OPTI Optibiotix Health Plc

OptiBiotix Health plc

("OptiBiotix" or the "Company")

Placing, Subscription and Director Dealing

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and skincare, announces it has raised in aggregate £1,350,500 through the issue of 6,752,500 new ordinary shares of 2 pence each in the Company ("Fundraise Shares") at a price of 20 pence per share ("Issue Price") (together, the "Fundraise") handled by Peterhouse Capital Limited.

The Fundraise comprises a placing of 6,627,500 new ordinary shares at the Issue Price, raising gross proceeds of £1,325,500 (the "Placing") and a subscription for 125,000 new ordinary shares at the Issue Price, raising gross proceeds of £25,000, by Graham Myers, a director of the Company (the "Subscription").

Following the Subscription, Graham Myers will be interested in 125,000 ordinary shares in the Company, representing 0.13 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital following Admission (as defined below).

The net proceeds of the Fundraise will be utilised to invest in driving sales growth by:-

1.   active account management of existing partners by co-investing in publicity, marketing, and promotions to increase sales;

2.   increased presence of the Company's stands at major exhibitions to attract new partners, particularly in the USA and India to mitigate dependency on a small number of partners;

3.   investing in marketing the Company's products to grow sales on e-commerce platforms in India, China, USA, Europe, and the Gulf States; and

4.    launch its second generation SweetBiotix and MicroBiome Modulator products.

Related Party Transaction

The participation of Graham Myers in the Subscription is a related party transaction pursuant to AIM Rule 13 (the "Transaction").  The directors independent of the Transaction, having consulted with the Company's nominated adviser, believe that the terms of the Transaction are fair and reasonable insofar as shareholders are concerned.

Admission

Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange to admit the 6,752,500 new Fundraise Shares to trading on AIM ("Admission"). Admission of the new Ordinary Shares is expected to occur on or around 28 March 2024. The new Ordinary Shares will rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares.

Total Voting Rights

For the purpose of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, following the issue of shares detailed above the enlarged issued share capital of the Company will comprise 97,943,161 ordinary shares of 2p each. The above figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company, under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

Stephen O'Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix, commented: "The Company has made strong progress over the last 12 months with our first-generation products returning to sales growth, a number of well-known corporate partners reaching agreements (e.g. Tata, Brenntag, Morepen) and the launch of new products with major brands (MuscleTech, Dr Morepen) in new channels. We are also seeing growth of online sales, particularly in China, and the potential to replicate this success in other territories, such as India and the USA.

"More recently we have seen strong interest in SlimBiome from partners in the USA looking for a natural, clinically proven alternative to the anti-obesity drugs currently available. Given the scale of the opportunities, the Board has decided to raise additional capital to capitalise on these growth opportunities and build shareholder value."

This announcement contains information which, prior to its disclosure, was considered inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the Directors of the Company are responsible for the release of this announcement.

For further information, please contact:

About OptiBiotix - www.optibiotix.com

OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), which was formed in March 2012, brings science to the development of compounds which modify the human microbiome - the collective genome of the microbes in the body - in order to prevent and manage human disease and promote wellness.

OptiBiotix has an extensive R&D programme working with leading academics in the development of microbial strains, compounds, and formulations which are used as active ingredients and supplements. More than twenty international food and healthcare supplement companies have signed agreements with OptiBiotix to incorporate their human microbiome modulators into a wide range of food products and drinks.

OptiBiotix is also developing its own range of consumer supplements and health products. The Company's current areas of focus include obesity, cardiovascular health, and diabetes. 

Caution regarding forward looking statements

Certain statements in this announcement, are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''believe'', ''could'', "should" ''envisage'', ''estimate'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''plan'', ''potentially'', "expect", ''will'' or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including references to assumptions.  These forward looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Such forward looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.