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Highlights:
- Mercia Asset Management announces £4.0 million investment in AI software firm Netacea.
- Investment split across two tranches, with £3.1 million from Mercia’s balance sheet.
- Netacea will use funds to enhance its defensive AI solutions for bot attacks and expand its product portfolio.
Mercia Asset Management PLC (AIM:MERC), a specialist alternative asset manager focused on regional growth, is pleased to announce a £4.0 million follow-on investment into Netacea Group Limited ("Netacea"), a leading provider of AI-based bot protection software. The investment is designed to accelerate Netacea’s expansion as a key player in the cybersecurity sector, targeting mobile, web, and API applications to defend against bot attacks.
The investment will be made in two tranches. Mercia’s balance sheet will contribute £3.1 million to the investment round as part of its direct holding in the company. The remainder will be provided by Mercia’s third-party managed funds. The first tranche, amounting to £2.0 million, will be invested immediately, while the second tranche of £1.1 million is expected to be completed in Mercia’s next financial year. Following the completion of both tranches, Mercia will hold a fully diluted 33.6% direct stake in Netacea, with its managed funds holding an additional 26.9%.
The new funding will enable Netacea to strengthen its position as a leader in the field of defensive AI software, particularly in combating bot attacks that threaten the security of mobile, web, and API applications. This investment will further support Netacea’s AI strategy, expand its product portfolio, and facilitate its growth both within the UK and internationally. Netacea already serves major global clients in the retail and telecommunications sectors, including some of the world’s largest companies.
Dr. Mark Payton, CEO of Mercia Asset Management, commented: "We are pleased to continue supporting Netacea's growth trajectory. With several investments in the cybersecurity sector across both our direct investments and managed funds, we are addressing critical challenges across the security landscape. From bot detection and threat intelligence to digital forensics and supply chain risk management, the sustained interest in this sector validates our long-held investment thesis."
Netacea’s cutting-edge AI software is already helping businesses to protect their digital infrastructure from the increasing threat of bot attacks, which are responsible for a significant amount of online fraud and security breaches. The additional funding from Mercia Asset Management will allow the company to continue enhancing its software offerings, making them even more robust in defending against the growing threat of cyber-attacks.
