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Quoted Micro 18 October 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Good Energy (GOOD) has followed the lapsed Ecotricity bid with a nine-month trading statement saying that the renewable energy supplier is on course to meet full year expectations. Good Energy is more than 90% hedged for the next 12 months, so there is limited exposure to the current price volatility. Price rises have been implemented. The 0.75p a share interim dividend is payable on 29 November and the ex-dividend date is 21 October. Finance director Rupert Sanderson has sold 14,800 shares at 335p each, while chief executive Nigel Pocklington bought 7,500 shares at 351.666p each.
Walls and Future REIT (WAFR) is engaging with new investors so that there are buyers for the 10% of the share capital where investors are not long-term holders. This is holding back the share price and causing the high discount to NAV, according to management. The company has completed the design of its autism friendly housing.
CBD products supplier Voyager Life (VOY) generated revenues of £65,000 from incorporation to the end of September 2021. Monthly overheads are less than £50,000. There is £1.8m in the bank. New stores are opening in Edinburgh and Dundee.
Yooma Wellness Inc (YOOM) has acquired CBD products manufacturer N8 Essentials for 1.17 million shares issued at 67.3 cents a share. N8 has a 14,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Kansas. This will enable more group production to be brought in house.
Sativa Wellness (SWEL) has launched an online telemedicine service. This enables patients to follow up tests with a virtual medical consultation.
KR1 (KR1) is participating in the Kintsugi crowdloan and Kusama (KSM) parachain auction. KR1 contributed 5,000 KSM to the crowdloan.
Altona Natural Resources (ANR) has started drilling at the Monte Muambe project in Mozambique. This will improve the understanding of the geological model and test four newly identified targets.
The requisition for a general meeting at British Honey (BHC) has been withdrawn. Richard Day has been reappointed chairman and Mark Gamble as an executive director. Alex Maurice has stepped down from the board but continues to be employed by the company.
Hydro Hotel Eastbourne (HYDP) non-exec director CP Freeman has bought 800 shares at 884p each. David Evans has a 7.61% stake in Oberon Investments (OBE).
The SFO has ended its investigation into people associated with Watchstone Group (WTG) when it was known as Quindell.
AIM
Light Science Technologies (LST) is a contract electronics manufacturer and a developer of controlled environment agriculture technology, which joined AIM on 15 October. The agricultural technology being developed helps farmers to maximise crop productivity and monitor the growing environment. The company’s LED lighting range is called nurturGrow Luminaire and the nurturGROW sensor is being developed. There was £5m raised at 10p a share and the price ended the first day at 11.5p. The cash raised in the flotation will be used to expand facilities and increase marketing.
Floorcoverings manufacturer Victoria (VCP) has achieved record interim earnings. The UK has been a strong market, but Australia has been tougher. The full year outcome is likely to be ahead of expectations. Peel Hunt has upgraded its full year pre-tax profit forecast from £58.3m to £65m.
Branded furnishings and wallcoverings supplier Sanderson Design Group (SDG) improved interim pre-tax profit by 22% to £6m on a 48% increase in revenues. North American and UK sales were strong, and the manufacturing business bounced back. Management plans to generate more income from the archive of past patterns and designs. Net cash is £15.4m. Sanderson is on course to achieve an increase in full year pre-tax profit from £7.1m to £10.9m.
Eqtec (EQT) plans to acquire a 5MW project in Drama, Greece, which will generate energy from forestry waste. Financial close should be achieved for the project in the third quarter of 2022. There is also an additional £2.1m of investment in the North Fork project in California, which increases the stake from 10% to 49%. The 2MW biomass to energy project has been delayed due to fires and Covid. A $4.5m convertible loan facility has been provided to the development.
CyanConnode (CYAN) says interim revenues were £4.1m and it is well on the way to £9.4m of revenues for the full year. The narrowband radio frequency networks company continues to lose money, but cash levels should improve.
Motor dealer Vertu Motors (VTU) recorded record first half results despite supply problems for new vehicles. Used car prices have been rising because of the shortage of new vehicles. In the six months to August 2021, revenues increased from £1.2bn to £1.92bn. Underlying pre-tax profit soared from £4.7m to £51.8m, which is more than treble the first half of 2019-20. Net cash is £57.3m. The interim dividend has been re-established at 0.65p a share. The net tangible asset value is 61.5p a share.
High street sales recovered at fishing tackle retailer Angling Direct (ANG) despite being closed in the first ten weeks of the first half and online sales continued to grow. In the six months to July 2021, revenues improved from £32.1m to £38.4m with high street sales increasing by two-fifths. Online sales were 2% ahead. Pre-tax profit jumped from £1.36m to £3.72m, which includes government lockdown support. Full year pre-tax profit is expected to increase from £2.6m to £3.5m.
Driving safety technology developer Seeing Machines (SEE) has signed a framework agreement with Shell Global Solutions for its Guardian driver distraction and fatigue technology. Deployments should start later this year. Shell has 20,000 vehicles, compared with the total number of 31,771 vehicles using Guardian technology. Seeing Machines has also set up an EU sales team with a headquarters in Amsterdam.
Gresham House Strategic (GHS) has decided to change its investment manager from Gresham House Asset Management to Harwood Capital, where its previous investment manager Richard Staveley moved earlier this year, and Gresham House (GHE) has requisitioned a general meeting in order to have the company’s cash distributed to shareholders and the portfolio of investments liquidated over a 24-month period. Gresham House has a 23.3% stake in Gresham House Strategic and claims the backing of 40% of the share capital. The opposition to the move owns 30% of the company. Harwood intends to invest in the company, and it will generate lower fees, which will save the company £270,000.
