Bitcoin industry has been trying to
address for the last ten years. Awarding options to the key
researchers of our R&D team is not a further motivational
element, but the acknowledgment of their contribution and the
sharing of the large potential rewards.”
For further information please
contact:
Quantum Blockchain Technologies Plc
Francesco Gardin, CEO and Executive
Chairman +39 335 296573
SP Angel Corporate Finance (Nominated Adviser &
Broker)
Jeff Keating +44 (0)20 3470 0470
Kasia Brzozowska
Leander (Financial PR)
Christian Taylor-Wilkinson +44 (0) 7795 168 157
About Quantum Blockchain Technologies
Plc
QBT (AIM: QBT) is an AIM listed investment company which has
recently realigned its strategic focus to technology related
investments, with special regard to Quantum computing, Blockchain,
Cryptocurrencies and AI sectors. The Company has commenced an
aggressive R&D and investment programme in the dynamic world of
Blockchain Technology, which includes cryptocurrency mining and
other advanced blockchain applications.
NOTIFICATION AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF
TRANSACTIONS BY PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND
PERSONS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM:
| 1. |
Details of the person discharging
managerial responsibilities/person closely associated |
| a) |
Name: |
A: Peter Fuhrman
B: Mark Trafeli |
| 2. |
Reason for the
notification |
| a) |
Position/status: |
A: Non-Executive Director
B: Non-Executive Director |
| b) |
Initial notification/Amendment: |
Initial notification |
| 3. |
Details of the issuer, emission
allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or
auction monitor |
| a) |
Name: |
Quantum Blockchain Technologies Plc |
| b) |
LEI: |
213800FC5DEC582CRZ89 |
| 4. |
Details of the transaction(s):
section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each
type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where
transactions have been conducted. |
| a) |
Description of the financial instrument, type
of instrument:
Identification code: |
Ordinary shares of 0.25p each or rights to
these
ISIN: GB00B50P5B53 |
| b) |
Nature of the transaction: |
Grant of Options over Ordinary Shares |
| c) |
Price(s) and volume(s): |
A:
| Price(s) |
Volume(s) |
5p
10p
B: |
2,500,000
2,500,000 |
| Price(s) |
Volume(s) |
| 5p |
2,500,000 |
|
|
|
| d) |
Aggregated information:
Aggregated volume:
Price: |
7,500,000
| Price(s) |
Volume(s) |
5p
10p |
5,000,000
2,500,000 |
|
| e) |
Date of the transaction: |
13 December 2022 |
| f) |
Place of the transaction: |
Outside of a trading venue |