There was much hype in the lead up to the much-anticipated IPO of Immotion Group, and now post their July 12 listing, there is still a buzz with their positive performance one week on. An oversubscribed placing prior to IPO gave promise to the company and reiterated the demand from the retail investor market for access to early stage companies in the flourishing tech sector.
The VR and AR market in recent years has seen exponential growth in gaming and retail space, and in more recent times, with training and education. However, it’s Immotion’s cutting edge fully immersive experiences that are redefining the classic gaming arcades and bringing people back out of their home, driving footfall to shopping centres and giving life back to family entertainment centres.
Whilst content is powering the global VR market, Immotion’s unique offering will be an integral part to the company’s success. With an experienced management team in place, it is evident that Immotion’s offering of a full-service business model ticks every box with manufacturing, content development and performance analysis all managed from one central source.
In addition, the four key channels to market allow multiple avenues for opportunity with sales, partnership, turnkey and commercial entertainment solutions available.
At the time of their IPO, Immotion announced a market cap of £23mil, however since their 12 July listing, the share price has skyrocketed by ~40% and now sits at 14p (as of 27 July 2018).
Within the UK, the virtual reality market is expected to grow at a faster rate than any other entertainment and media industry in EMEA, with PWC forecasting a value of £801mil by 2021. Ownership of dedicated VR headsets alone are set to hit 3 million at the same time, with an additional 12 million smartphone devices being utilised for VR experiences.
The future is bright for the Manchester based company, this week announcing a second instalment of their state of the art experience pods at Merlin Entertainments’ owned Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester. The second such instalment after their initial debut at Legoland in Boston in early June.
Immotion have created The Great Lego Race, an experience that engages all the senses; combining sight, sound and motion. The virtual escape takes racers on an adventure across the Rocky Mountains, rolling rivers and hot lava, leading them to new discoveries.
From diving underwater, taking a mission in to space, riding a ghost train or exploring a dragon filled fantasy island, the immersive experiences offered by Immotion provide an experience for anyone at any age. With over 40 years’ experience in the team behind Immotion, the content is being continuously developed and utilising home-grown talent, driving innovation and technology within the UK.
Post IPO, Rob Wiegold from Shard Capital Stockbrokers commented, “The demand we saw in the IPO was significant and this to us highlights the appetite from both institutional and retail investors to get exposure to this fast moving sector. We are starting see the relationship between Immotion and Merlin develop and we would hope there are more deals like this on the horizon.”
For more information on Immotion Group, please contact Shard Capital Stockbrokers on 0207 186 9950 / scsb@shardcapital.com
Sources:
https://www.pwc.co.uk/entertainment-media/assets/assets-2018/PwC-Outlook-Perspectives.pdf
Important Investment Information: The views above are published solely for information purposes and are not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities, or related financial instruments. It does not constitute advice or a personal recommendation as defined by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) or take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situations or needs of individual investors. These views are based on public information and sources considered reliable. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Yields are variable and not guaranteed. Investments can fall as well as rise, therefore you could get back less than you invest. If you are unsure about the appropriateness of an investment for your circumstances please seek independent financial advice. Investors should form their own view on any proposed investment. This publication has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is considered a marketing communication. Figures correct as at 27 July 2018 unless otherwise stated. This publication is issued by Shard Capital Partners LLP, 20 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BY United Kingdom who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.