Iodine company Iofina (IOF) produced 142.7 MT of crystalline iodine in the third quarter of 2021 and that underpins full year forecasts. Iodine prices continue to rise and recently hit $40/kg.
MAIN MARKET
LED lighting and wiring accessories supplier Luceco (LUCE) has acquired DW Windsor, an exterior lighting business, for £16.9m in cash. In the year to September 2021, operating profit was £1.9m.
Highway Capital (HWC) has finally found a suitable reverse takeover target, although there is no firm agreement. There will be a fundraising alongside the purchase of esports adviser and investor Guinevere Capital Esports & Entertainment. No purchase price has been announced
Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies (OCTP) has acquired medical assets from Canopy Growth Corporation, which provides access to cannabinoid derivatives and will help the company to develop additional drug projects. The lead compound OCT461201, which is a potential neuropathic pain treatment, is progressing towards clinical trials in the third quarter of 2022.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 11 October 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Ecotricity has failed in its takeover bid for Good Energy (GOOD). Ecotricity had a 25.1% stake and acceptances of the bid totalled 11.5% of God Energy. Acceptances did increase significantly in the last few days of the bid, but they are still well below the level required for the bid to succeed. The offer has lapsed.
National Milk Record (NMRP) reported flat full year revenues of £21.9m, while like-for-like growth was 3.5%. This was despite the cyber attack last year. Pre-tax profit improved from £929,000 to £1.65m with help from lower overheads and a higher contribution from a joint venture. Net debt was reduced to £1m by the end of June 2021. The dividend was increased from 1.25p a share to 1.5p a share. Genomics revenues should build up this year.
Quantum Exponential Group plans to join Aquis. The plan is to identify opportunities in the quantum technology sector. More than 175 start-ups have been identified. Notion Capital will be involved with any investments. This is another investment company being floated by David William – the most recent was standard listed Bay Capital (BAY).
NFT Investments (LSE: NFT) has made two new investments. The first is a C$100,000 investment in Big Whale Labs, a decentralised social network platform. The other investment is $1.4m in Sturdy Exchange, which is a subsidiary of Sturdy Agency. Sturdy Exchange is a marketplace to display, collect and trade NFTs created by artists and performers. So far, four investments have been made.
Dispersion Holdings (DEFI) is holding a general meeting on 26 October in order to gain shareholder permission to issue more shares.
Yooma Wellness Inc (YOOM) is acquiring Tokyo-based Vertex for $12m. The initial payment is $2.5m with $6.5m to follow in April 2023 and the last payment of $3m in April 2024. Vertex sells wellness products via home shopping channels in Japan.
BWA Group (BWAP) has won its case against JV Capital and has been awarded £74,169.
Wheelsure Holdings (WHLP) is collaborating with Sedwell Ltd to develop a secure digital fastener for use in the global rail market. Sedwell has bolt load monitoring technology.
TechFinancials (TECH) has sold its CEDEX subsidiary. There is no initial payment. There could be cash received if the company is sold or raises $20m of new money.
Gunsynd (GUN) says that investee company Pacific Nickel has a JORC resource estimate for the Jejevo tenement in the Solomon Islands, where it has a 80% stake. Jejevo has a mineral resource of 14.42 million tonnes at 1l.29% nickel.
Trading in Harrogate Group (HGTE) shares has been suspended because its 2020-21 accounts have not been published.
Robert Hanson has bought a 0.36% stake in Oberon Investments (OBE) through a share purchase at 6.85p each. Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi has bought one million Oscillate (MUSH) shares at 2p each.
Michael Williams and Robert Porter-Smith have stepped down from the British Honey (BHC) board.
EPE Special Opportunities Ltd (ESO) had net assets of 488.21p a share at the end of September 2021.
AIM
Tortilla Mexican Grill (MEX) operates and franchises fast-casual Mexican restaurants offering California-inspired food. It raised £5m at 181p a share. The cash raised in the flotation, plus a new senior finance facility of up to £10m, will provide working capital and fund the UK roll out and development of franchise opportunities. Tortilla Mexican Grill has 52 restaurants in the UK, two of which are franchised with SSP – they are at Euston station and Gatwick airport. There are also ten franchised sites in the Middle East – the franchisee is Eathos. Six sites have opened this year. A new site costs between £350,000 and £425,000 to kit out.
Continuing operations of plastic products supplier Coral Products (CRU) increased revenues from £8.7m to £10.7m in the year to April 2021. Underlying profit jumped from £230,000 to £756,000. This could rise to £1m this year with the existing businesses. Once the Haydock site has been sold there should be cash of more than £7m.
Compliance and energy saving services provider Sureserve (SUR) says its order book has grown by more than 30%. Net cash was more than £16m. The results will be announced on 25 January.
Elliott Bernerd of international property developer Chelsfield is taking a significant stake in AIM-quoted chartered surveyor and property adviser Fletcher King (FLK). He is investing £547,000 in new shares and buying existing shares so that his stake is 29.99%. He is buying the shares at 52.5p a share, which is a premium to the market price.
AMTE Power (AMTE) is on course to launch its first commercial battery cell product before the end of 2021. This is a product for the automotive market. There should also be news in the coming months about the site for the company’s UK Gigafactory.
CEPS (CEPS) has restructured its investment interests and the latest interims are the first with the ongoing businesses. Revenues increased by 65% to £9m and lower group overheads meant that operating profit before exceptionals improved from £357,000 to £855,000. Building services company Hickton increased its profit, as did Aford Awards. That offset a lower contribution from stretch fabric supplier Friedman’s.
