STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL · PRIVILEGED
Project Sunrise
Legal Due Diligence Report
red-flag report · prepared for
ATLAS PAYMENTS GROUP PLC
in connection with the proposed acquisition of
SOLARIS DIGITAL ASSETS EUROPE LIMITED
prepared by
BLACKWOOD & STEEL LLP
26 June 2026
§Contents
1.Executive summary and risk ratingsExplained in Ch. 12
1.1The exercise. This report sets out
the material findings of our legal due diligence review of Solaris Digital Assets Europe Limited
(the “Target”) and its subsidiaries (together the “Group”), carried out
for Atlas Payments Group plc (“Atlas”) in connection with its proposed acquisition of the
entire issued share capital of the Target from Meridian Fintech Ventures Limited
(the “Seller”) for €42,000,000 on locked box terms (the “Transaction”).
Our review covered documents made available in the “Sunrise” virtual data room between 14 April 2026
and the cut-off date of 20 June 2026, together with the responses given in three rounds of written
Q&A. This is a red-flag report: it describes only findings that in our view could
affect the price, require protection in the transaction documents, require action before or after
completion, or delay or prevent completion. It is not a summary of every document reviewed.
1.2Overall view. The Group is in
substantially good legal order for a business of its age and stage. Title to the shares is clean, the
corporate records are well kept, and the Target's regulatory authorisation is in good standing. Two
findings are rated high and drove changes to the transaction structure: correspondence
from the Central Bank of Ireland concerning historic anti-money-laundering monitoring
(finding 5.1), and a termination right exercisable by the Group's largest customer
on a change of control (finding 4.1). A number of medium-rated findings are capable
of being fixed before completion or addressed through the share purchase agreement in the usual way.
1.3Key findings. The table below
lists the principal findings, their ratings (defined in Appendix C) and the
response we recommend. Each finding is cross-referred to the section of this report in which it is
discussed.
| Ref | Finding | Workstream | Rating | Recommended response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | CBI inspection letter of 6 March 2026 on historic AML transaction monitoring; remediation under way; possible administrative sanction | Regulatory & AML | HIGH | Specific indemnity from the Seller; remediation covenant; disclosure ring-fenced |
| 4.1 | Novapay master services agreement terminable on 60 days' notice on a change of control of the Target (≈31% of Group revenue) | Material contracts | HIGH | Approach Novapay for comfort before signing; conduct covenant; no-termination warranty repeated at completion |
| 5.2 | CBI approval of the change of qualifying holding required before completion | Regulatory | CONDITION | Condition precedent in the SPA; long stop date allowing for the assessment period |
| 7.1 | The “Helia” platform is owned by the Polish subsidiary; no written intra-group licence to the regulated Irish entity | IP & IT | MEDIUM | Written intra-group licence before completion; warranty coverage |
| 7.2 | No signed IP assignment from one former contractor who worked on an early module of Helia in 2022 | IP & IT | MEDIUM | Confirmatory assignment before signing; warranty coverage |
| 6.2 | Change-of-control bonuses of €350,000 in aggregate payable to two senior employees on completion | Employment | MEDIUM | Quantified and priced; disclosed against the warranties |
| 10.1 | Open Polish VAT enquiry on intra-group service charges; estimated exposure €120,000–€310,000 | Tax | MEDIUM | Covered by the tax covenant; monitor between signing and completion |
| 9.1 | Customer chargeback dispute of €80,000 (below materiality; noted for pattern) | Litigation | LOW | No specific protection; general warranties suffice |
1.4What happened next. For
training purposes only, readers of this report can see where each recommendation landed: the specific
indemnity for the AML matter became clause 10.2 of the SPA (capped
at €8,000,000 and time-limited to four years), the CBI approval became the
condition in clause 5, and the Polish VAT exposure sits under the
tax covenant in clause 10.1. A real report would not contain this
paragraph; a real deal team carries it in their heads.
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