Grant of LTIP Awards and PDMR Dealings

Equals Group PLC

06 November 2023

 

For immediate release

6 November 2023

Equals Group plc

('Equals', the 'Group' or the 'Company')

Grant of LTIP Awards and PDMR Dealings

Equals Group plc (AIM:EQLS), the fast-growing payments group focused on the SME marketplace, announces awards over 2,600,000 ordinary shares of £0.01 each were made under its Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan ('LTIP'). Equals also announces that further awards under its Share Incentive Plan ('SIP') will be made to eligible staff in respect of a maximum of 300,000 ordinary shares in total, and announced to staff on 6 November 2023, subject to a 25 day opt-out period giving a grant date of 4 December 2023.

Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan ('LTIP')

In common with many businesses, the Group faces continued challenges to not only recruit but also retain high-quality talent across all its operations. Accordingly, the further following awards are being made under the LTIP, providing certain performance conditions are achieved, as announced previously in October 2021. Grants were also made on 18 October 2021 and 14 December 2022.

The awards vest on the third anniversary of the grant, subject to the satisfaction of the pre-determined performance conditions and such vested shares will be subject to a two-year holding period thereafter. The exact award level will be determined on a sliding scale dependent on performance relative to CAGR targets for revenue and EPS, KPI's for customer quality and ESG and a minimum share price threshold of 85.6 pence.  Participants who leave employment before vesting will lose their award, subject to certain limited 'good leaver' conditions.

Set out below is a table of grants under the LTIP to certain Directors and persons discharging managerial responsibilities ('PDMRs'). Other senior managers (who are not PDMRs) have also been awarded in aggregate 890,000 ordinary shares under the LTIP.

PERSON	JOB TITLE	NUMBER OF SHARES UNDER AWARDS
Ian Strafford-Taylor	Chief Executive Officer	550,000
Richard Cooper	Chief Financial Officer	300,000
Jack Bryant	Director - Operations	30,000
Matthijs Boon	Chief Operations Officer	120,000
Simon England	Chief Infrastructure Officer	70,000
Shona Kerfoot	Chief People Officer	100,000
Darren Kilner	Director - Dealing	70,000
Thomas Kiddle	Chief Commercial Officer	110,000
Stephen Paul	Deputy CFO	100,000
Andrew Phillips	Chief Technology Officer	110,000
James Simcox	Chief Product Officer	150,000

For more information, please contact:

Equals Group plc
Ian Strafford-Taylor, CEO Richard Cooper, CFO	Tel: [phone] www.equalsplc.com
Canaccord Genuity (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker)
Max Hartley / Harry Rees	Tel: [phone]
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker)
Paul Shackleton / John Welch	Tel: [phone]

Notes to Editors:

Equals Group is a technology-led international payments group augmented by highly personalised service for the payment needs of SME's whether these be FX, card payments or via Faster Payments. Founded in 2007, the Group listed on AIM in 2014 and currently employs around 380 staff across sites in London, Chester, Brussels and Amsterdam.  For more information, please visit www.equalsplc.com.

ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL DISCLOSURES

The following disclosure are made in accordance with Article 19 of the EU Market Abuse Regulations 596/2014:

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Ian Strafford-Taylor
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief Executive Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	550,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	550,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Richard Cooper
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief Financial Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	300,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	300,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Andrew Phillips
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief Technology Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	110,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	110,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Matthijs Boon
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief Operating Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	120,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	120,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Simon England
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief Infrastructure Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	70,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	70,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	James Simcox
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief Product Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	150,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	150,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Jack Bryant
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Director - Operations
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	30,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	30,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Stephen Paul
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Deputy CFO
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	100,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	100,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Thomas Kiddle
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief Commercial Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	110,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	110,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Darren Kilner
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Director - Dealing
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	70,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	70,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

1	Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated
a)	Name	Shona Kerfoot
2	Reason for the notification
a)	Position/status	Chief People Officer
b)	Initial notification /Amendment	Initial notification
3	Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
a)	Name	Equals Group plc
b)	LEI	213800CPI5S2GYB3RI27
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	Options over Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each Issue of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each ISIN: GB00BLS0XX25
b)	Nature of the transaction	Award of shares under 2021 Discretionary Incentive Plan
c)	Price(s) and volume(s)	100,000 options over Ordinary Shares at nil pence (being the LTIP grant)
d)	Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price	100,000 Nil
e)	Date of the transaction	3 November 2023
f)	Place of the transaction	Outside a trading venue

 

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