Palm oil plantation operator Dekel Agri-Vision (DKL) processed 12% more fresh fruit bunches in September 2021 than the year before, while the crude palm oil price was 76% higher than the same month last year. The new cashew plant should be up and running in October. Dekel is on course to be profitable this year.
MAIN MARKET
NMCN (NMCN) has appointed Grant Thornton as administrator. Galliford Try (GFRD) has acquired the company’s water sector businesses, which have annual revenues of £100m, for £1m in cash.
Reserve power generator Mast Energy Developments (MAST) has completed the acquisition of Rochdale Power. This is the third site in the portfolio of sites under development that will have a total capacity of 18.4 MW.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 27 September 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Michael Williams has stepped down as chairman and chief executive of British Honey Company (BHC) and non-exec Philip Seers has also resigned. Robert Porter-Smith has rejoined the board and Alex Maurice becomes chief operating officer. This follows the general meeting requisition, and it is unclear what will happen with that.
Ecotricity has accelerated its 400p a share bid for rival renewable energy supplier Good Energy (GOOD) and it will close on 8 October.
St Mark Homes (SMAP) had net assets of 120p a share at the June 2021. Interim turnover was flat at £108,000 and the loss was reduced from £84,000 to £49,000. The residential development in Sutton will be marketed later this year.
Japanese whisky supplier Rogue Baron (SHNJ) generated revenues of $505,000 in the first half of 2021. There was a loss of $150,000 before flotation costs. Net cash is $139,000. A marketing push is planned for next year.
Rural Broadband Solutions (RBBS) has 2,650 monthly paying connections and expects 2,800 by the end of the year. Interim revenues were £395,000 and the loss was £401,000. Costs have increased due to the strengthening of management to boost the sales and marketing operations. Net cash was £341,000.
Western Selection (WESP) made a reduced loss in the year to June 2021 and no dividend is being paid. Net assets are £10m.
Yooma Wellness Inc (YOOM) is acquiring US-based sparkling water brand Big Swig for $2.5m, minus anticipated liabilities, in shares. This will increase the number of retailers the group deals with in the southern US.
KR1 (KR1) has participated in the Basilisk crowdloan and Kusama (KSM) parachain auction. It contributed 11,111.1 KSM to the crowdloan.
TruSpine Technologies (TSP) has raised £650,000 at 10p a share and Oberon Capital has been appointed as broker. An FDA 510k application for spinal stabilisation system Cervi-LOK should be lodged before the end of the year.
Rutherford Health (RUTH) has opened a community diagnostics hub in partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. There are up to five community hubs planned.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) had net assets of 69.71p a share at the end of August 2021.
IamFire (FIRE) has raised £396,000 at 3p a share. It issued broker Peterhouse with 200,000 warrants at a strike price of 10p a share. John Taylor, a director of AIM and Aquis companies, and Sandy Barblett, who is a director of Rogue Baron, have joined the board. Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi is leaving the board.
Oscillate (MUSH) director Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi has bought one million shares at 2.072p each. He owns eight million shares. The sister of the chief executive of S-Ventures (SVEN) has sold 600,000 shares at 27p each.
AIM
Judges Scientific (JDG) is improving its order book and some of the benefits will show through in the second half. In the six months to June 2021, revenues increased from £37.4m to £43m – the 2019 figure was £40.2m. Underlying pre-tax profit improved from £6.4m to £8.5m, which is slightly higher than 2019 interim figure. To put this in perspective, there have been three acquisitions since the first half of 2019, but it does show a strong recovery.
SourceBio International (SBI) says that updated Covid-19-related travel requirements, that mean that inbound fully vaccinated people will not need PCR tests on days two and eight, will hamper progress in the fourth quarter. Testing volumes had been growing and they will fall back. So far this month, the figure is 14,000 per day.
IT recruitment and services provider Parity Group (PTY) has been increasing investment in its business but that has led to an interim loss. In the six months to June 2021, Parity revenues declined from £29.9m to £26m, which was also below the second half 2020 revenues. Revenues are continuing to decline. A small interim profit has become a small loss and the loss is set to increase in the second half. Parity has swung from net cash to net det of £1.1m, excluding lease liabilities, at the end of June 2021 and a further cash outflow is expected in the second half.
Pennant International (PEN) growing its software revenues and plans to increase its exposure to the rail sector in order to lessen dependence on aerospace and defence. The first half was tough. Revenues did improve from £6.26m to £7.43m, but Pennant remains loss making. There are more than £1m of annualised savings. The three-year order book is worth £26m and there is also a significant pipeline of potential projects for the technical training business.
Cyber security firm ECSC (ECSC) increased interim revenues by 15% to £3m and there was a small reduction in loss to £207,000. Utilisation levels of consultants are increasing, and the recurring managed detection and response revenues grew by 17%. A full year loss is expected.
Cosmetics supplier Warpaint London (W7L) has done well with the roll out in Tesco stores and next year there will be a further boost from a Boots roll out. Interim revenues rose from £13.5m to £18.4m even though there was a decision to reduce close out activity. Profit quadrupled to £1.6m and it was higher than the 2019 figure. The interim dividend is 2.5p a share. Sales in the eight months to August were £27m.
Steel structures supplier Billington (BILN) improved interim revenues by 15% to £37.7m and pre-tax profit was one-quarter higher at £763,000. Net cash was £12.1m at the end of June 2021. Structural steel operations were near to full capacity in the period, while the safety products business increased revenues by one-fifth.
