AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Four shareholders owning a 19.4% stake have requisitioned a general meeting at TruSpine Technologies (TSP) on 31 May. They want four directors to be removed: Norman Lott, Nikunj Patel, Annabel Schild and Laurence Strauss. The only director they are not seeking to remove is Timothy Evans. They also want three nominees to be voted onto the board, which includes two of the requisitioners Peter Houghton and Todd Michael Cramer, as well as Anthony Swoboda. The board recommends voting against the resolutions. There are also disputes with the inventor of the company’s main technologies and the requisitioners talk about negotiating a new licence.
Music artist management and services provider All Things Considered Group (ATC) reported better than expected 2022 figures and managed to make a £10,000 pre-tax profit. A £300,000 loss had been expected. Stripping the deconsolidated Driift out of the figures, continuing revenues more than doubled from £4.5m to £9.45m. The share of the Driift loss will continue to hold back profit, but Canaccord Genuity forecasts a 2023 pre-tax profit of £200,00. That is on reduced revenues of £7.7m because of the deconsolidation of Driift and the one-off commission for facilitating the Napster reversal deal in 2022.
One Health Group (OHGR), which provides funded medical procedures, says results will be ahead of expectations. There was a 16% increase in patient referrals from the NHS and additional capacity is being brought on stream for weekend operations. New surgical hubs are being planned. Net cash was £3.3m at the end of March 2023.
SulNOx Group (SNOX) has diversified into the demulsification market through developing a product with Cleaner Fuel Solutions in South Africa. The new product reduces the time taken to separate water and oil from toxic waste oil.
Ananda Developments (ANA) says that the highlight of last month was the quality of the cannabis plants grown from second-generation seed genetics. They are better than the plants developed from clones. MRX1 unlicensed medicinal cannabis oil is set to be listed in three medicinal cannabis clinics.
Cadence Minerals (KDNC) says investee company Hastings Technology Metals has hired GR Engineering Services as engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the Yangibana rare earth project. The overall cost is $210m, which is lower than previously estimated. First concentrate delivery should be in the first quarter of 2025.
KR1 (KR1) had net assets of 61.29p a share at the end of March 2023. The income from digital assets was £583,000 during March.
Vulcan Industries (VULC) generated first quarter revenues of £197,000 and the loss was £383,000. The original businesses have been sold and a battery project acquired during March.
Fenikso Ltd (FNK) has received the latest payment of $614,000, which leaves the remaining loan at $49.9m. The next payment is at the beginning of June.
Semper Fortis Esports (SEMP) has changed its corporate adviser and broker to Novum Securities.
AIM
Japan Petroleum Exploration is acquiring a 49.9% stake in the Norway-based subsidiary of Longboat Energy (LBE) in return for a cash injection of $16m, plus a finance facility of $100m. There is a further contingent cash payment of $4m linked to an acquisition. If there is a discovery at Velocette then up to $30m more cash could be injected by the new partner.
Retailer Mothercare (MTC) beat the finnCap EBITDA forecast with an outcome of £6.5m-£7m in the year to March 2023. Excluding Russia, sales improved during the year. There is still destocking going on. The pension deficit has fallen to £39m and there is a full review in the autumn.
Cambridge Cognition (COG) made a small loss in 2022, but the recently acquired Winterlight Labs, which develops machine-learning based voice assessment using free-speech inputs, will significantly increase the loss this year. However, the deal enhances the company’s voice-based technology and provides cross-selling opportunities. Organic revenues are expected to grow by 10% in 2023.
Building and plumbing products distributor Lords Group Trading (LORD) reported better than forecast figures even though they were upgraded in January. The merchanting division grew like-for-like sales by 17%, more than offsetting a like-for-like dip in plumbing and heating revenues due to boiler component shortages. On top of this acquisitions helped revenues grow by 24% to £450m, while pre-tax profit improved from £12.3m to £17.4m. Profit growth is likely to be more modest this year.
Life sciences company Aptamer Group (APTA) says that potential deals are slow in converting into commercial projects and it will require more cash. In the ten months to April 2023, revenues were £1.4m and Liberum has slashed its full year forecast from £5m to £1.8m, down from £4m last year. The monthly cash outflow is £500,000 and costs are being cut. That could cut the cost base to £4.5m. Net debt is expected to be £1m at the end of June 2023 and £2.5m is estimated to be required to be raised to get the company to June 2024.
Supercapacitors designer CAP-XX (CPX) has raised £2.5m at 1.3p a share. Anthony Kongats is stepping down as chief executive, although he has subscribed for new shares. A retail offer that could have raised up to £500,000 generated £180,000. The cash will fund product development and marketing.
Graphite technology developer Versarien (VRS) is raising £532,000 at 1.25p. The cash will pay for commercialisation of products and fund working capital. More cash will be required and the fall in the share price will not help. A new strategic plan will be published in a few weeks and the mature cutting tools business may be sold.
Solgenics (SGN), formerly known as Ncondezi Energy, intends to leave AIM. Management does not feel that the quotation is effective for such a small company with a lack of liquidity, and it wants to focus on the Tete solar project. A working capital loan has been agreed in principle with directors. This represents a recovery on the initial share price decline after non-exec director Scott Fletcher acquired 31.4 million shares, taking his stake to 27.3%.
Argos Resources (ARG) also plans to leave AIM. JHI Associates will acquire the PL001 production licences in the North Falkland Basin in return for 8.47 million shares and £303,500 in cash. This would turn Argos Resources into a cash shell and requires shareholder approval. After settling with creditors, there should be eight million JHI shares to distribute to Argos Resources shareholders. Westmount Energy (WTE) owns 7.2% of JHI and it also owns one million shares in Argos Resources.
The NHS is funding the accelerated implementation of Lipid inCode, which has been developed by GENinCode (GENI). This follows a pilot programme. The funding is part of a strategy to identify one-quarter of patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Lipid in Code is faster than existing tests and provides additional data.
MAIN MARKET
Engineer Goodwin (GWIN) is making a tender offer for up to 180,000 shares at £48 each, which is a 25% premium to the previous market price. Qualified shareholders have a guaranteed entitlement to tender 2.34% of their shareholding if they wish to accept the tender.
Lookers (LOOK) is acquiring Chelmsford-based motor dealer Waterhouse Cars. This adds a Volvo dealership in Chelmsford and £2m will be invested in this site. Lookers also plans to invest £2.3m in its existing Colchester Volvo dealership.
National World (NWOR) has bought business information provider Insider Media. It has also acquired the Rotherham Advertiser.
Andrew Hore
