The corporate team at professional services business Knights is delighted to be supporting Malvern International plc (AIM: MLVN) on its successful fundraising, comprising a placing, retail offer and, potentially, a directors’ subscription to raise approximately £2.0 million, in one of the first capital raises on AIM to be completed under the UK’s new Public Offers and Admissions to Trading regime (POATRs).
Malvern International, a global education and services provider, will deploy this funding to help scale up four pathway contracts recently won with the universities of Wolverhampton, Cumbria and Liverpool, and a new 15-year contract with London Metropolitan University.
The funds raised will help Malvern with international student recruitment and conversion, admissions, fee collection, and course delivery, including teaching, orientation and student support.
Led by Partner Karen Procter and supported by Solicitor Natalie McCann, Knights’ corporate team provided full legal support to the company on the fundraising. The fundraiser is the first the team has advised on under the new POATRS, which came into force on 19 January 2026.
The new regime is designed to make it easier and cheaper for companies to raise capital by reducing the need for a full prospectus and widening access to investment. The strategic reforms have been regarded by some commentators as a significant shift to the UK capital markets landscape.
Commenting on the success of the fundraising round, Karen Procter, Corporate Partner at Knights in Manchester, said:
“We are delighted to have helped our long-standing client access further funding for this promising next phase of growth via its listing on AIM.
“Hopefully, this marks the start of an anticipated uptick in secondary placings and other capital market fundraises this year, as the simplified regime has removed the need for an FCA-approved prospectus for many more raises.
“The new rules also allow for easier participation of retail investors, so we expect to see more companies including their retail shareholder base in capital fundraises as Malvern has done here.
“The Board at Malvern, as well as the team at Zeus Capital, who are nominated advisers and brokers to the company, have been highly supportive throughout the process, and we look forward to continuing work with them again in future.”
CEO of Malvern International, Richard Mace, said: "We are pleased to have worked closely with Karen Procter and her team at Knights again on this transaction.
“Their commercial approach and guidance were key in delivering a successful fundraise. We appreciate their ongoing support as we continue to execute our growth strategy."
Knights is the UK’s largest regional legal and professional services business. Knights specialise in corporate, real estate, commercial, planning, construction and private client law, backed by a team of national experts. This deal underlines Knights’ expertise in guiding clients through the UK’s evolving public offers and capital‑raising landscape.