Kettle controls and water appliances manufacturer Strix (KETL) produced record interim figures, even though new product launches were too late to make a difference. The new factory has opened in China with plenty of capacity to handle growth.
Employee benefits services and insurance provider Personal Group (PGH) is growing its SaaS-based business. The deal with Sage is also starting to generate more significant revenues following a free pilot stage. Group revenues fell because of the lack of face-face insurance sales, but there should be a recovery next year.
MAIN MARKET
Maternity wear supplier Seraphine Group (BUMP) says that first quarter trading was strong, but it has been tougher in the second quarter because of supply issues. That means that first half profit will be lower. Full year profit should be at least in line with the 2020-21 figure.
Path Investments (PATH) has provided a loan facility of up to £600,000 to DG Innovate, which Path has conditionally agreed to acquire. DG Innovate is developing electric motor and energy storage technologies.
Serum Life Sciences is investing £50m in Oxford Biomedica (OXB) in return for a 3.9% stake. The cash will be invested in developing the company’s manufacturing facility.
NMCN (NMCN) plans to move from the premium to the standard list. This is part of Svella’s requirement to extend its commitment to subscribe for shares in NMCN. A circular is required to convene a general meeting that should be held by 1 November. Lloyds Bank has extended the company’s overdraft facility to 5 November.
Andrew Hore
Alan Green talks Bidstack #BIDS, Mode Plc #MODE & British Honey Co #BHC on Vox Markets podcast
Alan Green discusses Bidstack #BIDS, Mode Plc #MODE & British Honey Co #BHC with Justin Waite on the Vox Markets podcast. Starts 15 minutes in.
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 5 July 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Voyager Life (VOY) is an early-stage company offering CBD-based products – including chewable sweets, bath products, oils and skincare products. The company has been in existence for around eight months and revenues are small. The first high street shop will be opened in St Andrews during July. Voyager Life raised £400,000 at 58p a share, but by the end of the first week of trading the share price has fallen to 40.5p (39p/42p) – possibly because of trading by crowdfunders that bought at 31p a share. Proforma cash appears to be around £2.4m, but there will have been expenses since the end of March. Greencare Capital (GRE) invested £100,000 and it is currently worth around £107,000.
Samarkand (SMK) reported 2020-21 revenues of £20.6m, including exceptional revenues of £5.8m, up from £6.8m. This enabled the ecommerce technology provider to make a positive EBITDA. There was £14.6m in the bank at the end of March 2021. A Tokyo office was opened in June. The full year results will be published before the end of July.
Revenues fell by more than two-thirds at pubs and brewery operator Daniel Thwaites (THW) and they were £32.2m in the year to March 2021. There was a swing from profit to loss. Net debt increased to £78.8m with monthly cash burn running at £1.5m during lockdown. There were £11.2m of additional bank facilities available and there have been subsequent disposals of non-core properties.
Polygon Global Partners has taken its stake in Watchstone Group (WTG) to above 30% and it is making a mandatory bid at 34p a share, valuing the company at £15.7m.
KR1 (KR1) increased its NAV from 5.72p a share to 28.97p a share at the end of 2020. Non-exec director Rhys Davies has exercised options over 767,236 shares at 19.55p each, which raised £150,000 for the company.
In 2020, Coinsilium Group (COIN) made a pre-tax profit of £310,000, compared with a loss of £259,000. That was mainly due to unrealised gains. The cash outflow from operating activities increased from £496,000 to £788,000. There was £173,000 in the bank.
NFT Investments (NFT) has conserved its cash despite declines in cryptocurrency values. It made a $440,000 gain on crypto token investments but has exited the market for the time being. There is still £34.1m of cash and stable coin, which is deemed to be less volatile because their value tends to be linked to the dollar, in the balance sheet, compared with a market value of £25.6m at 2.55p. How that figure is split between cash and stable coin is not stated.
In the nine months to December 2020, British Honey (BHC) generated revenues of £1.5m. Union Distillers was acquired in February 2021. There was cash of £2.95m at the end of March 2021.
Rogue Baron (SHNJ) has opened a second bar in Washington DC, called De Rhum Shot, and it is three times the size of the existing bar. Rogue Baron is investing £90,000 for a 51% stake and it is committed to a further payment of £20,000. Sales of Shinju whisky should reach 5,000 cases in 2021.
Secured Property Developments (SPD) had cash of £457,000 at the end of 2020 and net assets were £175,000. Management is seeking investment opportunities.
Chris Akers has taken a 3.09% stake in DiscovOre (ORE).
Valereum Blockchain (VLRM) completed the £1m placing at 70p a share.
AIM
Wynnstay (WYN) has gained market share in the animal feed market and the milk price remains at a level that provides confidence to farmers helping the retail operations to grow. In the six months to April 2021, revenues rose from £229.3m to £249.7m. Raw material prices have increased but Wynnstay has been able to pass them on and improve gross profit from £31.5m to £33.3m, which is the important measure. Underlying pre-tax profit improved from £4.5m to £5.5m. The interim dividend was raised by 9% to 5p a share.
The restructuring of Huricane Energy (HUR) has been rejected by the courts and that effectively means that the company has defaulted on the planned convertible bond repayments. The non-exec directors have resigned, and two directors appointed to replace them.
Digital marketing services and technology provider Silver Bullet Data Services (SBDS) raised £9.5m at 257p a share when it floated. This will be spent on further development of its 4D technology that helps brands to target advertising. 4D has been developed as an alternative to cookies that remains in line with current and likely regulations.
