Intellect Design Arena Limited has announced a strategic partnership with Fintel PLC, a UK-listed provider of fintech and support services to the retail financial services sector, through the formation of a 50:50 joint venture in the United Kingdom. The partnership aims to deploy Intellect's globally proven enterprise-grade Agentic AI platform into the UK wealth management market via Fintel's extensive client portfolio.

Joint Venture Structure and Strategic Framework

The partnership combines Intellect's AI-first architecture leadership with Fintel's distribution reach and regulatory expertise in the UK market:

AI-First Operating Architecture for Advisory Firms

The joint venture represents a structural departure from legacy advisory technology systems. Rather than layering automation on existing fragmented stacks of CRM tools, compliance engines, and planning software, the platform functions as an AI-first operating foundation where intelligence is embedded into the execution fabric of advisory firms.

Built on Intellect's modular eMACH.ai open finance framework, the platform serves as an intelligent orchestration layer spanning the entire advisory lifecycle:

Leadership Perspectives on Market Transformation

Matt Timmins, CEO of Fintel PLC, emphasized the structural pressures facing the financial advice sector: "The financial advice sector is operating under increasing structural pressure from regulatory complexity, fragmented technology stacks, rising costs, and rapidly evolving client expectations. Our partnership with Intellect brings AI-first engineering architecture directly into the heart of the UK advisory ecosystem."

Banesh Prabhu, CEO of IntellectAI, highlighted the platform's design philosophy: "This joint venture is about delivering an AI-first operating architecture for financial advice rather than adding another layer of software to an already complex technology stack. When intelligence is embedded into the operating fabric of a firm, adviser capacity expands without proportional cost growth."

Regulatory Compliance and Implementation

The company disclosed this strategic partnership under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The transaction does not constitute a related party transaction, as Fintel PLC is not connected to the promoter or group companies.

The platform is positioned as an intelligence amplifier designed to absorb operational burden, generate contextual insights, and automate high-frequency tasks, allowing human advisers to focus on judgment, relationships, and long-term strategy. The joint venture aims to establish a new foundation for advisory technology in the UK that is resilient, adaptive, and built for long-term evolution.

Intellect Design Arena shareholders have successfully approved two critical director appointments through a postal ballot process that concluded on March 12, 2026. The voting results, announced on March 13, 2026, demonstrate strong shareholder support for the company's leadership decisions with a total of 1,16,832 shareholders eligible to participate based on the record date of January 30, 2026.

Voting Results Overview

The postal ballot covered two special resolutions, both receiving requisite majority approval from shareholders. The e-voting process was facilitated by National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and conducted between February 11, 2026 (9:00 AM IST) and March 12, 2026 (5:00 PM IST).

Resolution 1: Independent Director Appointment

The first special resolution for appointing D. Shivakumar (DIN: 00364444) as Independent Director received overwhelming shareholder support. The appointment is effective for a five-year term from January 30, 2026 to January 29, 2031.

The resolution achieved 99.96% approval with 7,92,98,129 votes in favor against only 34,976 votes against, representing 56.94% of total outstanding shares participating in the voting process.

Resolution 2: Whole-time Director Re-appointment

The second special resolution for re-appointing Anil Kumar Verma (DIN: 01957168) as Whole-time Director faced mixed response from different shareholder categories but still secured the required majority.

This resolution received 82.24% approval with 6,52,47,998 votes in favor and 1,40,88,107 votes against. Notably, institutional investors showed divided opinion with only 47.52% supporting the re-appointment, while promoter group and public non-institutional shareholders demonstrated strong support.

Remuneration Structure for Whole-time Director

Anil Kumar Verma's re-appointment includes a comprehensive remuneration package for the five-year term effective February 1, 2026:

• Basic Pay: Gross AUD 1,80,000 annually
• Variable Pay: Nil
• Retiral Benefits: As per applicable superannuation norms under local laws
• Perquisites: Travel arrangements and approved expenses
• Stock Options: 20,000 unvested options from existing schemes to continue vesting per original terms

Scrutinizer Report and Process Compliance

B Ravi & Associates, represented by CS Dr. B. Ravi (FCS No.: 1810), served as the appointed scrutinizer ensuring transparent and fair voting process. The scrutinizer confirmed that both resolutions were passed with requisite majority as per the Companies Act, 2013 and SEBI regulations.

The postal ballot notice was distributed electronically on February 9, 2026, with public advertisements published in Business Line (English) and Dinamani (Tamil) on February 10, 2026. The voting process covered 56.95% of total outstanding shares of 13,93,15,462, demonstrating significant shareholder participation in the corporate governance process.