(Alliance News) - Medicinal cannabis firm MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd has started life in London on Tuesday, after raising GBP6.5 million from an oversubscribed placement of 442 million shares at 1.475 pence each.
MGC was trading at 2.385p in London on Tuesday morning.
The firm - which noted it is the first London-listed medicinal cannabis company - raised its IPO funds from UK institutional funds, high net worth family office and professional investor clients of Turner Pope Investments.
MGC is already listed in Australia and is a Europe-based biopharmaceutical company specialising in the production and development of phytocannabinoid-derived medicines.
Part of the proceeds from the capital raise will go towards meeting the costs for the clinical trials of CannEpil, a potential oral treatment for epilepsy, as well as increasing distribution of its product range, general working capital and the completion of the its manufacturing facilities in Malta.
In financial 2021, MGC generated revenue of AUD2.1 million, about USD1.6 million, which it noted was "major revenue growth" from the year before it said has seen a "continuing upwards trend" in financial 2021.
Chief Executive & Managing Director Roby Zomer said: "Today's listing is a hugely significant moment for MGC Pharma, our admission to LSE follows the successful IPO capital raising of GBP6.5 million which will be used to immediately commence the priority clinical research trials of our leading products, expand our distribution network into key sales markets, as well as advance the construction of our manufacturing facilities in Malta.
"We are proud to make history as the first medical cannabis company on this historic Exchange. I would like to thank the MGC Pharma team and the advisors for all their hard work to make this happen. We look forward to updating our new and existing shareholders as we progress this programme."
Cannabinoids products firm Cellular Goods PLC last Thursday became the second company in the cannabis sector to announce a London IPO.
Cellular Goods said it will be the first LSE-listed 'pure-play' consumer cannabinoid brands company. Its CBD products are focused on skincare and athletic recovery.
The company, which said it is eyeing a listing in Spring, plans to raise GBP8 million in its initial public offering.
By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com
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