Specialist cleaning company React Group (REAT) increased interim revenues from £2.09m to £2.51m, while underlying pre-tax profit improved from £50,000 to £74,000. Fidelis was acquired too late in the period to make a significant contribution. Full year pre-tax profit is expected to increase from £188,000 to £784,000.
MAIN MARKET
Bermele (BERM) has agreed the acquisition of premium mixers supplier East Imperial Pte for £24.45m and it will be changing its name to East Imperial and raising £3m at 10p a share.
In 2020, Lookers (LOOK) increased its underlying pre-tax profit from £4m to £14.1m. The motor dealer is making annualised savings of £50m.
Highway Capital (HWC) says that it has whittled down potential acquisitions to a small number and is in discussions with one target. There is £41,000 in cash and net liabilities of £1.13m.
Wildcat Petroleum (WCAT) is focusing on Angola and Namibia in its search for oil and gas assets.
Media Tech SPAC is raising cash via Primary Bid ahead of a standard listing later this summer. The company wants to raise up to £6m at 10p a share. Areas of interest include digital technology, cyber security, social media, content distribution, virtual reality, gaming and interactive entertainment. Media Tech SPAC has previously raised £415,000 at 1p a share and £1.64m at 4p a share.
Ross Group (RGP) lost £1.46m in 2020. Net liabilities are £5m. Ross has acquired an aquaculture business, but it is yet to benefit from the investment put into this business.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 3 May 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Decentralised finance (DeFi) focused investment company Dispersion Holdings (DEFI) raised £9m at 3p a share. The share price closed at 4.15p (3.8p/4.5p) and there were just over one million shares traded on the first day. The market capitalisation is £25.4m. Shares were originally issued at below the placing price and the underlying NAV is 1.8p a share. Dispersion has already made two investments, although one of those is a £210,000 investment in NFT Investments, which has management in common, at the equivalent of 7p a share. NFT’s placing was at 5p a share and the investment was made after the shares commenced trading. Since then, the share price has fallen to 3.85p (3.7p/4p).
Semper Fortis Esports (SEMP) has the management experience to exploit the fast-growing esports sector. The board includes football adviser Keith Harris. Chief executive Kevin Soltani was a co-owner of an esports franchise in MENA and co-founded the GIMA Esports Agency with chief operating officer Jassem Osseiran. The Semper Fortis Esports shareholder register includes the likes of Chris Akers. Semper Fortis Esports raised £2.5m, after expenses, at 1p a share. Pro forma net assets are £2.13m, with £2.15m cash in the bank. The pro forma NAV is just over 0.5p a share. The share price ended the week at 3.95p (3.8p/4.1p).
Greencare Capital (GRE) has invested £100,000 in Voyager Life, as part of a £671,000 before an Aquis flotation. Voyager Life supplies CBD and hemp seed oil products. This follows the £100,000 investment in CBD products supplier Clearly Supplements in the form of a 5% convertible loan. The Covid-19 pandemic and legislation changes hampered the planned reverse takeover, and it did not go ahead. There should still be more than £1m in cash in the balance sheet after the investments.
Revenues fell 59% to £8.49m at Newbury Racecourse (NYR) and there was a loss of £2.27m. Only four race meetings had people attending last year. There were 20 race days last year and there will be ten by 17 May this year. There was £1.5m raised from the sale of surplus land. There was £5.53m in the bank at the end of 2020. Net assets were £48.9m, down from £51.4m.
Spirits maker British Honey (BHC) says that first quarter revenues, excluding hand sanitisers, increased by one-quarter to £1.33m. The integration of Union Distillers is nearly complete. A new bottling line will increase capacity to four million bottles a year by the end of 2021. A new bottling line for miniatures is also being installed.
Gunsynd (GUN) has made a £200,000 in DiscovOre (ORE) at 2p a share. DiscovOre is changing its investing strategy to focus on the medical psychedelic sector.
Supported housing provider Walls and Futures REIT (WAFR) says that NAV has fallen by 5% to 102p a share. John D Wood values the company’s properties at £3.2m. The company collected 100% of rents last year. Virgata Services has to publish an offer document by 6 May.
Primorus Investments (PRIM) has invested $2.5m in convertible loan notes in standard listed Mustang Energy (MUST) as part of a fundraising to pay for a 22.1% stake in VFFB-H, which owns 50% of Enerox, an Austria-based vanadium redox flow battery manufacturer. AIM-quoted Bushveld Minerals (BMN) is the majority shareholder in VFFB-H. Enerox plans to raise £30m. Trading has been suspended in Mustang Energy shares.
Altona Rare Earths (ANR) is proceeding with the acquisition of the Monte Muambe rare earths project. The contract is being finalised and then Altona will start the earn-in to progress towards a 70% stake in the project. Altona is still assessing other projects. An application has been filed for a standard listing.
Angelfish Investments (ANGP) has raised £42,000 at 0.00258065 a share, plus £90,000 via a convertible loan facility at the same conversion price as the placing. Simon Grant-Rennick has been appointed executive chairman and Burns Singh Tennent Bhohi, who has taken a 14.8% stake, as an executive director.
Two locations have shown strong gold intersection at surfaces at NQ Minerals (NQMI) 100%-owned Beaconsfield gold mine in Tasmania. The surface potential could add significant resources to Beaconsfield.
Positive results have been reported by BWA Group (BWAP) from the sampling at the Nkoteng rutile sands project in Cameroon. There are elevated intervals of rutile-ilmenite, zircon and kyanite over continuous zones.
