Acquisition of 100% Interest in DC Next
Summary by AI BETAClose X
11 November 2026
Eight Capital Partners plc
("ECP", "Eight Capital", the "Group" or the "Company")
Acquisition of 100% Interest in DC Next and Launch of the Next Platform
Eight Capital Partners plc (AQSE: ECP), the technology-focused financial services operating company seeking to build shareholder value primarily through the development of businesses engaged in fintech banking, advisory, asset management and other technology-enabled sectors, announces that it has acquired a 100 per cent. interest in Distribuzione Commerciale Next S.r.l. ("DC Next", "Next" or the "Target") (www.dcnxt.com), an Italian commercial distribution operating business (the "Transaction"), for a total consideration of €7.55 million.
In line with the Company’s strategy, the 100 per cent. interest enables the Group to apply its existing technology-led operating strategy directly to the business and through the Company’s asset management operations, ECP intends to develop DC Next as the operating base of the Next Platform (the "Next Platform"), with a staged introduction of artificial intelligence and, subsequently, robotics to support operational efficiency and growth.
DC Next is an established Italian commercial distribution operating business which currently controls and operates three points of sale in Lombardy, Italy, comprising approximately 2,500 sq m of retail space and employing 18 staff and collaborators. This operating footprint enables ECP to apply its existing technology-led operating model, initially through AI-led inventory and consumption analysis, automatic re-ordering and back-office automation, with robotics intended to follow later on a project-by-project basis.
Highlights
- 100 per cent. interest in DC Next for a fixed total consideration of €7.55 million
- €7.55 million consideration comprises €50,000 in cash and €7.5 million satisfied through the assignment of receivables and the transfer of financial instruments, with no contingent consideration.
- DC Next controls and operates three points of sale in Lombardy, Italy comprising approximately 2,500 sq m of retail space and employing 18 staff and collaborators.
- ECP's 100 per cent. interest in DC Next is consistent with its existing strategy and enables ECP to apply its technology-led operating model directly to DC Next, under the Company’s asset management operations.
About DC Next
DC Next is an Italian commercial distribution operating company with its registered office in Milan. During 2026, DC Next established control of three points of sale in Lombardy, Italy, comprising approximately 2,500 sq m of retail space, and DC Next employs 18 staff and collaborators.
Strategic rationale and development of DC Next
The Board believes that by taking a 100 per cent. interest in DC Next, it can directly implement its technology-led operating strategy within the business, through the utilisation of artificial intelligence and data analysis, including inventory rotation, automatic re-ordering and consumption analysis, together with the automation of back-office processes, and in time, deployment of functional robotics. Via the Company’s asset management operations, the Company can assist in Next’s development, to improve its operating efficiency, support growth and diversify the Group's operating revenues.
The Board considers ECP’s interest in DC Next to be consistent with the Group's existing operations.
Terms of the Transaction
The fixed total consideration for the Transaction is €7.55 million, comprising base consideration of €50,000 and additional consideration of €7.5 million. The €50,000 base consideration is payable in cash to the vendor on or before 31 December 2026. The €7.5 million additional consideration will be satisfied by the assignment to the vendor of €2,736,750 of receivables and the transfer of financial instruments with an aggregate nominal value of €4,763,250. There is no earn-out or other contingent consideration.
As at 31 December 2025, DC Next had gross assets of €2,401,679 and net assets of €1,489,815. For the financial year ended 31 December 2025, it generated revenue of €220,000 and a profit of €5,818. These financial statements predate DC Next taking control of the three points of sale described above between July and September 2026.
As part of the Group’s asset management operations, DC Next will be operated as a wholly owned business within the Group. The implementation of ECP's strategy in DC Next will also be supported by Eight Capital Advisors LLP, the Group's FCA-authorised strategic advisory subsidiary. The Company expects development to be driven principally by operational improvement, organic growth and the staged deployment of technology. The Group may also consider adding further points of sale or taking interests in complementary commercial distribution businesses where they support DC Next's existing operations and are consistent with ECP's existing strategy.
Luca Giacomo Zanni, Executive Director of Eight Capital Partners plc, commented:
"Our initial focus will be on developing the existing business operations, introducing AI-led data analysis and back-office automation before considering robotics on a project-by-project basis.
“Taking a 100 per cent. interest in DC Next gives ECP full ownership of an established commercial distribution operating business and enables us to apply the Group’s existing technology-led operating strategy directly to DC Next’s operations.
“We will develop DC Next as an operating business within the Group and assess complementary expansion opportunities where they support that strategy.”
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the Directors of the Company are responsible for the release of this announcement.
For further information, please contact:
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Eight Capital Partners plc Luca Giacomo Zanni, Executive Director
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info@eight.capital
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Cairn Financial Advisers LLP AQSE Corporate Adviser Jo Turner / Liam Murray / Ed Downes |
+44 (0) 207 213 0880
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About Eight Capital Partners
Eight Capital Partners plc is a technology-focused financial services operating company that seeks to build shareholder value primarily through the development of businesses engaged in fintech banking, advisory, asset management and other technology-enabled sectors.
ECP seeks to grow its group revenue in these high-growth sectors, which it expects to also increase in value, such that they generate an attractive rate of return for shareholders, predominantly through capital appreciation.
Eight Capital Partners' operating businesses include:
Eight Capital Advisors LLP
Eight Capital Advisors LLP is the advisory arm of Eight Capital Partners plc, specialising in cross-border corporate finance, capital markets advisory and capital introduction between Europe and Asia. The firm supports high-growth companies and provides deal origination and advisory services across the Group's operating and strategic development activities.
Distribuzione Commerciale Next S.r.l.
DC Next is the Group's commercial distribution operating business. It controls and operates three points of sale in Lombardy, Italy, and is being developed by ECP through the staged application of technology and operational improvement.
Epsion Capital
Epsion Capital is a dormant subsidiary, in the process of being struck off.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "believe", "could", "should", "envisage", "estimate", "intend", "may", "plan", "potentially", "expect", "will" or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.
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