Business
Connecting Excellence Group PLC Announces H1 2026 Trading Update
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESS Newswire / February 26, 2026 / Connecting Excellence Group Plc (AQSE:XCE)(OTCQB:XCELF), the international executive recruitment group with a long term, ambitious and disciplined Bitcoin (BTC) treasury strategy, announces ...
About this update from Bitcoin
[{"type":"text","content":"LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESS Newswire / February 26, 2026 / Connecting Excellence Group Plc (AQSE:XCE)(OTCQB:XCELF), the international executive recruitment group with a long term, ambitious and disciplined Bitcoin (BTC) treasury strategy, announces a trading update for the six-month period ended 31 December 2025 ("H1 2026" or the "Period").","length":366,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"During the Period, Spencer Riley, the Group's operational business, generated net fee income of £0.89m, up 20.3% on the comparable period (H1 2025: £0.74m), reflecting a 12.7% increase in the average fee per placement. Since the Period end, executive recruitment activity has been strong, with the Group achieving its best January performance to date with £0.25m of net fee income.","length":385,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"In December 2025, XCE successfully completed its IPO and joined the Access segment of the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market, raising gross proceeds of £3.3m. In February 2026, XCE's shares also commenced trading on the OTCQB market as part of the Group's strategy to broaden its shareholder base and enhance stock liquidity.","length":333,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Since its IPO, and as part of the Group's wider BTC treasury strategy, XCE has purchased 33.15 BTC for a total consideration of £2.2m, utilising the IPO funds as well as an additional £64,000 from free cash flow. In January, the Group launched its XCE BTC Bond, with the first tranche issued for 10 BTC. Adding to the 9.27 BTC the Group held prior to its IPO, XCE currently holds 52.42 BTC in its BTC treasury.","length":414,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"The Group looks forward to publishing its interim accounts in the latter half of March 2026.","length":92,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Scott Ellam, Chief Executive Officer of Connecting Excellence Group, commented: "We are pleased to report a strong first half, with net fee income increasing by 20.3% year-on-year, supported by a 12.7% rise in average fee per placement and our strategic focus on higher-value mandates. The record January performance since the Period end provides encouraging momentum entering the second half.","length":398,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":""Our successful IPO and admission to the A...