SulNOx Group (SNOX) has signed an Africa-focused distribution agreement with Rigworld Solutions. This formalises and earlier agreement.
Watchstone Group (WTG) has made the switch from AIM to Aquis.
Coinsilium (COIN) has raised £18,500 from the sale of treasury shares at 18.5p each.
AIM
Hurricane Energy (HUR), which at one time was a constituent of the AIM 50, is restructuring its balance sheet. This would involve swapping $50m of the principal of the company’s convertible bonds into 95% of the enlarged share capital. The terms of the remaining $180m of bonds will be amended. The business will focus on extending the oil production case for the Lancaster 205/21a-6 well.
Construction services consultancy Driver (DRV) says that its latest underlying interim profit will be slightly lower than for the same period last year, which was £1.25m. That is a strong comparative period. Lockdowns have varied in the different operational countries. Driver also lost a team in Asia Pacific to a rival. The focus is higher margin work and activity levels are improving. Net cash was £7.2m at the end of March 2021. The interims will be published on 8 June.
Pennant International (PEN) fell into loss in 2020 and it should manage to return to profit this year. Forecast revenues of £16m are 90% covered by the order book. Pennant wants to win more business in the rail sector.
Pollen Street Capital is bidding 75p a share for spend control software supplier Proactis (PHD) and the board is recommending the offer, which values the company at £71.6m. Pollen Street has the finance to accelerate growth. The bid is at 24 times prospective 2020-21 earnings, falling to 19 next year.
Building software supplier Eleco (ELCO) says that first quarter revenues were 9% ahead at £7m, while year-on-year pre-tax profit was one-fifth higher. Net cash was £7.9m at the end of March 2021. A general meeting has been requisitioned so that shareholders can vote on the re-election of executive chairman Serena Lang and non-executive director Kevin Craig, a resolution to make it compulsory for all directors to come up for re-election at every AGM and a vote on the remuneration report in the 2020 accounts.
Cosmetics supplier Warpaint London (W7L) had an improved second half and momentum is continuing into next year. In 2020, revenues fell from £49.3m to £40.3m, but earnings halved from 6.3p a share to 3.1p a share.
President Energy (PPC) expects to bring the EV-1001 well on the Estancia Vieja gas field into production during May. The drill rig will be moved to the next location. President is expected to return to profit in 2020.
Amiad Water Systems (AFS) plans to transfer its quotation to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
MAIN MARKET
In 2020, Argo Blockchain (ARB) increased revenues from £8.6m to £19m, but it made a small loss. Cash inflow from operating activities was £12.3m, according to finnCap. This year a pre-tax profit of £30m is forecast, although working capital will consume most of the cash generated even before significant capital expenditure.
Moulded plastic parts manufacturer Carclo (CAR) says that it has maintained its full year revenues for plastics, but there was a decline in aerospace revenues, and made a profit. Net debt has been reduced from £22.1m to £20m.
InnovaDerma (IDP) raised an additional £500,000 in an open offer and that took the total raised to £4.5m. This will fund ecommerce investment.
Andrew Hore
Alan Green talks banks and markets, plus Mode Group #MODE, British Honey Co #BHC & Blue Star Capital #BLU on UK Investor Magazine podcast
Alan Green talks banks and markets, plus Mode Group #MODE, British Honey Co #BHC & Blue Star Capital #BLU with Jonathan Roy on the UK Investor Magazine podcast
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 22 February 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
British Honey Company (BHC) is acquiring Union Distillers for an initial £8m in cash and shares. Leicestershire-based Union Distillers has been trading for more than eight years and has its own still and bonded warehouse. There is a range of gins, vodkas, a spiced rum, an absinthe and an espresso vodka liqueur under the Two Birds brand. There could be up to £2m of earn-out consideration payable in cash and shares depending on the target revenues from the Union products. A share issue raised £4.59m at 110p a share, while a convertible loan note issue added a further £1.63m. Union has £250,000 in cash. The deal should be earnings enhancing and cash generative. In the year to September 2020, Union generated revenues of £4.94m and pre-tax profit £1.13m. NAV was £1.52m.
National Milk Records (NMRP) reported flat interim revenues of £10.8m, but pre-tax profit increased by one-quarter to £500,000. Net debt was reduced to £1.1m despite investment in a genomics lab. An unchanged dividend of 1.25p a share will be paid. The outlook is positive for the dairy sector with UK milk prices expected to be maintained at current levels. Finance director Mark Frankcom has bought 9,974 shares at 101.75p each.
Imperial X (IMPP) is making four acquisitions and continues to move towards a standard listing. The purchases involve the issue of 245.6 million shares. Cloudbreak Discovery Corp, Howson Ventures Inc and Cabox Gold Corp are all being acquired, and certain assets of Anglo African Minerals are being bought. Imperial X has a £10m drawdown agreement with Crescita Capital. This lasts for three years.
Upper Thames Holdings (UPPT) is not going ahead with the proposed acquisition of Sweden-based mobile camera systems technology company Ridercam. Instead, the focus will be on blockchain and the linking of conventional currencies with cryptocurrencies. A placing has raised £516,000 at 1p a share. Peterhouse has been appointed as corporate adviser.
Hydro Hotel Eastbourne (HYDP) fell into loss last year as revenues slumped by two-fifths. The hotel has been closed or under restrictions for the period since the year end in October 2020. There is £1.03m in the bank and the NAV is £3.3m.
