Plutus Financial Group Limited Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Plutus Financial Group (NasdaqCM: PLUT) has announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 2,100,000 ordinary shares at $4 per share, raising gross proceeds of $8.4 million. Trading is set to begin on Nasdaq Capital Market under 'PLUT' on February 5, 2025.

The underwriter has a 45-day option to purchase up to 315,000 additional shares. The offering is expected to close on February 6, 2025. Proceeds will fund: development of software and applications for operations, increased funding for trading facilities solutions, and expansion of customer management and wealth management teams.

R.F. Lafferty & Co. is leading the underwriting, with Revere Securities as co-underwriter. The offering is being conducted on a firm commitment basis.

Positive

• Successful IPO raising $8.4 million in gross proceeds
• Listing on Nasdaq Capital Market provides increased visibility and access to capital
• Clear allocation of proceeds for technology development and business expansion
• Firm commitment underwriting structure indicates strong institutional support

Negative

• Potential dilution from additional 315,000 shares if underwriter exercises option
• Small offering size may limit institutional investor interest
• Offering expenses and underwriting discounts will reduce net proceeds

Insights

IPO Analysis Expert

Plutus Financial Group's IPO represents a strategic yet conservative entry into the US public markets. The $8.4 million raise through 2.1 million shares at $4 per share positions this as a micro-cap offering, reflecting a deliberate small-scale approach to test public market waters.

The allocation of proceeds reveals a three-pronged growth strategy: First, the investment in proprietary software development signals a push toward technological self-sufficiency, important for reducing third-party dependencies and improving operational margins. Second, the expansion of trading facilities and margin financing capabilities suggests a focus on revenue diversification through higher-margin products. Third, the strengthening of customer management and wealth management teams indicates a strategic pivot toward higher-value services.

Several key considerations emerge for investors:

• The firm commitment underwriting structure provides more certainty compared to a best-efforts basis, though the 45-day overallotment option of 315,000 additional shares suggests measured optimism about post-IPO demand.
• The choice of Nasdaq Capital Market, typically home to smaller growth companies, aligns with the offering's scale while providing adequate liquidity and visibility.
• The timing coincides with increasing interest in Asian financial services firms tapping US markets, though market conditions remain challenging for small-cap IPOs.

The modest offering size may limit institutional investor participation, potentially leading to higher volatility but also offering opportunity for price discovery in the early trading days. The focus on technology investment and service expansion suggests a scalable growth model, though execution risks remain given the competitive landscape in Hong Kong's financial services sector.

Hong Kong, Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plutus Financial Group Limited (“the "Company") (NasdaqCM: PLUT), a Hong Kong-based financial services company, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering (the "Offering") of 2,100,000 ordinary shares at a public offering price of $4 per ordinary share, for total gross proceeds of $8.4 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The Offering is being conducted on a firm commitment basis. The ordinary shares are expected to commence trading on Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “PLUT” on February 5, 2025.

The Company has granted the underwriter an option, exercisable within 45 days from the date of the underwriting agreement, to purchase up to an additional 315,000 ordinary shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and expenses. The Offering is expected to close on February 6, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for: i) development of tailor-made software and applications for different aspects of its operations, including customer services, trading, wealth management, and portfolio construction and monitoring; ii) increasing its available funding for offering trading facilities solutions to customers, including margin trading, and IPO margin financing; and iii) expansion of its customer management and wealth management teams.

R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc. is acting as lead underwriter for the Offering, with Revere Securities LLC acting as co-underwriter. The Crone Law Group, P.C. is acting as counsel to the Company. Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP is acting as lead counsel to the underwriters with respect to the Offering.

A registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-276791) relating to the Offering was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company, and subsequently declared effective by the SEC on February 4, 2025. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, forming a part of the registration statement. A final prospectus relating to the Offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus related to the Offering may be obtained, when available, from R.F. Lafferty & Co., Inc., 40 Wall Street, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10005, or by telephone at (212) 293-9090.

Before you invest, you should read the final prospectus and other documents the Company has filed or will file with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Plutus Financial Group Limited

Plutus Financial Group Limited is a Hong Kong-based financial services holding company operating through two wholly-owned primary subsidiaries – Plutus Securities Limited (“Plutus Securities”) and Plutus Asset Management Limited (“Plutus Asset Management”). Plutus Securities, a securities broker licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (the “SFC”) and a Participant on the HKEx stock exchange in Hong Kong, provides quality securities dealing and brokerage, margin financing, securities custody, and nominee services. As a licensed securities broker, Plutus Securities provides a range of financial services, including:

• Hong Kong stock trading through the internet, mobile app, and customer phone hotline
• Margin financing;
• Securities custody and nominee services; providing secure and reliable clearing and settlement procedures;
• Access to debt capital markets; and
• Equity capital markets for issuers, offer underwriting for IPO and other equity placements, and marketing, distribution and pricing of lead-managed and co-managed offerings.
  

Plutus Asset Management, a wealth management and advisory firm licensed by the SFC, provides wealth management services including:

• Professional funds management;
• Discretionary accounts with strategies developed for customers based on individual risk tolerance and investment preferences;
• Investment consulting and advisory services for funds managed by other companies; and
• Investment funds, including a real estate fund, a fixed income fund, a private equity investment, and a hedge fund.

For more information, visit the Company's website at http://www.plutusfingroup.com./en/index.php.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company's proposed Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and in its other filings with the SEC.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations:
Plutus Financial Group Limited
Attn: Jeff Yeung
ir@plutusfingroup.com

FAQ

What is the IPO price and total proceeds for Plutus Financial Group (PLUT)?

Plutus Financial Group's IPO is priced at $4 per ordinary share, raising total gross proceeds of $8.4 million through the offering of 2,100,000 shares.

When will PLUT shares begin trading on Nasdaq?

PLUT shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 5, 2025.

How will Plutus Financial Group use its IPO proceeds?

The proceeds will be used for software development, increasing trading facilities funding, and expanding customer management and wealth management teams.

What is the size of the underwriter's option in PLUT's IPO?

The underwriter has a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 315,000 ordinary shares at the public offering price.

Who are the underwriters for PLUT's IPO?

R.F. Lafferty & Co. is the lead underwriter, with Revere Securities acting as co-underwriter.