The information contained in this announcement is restricted and is not for publication, release or distribution in the United States of America, any member state of the European Economic Area, Canada, Australia, Japan or the Republic of South Africa.

5 August 2022

Literacy Capital plc ("Literacy Capital" or the "Company")

Literacy Capital completes acquisition of Ashleigh & Burwood

New investment

Literacy Capital is pleased to announce that on 1 August 2022 it completed its acquisition of Ashleigh & Burwood, a leading independent UK-based home fragrance manufacturer.

Literacy Capital has acquired a majority stake, with further financial terms remaining undisclosed.

Literacy Capital completes acquisition of Ashleigh & Burwood

Literacy Capital has completed its acquisition of Ashleigh & Burwood, a leading independent UK-based fragrance products manufacturer.

Founded in 1993 by father and son, John and Andrew Nettleton, Ashleigh & Burwood is named after two nearby aristocratic estates, Ashley Park and Burwood Park. From its base in West Molesey, Surrey, the business designs and manufactures both branded and white-label fragrance products including candles, room sprays, and reed diffusers, predominantly for the home. Around 40% of sales are international, with a strong and growing presence in Europe, the U.S., and Japan.

Tony Buffin joins the business at completion as Non-Executive Chairman. He brings a wealth of consumer industry experience having successfully led Holland & Barrett as CEO and previously serving as CFO at Travis Perkins and Coles Group in Australia. In addition, Jed Kenrick will join the company as Chief Operating Officer. He will help to scale-up operations; he previously served in similar roles at Dyson and Travis Perkins.

The investment allows Literacy Capital to help to build on the impressive growth to date, broadening brand awareness with an increased focus on sales and marketing and an opportunity to scale further via bolt-on acquisitions.  

The transaction represents Literacy Capital's twentieth platform investment completed since the inception of the fund in September 2017, its fourth since the fund was listed on the London Stock Exchange in June 2021 and second of this calendar year. Literacy Capital has also supported its portfolio companies in completing five bolt-on acquisitions this calendar year.

Enquiries

Singer Capital Markets Securities Limited:

Robert Peel / Amanda Gray

+44 (0) 20 7496 3000

Literacy Capital plc / Literacy Capital Asset Management LLP:

Tom Vernon

+44 (0) 20 3960 0280

LEI: 2549006P3DFN5HLFGR54

A copy of this announcement will be available on the Company's website at https://www.literacycapital.com/.

The information contained in this announcement regarding the Company's investments has been provided by the relevant underlying portfolio company and has not been independently verified by the Company.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not an offer to invest. All investments are subject to risk.  Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.  Prospective investors are advised to seek expert legal, financial, tax and other professional advice before making any investment decision.  The value of investments may fluctuate.  Results achieved in the past are no guarantee of future results. Neither the content of the Company's website, nor the content on any website accessible from hyperlinks on its website for any other website, is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement nor, unless previously published by means of a recognised information service, should any such content be relied upon in reaching a decision as to whether or not to acquire, continue to hold, or dispose of, securities in the Company.

This announcement may include "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to the Company's products and services) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and accordingly the Company's actual future financial results and operational performance may differ materially from the results and performance expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These factors include but are not limited to those described in the formal Prospectus. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results or any change in the assumptions, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based unless required to do so by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the Listing Rules or Prospectus Regulation Rules made under Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the Financial Conduct Authority or other applicable laws, regulations or rules.