S-Ventures (SVEN) has bought a 75.1% stake in Ohso Chocolate for £295,000 in shares at 9p each. The remaining 24.9% stake in Ohso could be sold for nearly 1.1 million shares. Ohso is a probiotic chocolate supplier and it generated revenues of £311,000 during 2020. The S-Ventures chief executive and finance director owned 50.6% in Ohso.
World High Life (LIFE) is changing its name to Love Hemp. A general meeting will be held on 11 March. In the first half, revenues were £2.36m and second quarter revenues were nearly double those in the first quarter, although the gross margin fell. A debt of £2.15m has been settled by the issue of 86.1 million shares.
Sativa Wellness Inc (SWEL) has submitted a novel food application for validation by the Food Standards Agency. This covers a range of CBD products.
Wishbone Gold (WSBN) has identified new gold targets at the Red Setter project in Western Australia. The magnetic survey has discovered targets that are shallower than previously.
Ananda Investments (ANA) has raised £300,000 from two investors. This will finance the first phase of the medicinal cannabis growing facility in Lincolnshire. Vulcan Industries (VULC) has raised a further £330,000 at 4p a share.
AIM
Avacta (AVCT) is starting its first clinical study. This is a phase I study for AVA6000, developed from the pre|CISION platform. This is a treatment for solid tumours, including those for bladder, pancreatic, colorectal and breast cancer. The trial will assess safety and dosage levels. Early data could be published before the end of the year.
Transense Technologies (TRT) should move into profit next year as it receives a full year of royalties following the sale of the iTrack business to Bridgestone. In the year to June 2020, there was a £1.3m loss and this year there could be a much-reduced loss this year. Once Bridgestone has built up iTrack sales the royalties will cover group overheads. This will enable Transense to invest in its surface acoustic wave technology and Translogik tyre probes. A 2021-22 pre-tax profit of £357,000 is forecast.
Strong underlying growth in the mobile division helped Blannco Technology (BLTG) to maintain interim revenues at £17.4m. The previous year included £1.4m of one-off contract income. The fastest growth is in Asia Pacific. The prospects for data erasure operations are good and new partners have been signed up. Data erasure is particularly important while remote working is a major factor in companies.
Chamberlin (CMH) is getting a cash injection from Trevor Brown. The £200,000 loan will, subject to shareholder approval, be converted into shares at 6p each and Brown will have a 29.5% stake. The Scunthorpe foundry is busy and profitable, but management is still trying to win work for the Walsall foundry.
Duke Royalty (DUKE) has secured a new client involved in steel fabrication. There is a £6.2m royalty financing agreement with Meteor HoldCo, which makes steel street lighting and guardrail products.
Telecoms testing systems supplier Calnex Solutions (CLX) says some revenues appear to have been brought forward into 2020-21 and therefore the full year revenues and profit will be ahead of expectations.
Trans-Siberian Gold (TSG) has published details of the Rodnikova project scoping study, which suggests a potential 14-year life for the project. The JORC resource is 6.3Mt at an average grade of 5g/t gold. Post tax NPV10 is $177.6m – based on $1,600/ounce gold price.
MAIN MARKET
Israel-based cannabis-based products supplier Kanabo Research has completed its reversal into standard list shell Spinnaker Opportunities to form Kanabo Group (KNB) two years after the deal was announced. The value of the deal was £15m in shares and the company also raised £6m at a share price of 6.5p. Kanabo was valued at £23.4m when it was admitted to trading. The share price has risen to 31p – having at one point reached 50.75p – and that values Kanabo at £111.7m. One of the investors in Kanabo is AIM-quoted Vela Technologies (VELA) and it invested £150,000 at 6.5p a share.
MGC Pharmaceuticals (MXC) has expanded its research programme into the use of cannabinoids to treat aggressive glioblastoma brain cancer. The expanded study includes the use of a nanoparticle delivery system. MGC has also secured a three-year distribution agreement with Swiss PharmaCan for its product ArtemiC Rescue as a food supplement. The minimum order quantity is 40,000 units per quarter, which has a retail value of $3.4m.
Path Investments (PATH) is not going ahead with the purchase of DT Ultravert from two vendors including Zoetic International (ZOE) following concerns during the preparation of the potential prospectus. Path has raised £3.5m at 0.25p a share.
Rare earths explorer Pensana (PRE) is dropping its listing on the ASX.
Papillon Holdings (PPHP) has submitted a prospectus to the FCA for the proposed reverse takeover of the Kilimapesa gold project.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 18 January 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
British Honey (BHC) generated revenues of £1.5m in the nine months to December 2020 with more sales online. There was £2.4m in the bank.
Rutherford Health (RUTH) has agreed to provide cancer treatment to NHS Trusts and clinical commissioning groups in England. The initial agreement is for two years.
A subsidiary of Noble Group has sent a letter of intent to Eastinco Mining and Exploration (EM.P) saying it wasn’t to purchase a significant portion of tantalum and tine production from Musasa in Rwanda. There will be immediate payment on agreement of the grade. There has been a further cash injection of £150,000.
Tectonic Gold (TTAU) has discovered further gold mineralisation at Specimen Hill in Queensland. There is a 100% success rate with holes drilled. A drilling programme has started at Mt Cassidy and once completed drilling will recommence at Specimen Hill at the sites that are prospective for copper.
NQ Minerals (NQMI) says that the Hellyer mine in Australia produced 38,319 tonnes of lead concentrate, up 53%, and 19,019 tonnes of zinc concentrate, up 22%, in 2020. There was 5,452 ounces of gold and 1.1 million ounces of silver produced. Gross revenues were A$63.3m and net income was A$22.7m.
