Count Limited (ASX:CUP), trading as Count Group, has completed a $25.0 million fully underwritten institutional placement of approximately 15.9 million new fully paid ordinary shares (New Shares). The shares were priced at $1.57 each, with proceeds to partially fund the acquisition of a 75% interest in Skybridge Financial Group.
$25.0 million placement completed to fund Skybridge stake
The placement was made to eligible institutional and sophisticated investors. It received strong support from existing investors and select new institutional investors.
The headline terms were:
- Amount: $25.0 million, fully underwritten
- New Shares: approximately 15.9 million fully paid ordinary shares
- Offer price: $1.57 per New Share
- Discount: 5.4% to the last close price of $1.66 on Wednesday, 4 November 2026
Count shares are expected to resume normal trading on the ASX from market open on Friday, 6 November 2026.
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Proceeds to partly fund 75% interest in Skybridge Financial Group
As outlined in Count’s announcement of Thursday, 5 November 2026, the placement proceeds will be used to partially fund the acquisition of a 75% interest in Skybridge Financial Group (Skybridge). Completion is expected in Q3 FY2027, following satisfaction of various conditions precedent including ACCC approval (or notification waiver declaration).
Count Group’s interest will be structured by acquiring a majority interest in a new entity. At completion, that entity will hold the business operated by Skybridge Financial Pty Ltd (as trustee for the MTP Unit Trust), Skybridge Management Pty Ltd and Skybridge Portfolios Pty Ltd.
The Skybridge deal economics include an enterprise value of $66 million for the whole business, profit of about $8.8 million on $29 million of revenue, and up to $9.1 million of deferred payments tied to profit targets.
The New Shares will rank equally with existing Count shares. Their issue is within the company’s existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1, so shareholder approval is not required.
Why placements matter to investors
An institutional placement is a capital raising in which new shares are sold to institutional investors, often at a discount to the recent market price. Here, it funds part of an acquisition.
- Existing shareholders’ holdings are spread across a larger number of shares once the New Shares are issued.
- The raise was fully underwritten, which gives certainty over the capital for the acquisition.
What happens next for Count Group
The key dates set out in the announcement are:
- Friday, 6 November 2026: Count shares expected to resume normal trading on the ASX from market open.
- Wednesday, 11 November 2026: settlement of New Shares under the placement.
- Thursday, 12 November 2026: issue of New Shares, commencement of trading on a normal settlement basis, and despatch of holding statements.
- Q3 FY2027: expected completion of the acquisition, subject to conditions precedent including ACCC approval (or notification waiver declaration).
The timetable is indicative only and subject to change. The commencement of trading and quotation of the New Shares is subject to confirmation from ASX.
Further details of the acquisition and the placement, including key risks, are set out in the ASX announcement and investor presentation released on 5 November 2026.
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