Valereum PLC (AQSE:VLRM, FRA:6TJ) shares surged 33% to 18p on Wednesday morning, having touched 24p earlier in the session, as trading resumed on the Aquis Growth Market after the company finalised a transformative $200 million funding deal with Quorium Global Photonics (QGP).
The agreement sees QGP take a 49.9% stake in Valereum through the subscription of nearly 243.5 million new shares, in exchange for medium-term notes paying an annual coupon of 7.95% through to 2030.
The notes will deliver $15.9 million a year in recurring income, with payments starting in March, either in US dollars or USDC, a digital stablecoin.
Chief executive Gary Cottle called the transaction a “fundamental turning point” that “transforms our financial foundation overnight.”
Valereum, now cash-flow positive, plans to accelerate its push into digital asset infrastructure, including AI-led tokenisation and blockchain-based financial services.
An additional $1 billion facility from QGP is under discussion to support future growth. QGP will also appoint two board members and participate in long-term incentive schemes tied to share performance.
With recapitalisation complete, chair James Bannon said the focus now shifts to securing a US listing — a key step in Valereum’s broader growth strategy.