Preliminary sampling at one of the Cameroon licences owned by BWA Group (BWAP) has identified mineralisation. The Dehane project has elevated titanium, zircon and aluminium multi-element associations. More cash is required to fund further exploration.
Gunsynd (GUN) says that Peterhouse has been appointed as corporate adviser to Rogue Baron ahead of a proposed flotation on Aquis in the first quarter. Rogue Baron is a spirits company and Gunsynd has a £500,000 convertible repayable at the end of March. The Gunsynd NAV increased from £2.36m to £2.47m at the end of July 2020. There was £838,000 in the bank.
Vulcan Industries (VULC) has raised £100,000 at 4.5p a share. SulNOx Group (SNOX) has raised £50,100 at 41.75p a share. Further cash will be required. Altona Energy (ANR) has raised a further £42,000 at 6.5p a share. MiLOC Group (ML.P) has raised £237,000 at 28.5p a share and started litigation against a distributor.
Walls and Futures REIT (WAFR) boos Joe McTaggart has bought 30,409 shares at 49p each.
AIM
Toilet tissue manufacturer Accrol (ACRL) reported strong interims even before a contribution from the recently acquired LTC. In the six months to October 2020, revenues slipped from £64.5m to £62.3m but that reflects panic buying in the last two months of the previous year that reduced this year’s figure. A contribution from LTC should increase full year revenues from £135m to £154m and pre-tax profit could nearly double to £9.2m. Accrol intends to pay a final dividend of 0.5p a share.
Online fashion retailer Sosandar (SOS) reported a 6% increase in revenues to December 2020, following a £1.6m reduction in marketing spend – mainly in December. This includes growing sales via John Lewis and Next. The loss was more than halved. Net cash was £3.9m at the end of 2020.
Kromek (KMK) reported a 14% decline in interim revenues to £4.58m, which was a resilient performance considering the disruption in the period. Kromek has moved into a net debt position but management is confident that it has enough funds for its requirements. The second half should be stronger. The long-term outlook for MRI, imaging and radiation detection products remains positive.
Battery technology developer Ilika (IKA) is on course for Stereax battery production to be scaled up by the beginning of 2022 and more significant revenues will flow through from then on. The total investment is £4m. The pilot line is running at full capacity so there is unlikely to be growth in short-term revenues. There is also the longer-term potential for Goliath batteries for electric vehicles. There should be £9m in the bank at the end of April 2021.
Voucher products supplier Appreciate (APP) had a strong third quarter and free cash reached £33.5m. The focus on digital products is paying off.
Law firm Gateley (GTLY) grew earnings by 7% in the first half, but full year earnings are expected to decline from 12.5p a share to 9.1p a share. There could be scope for an upgrade if utilisation levels remain high.
Ariana Resources (AAU) says that the 50%-owned Kiziltepe mine produced 18,645 ounces of gold in 2020. The processing plant capacity is being quadrupled.
Filtronic (FTC) has won a contract with more than £1m with a UK defence customer. Filtronic will design and supply battlefield communications hardware.
In 2020, Dekel Agri-Vision (DKL) increased palm oil production by 24% to 4,824MT and the average price obtained was ahead by a similar percentage. The price has started 2021 at a much higher level and even if the price does not stay as high Dekel should be able to at least move nearer to profit in 2021.
Franchise Brands (FRAN) will report 2020 figures ahead of consensus. The business has been strongly cash generative and the consumer-facing franchises did better in the second half. Metro Rod was classed as an essential service and trading recovered after an initial slump. Allenby forecasts 2020 earnings of 4.3p a share and this could improve to 4.8p a share in 2021.
Environmental and life sciences company Deepverge (DVRG) generated revenues of £4.4m in 2020 before any contribution from the recently acquired Modern Water. This year’s revenues should more than double, although the business should still lose money. There are large projects that are being bid for that could contribute to this year.
SourceBio International (SBI) has signed a deal with a high street retailer to provide lab testing services. This will start with a limited number of stores and could then be broadened. Demand for Covid testing is likely to continue to be high for many months.
MAIN MARKET
BATM Advanced Communication (BVC) has secured an option deal to sell its NGSoft communications technology services business to Aztek Technologies for $33m in cash. This is around ten times operating profit. The cash can be reinvested into the other activities.
Telecoms business Toople (TOOP) increased revenues from £2.45m to £3.44m and gross profit from £479,000 to £1.1m in the year to September 2020. The purchase of DMSL helped to grow revenues. Admin expenses were slightly higher at £2.44m. The underlying pre-tax loss edged up from £1.24m to £1.31m. That excludes a £1.1m provision for bad debts and restructuring costs. Directors pay increased from £278,000 to £312,239 last year. Net debt was nearly £1m at the end of September 2020. Debt in the form of a loan note is repayable at the end of 2022. The cash outflow from operating activities reduced from £2m to £1.6m.
InnovaDerma (IDP) reported a one-fifth decline in interim revenues. The personal care products supplier was hit by the closure of high street shops in the UK. International sales improved. The new chief executive is still assessing the business and will report plans and impairment charges in the coming weeks. A non-executive director is loaning the company £500,000 until 13 July.
Andrew Hore
Alan Green discusses ESG and renewables, plus British Honey Co #BHC, Open Orphan #ORPH & Itaconix #ITX on UK Investor Magazine podcast
Alan Green discusses ESG and renewables, plus British Honey Co #BHC, Open Orphan #ORPH & Itaconix #ITX with Jonathan Roy on the UK Investor Magazine podcast