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Quoted Micro 12 February 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
RentGuarantor (RCG) 2023 revenues were 3% ahead of Zeus forecasts and expects to upgrade its 2024 forecast in April after the accounts are released. The 2023 revenues were 73% higher at £742,000. There was a 57% increase in tenant contracts to 1,124. A new insurance partner has increased insurance cover for rent arrears at a lower cost. Zeus has an estimated discounted cash flow valuation of 303p/share. The current 2024 forecast is revenues of £3.6m and breakeven.
All Things Considered (ATC) has acquired a 50% stake in Mckeown Asset, which has concert and festival management interests, as well as 40% of Something Records and 10% of Brighton venue Concorde 2 (it has an option to increase the stake to up to 70%). The initial payment is £475,000 in cash and James Mckeown intends to spend £25,000 in All Things Considered shares. There is potential deferred consideration of £200,000. Mckeown Assets NAV was £243,000 at the end of April 2023, including investments valued at £125,000.
EPE Special Opportunities (EO.P) had an NAV of 324p/share. Holdings in Atlantic Credit Opportunities Fund and Prelude Structured Alternatives Master Fund have been sold and EPIC Acquisition Corp is being wound up because it failed to find a suitable acquisition. There was cash of £15.3m at the end of January 2024. The £4m of unsecured loan notes has been extended to 23 July 2024. There are 12.5 million ZDP shares in issue that mature at the end of 2026.
VSA Capital (VSA) and Andrew Gerrie and Alison Hawksley have settled their legal dispute with Silverwood Brands (SLWD) that relates to 2.28 million shares that were transferred from the two individuals to VSA Capital. The agreement should enable the transaction to sell Lush shares to Silverwood Brands to be unwound.
Investment Evolution Credit (IEC) says that it should take between ten and twelve months to gain FCA authorisation to provide consumer loans. It previously thought that it would take up to 18 months. The loans will be offered at annual percentage rates of between 19.9% and 59.9%. This is expected to improve revenues and profit. Investment Evolution Credit has launched an offering of up to £100m of 15% fixed rate unsecured bonds that last five years. This will fund the US loan portfolio and then UK loans when approvals are granted.
The NAV of Gledhow Investments (GDH) fell from £1.7m to £1.41m at the end of September 2023, including £174,000 in cash. The cash figure has increased to £280,000. There is 51% of the investment portfolio invested in AIM, one-third in Aquis and the rest in pre-IPO investments.
Diagnostic products developer EDX Medical Group (EDX) is raising £4.01m via a subscription at 12p/share, which is a premium to the market price. Founder Professor Chris Evans subscribed for 6.25 million shares. The other investors were high net worth individuals.
Oscillate (MUSH) has a 12.75% stake in Psych Capital (PSY). The investment company is pleased about the news that Psych Capital has been awarded a grant for a phase 1 POC study in Israel of psilocybin-assisted therapy for anorexia nervosa patients.
Marula Mining (MARU) has amended the terms of the Q Global Commodities subscription of up to £3.75m at 3.75p/share so that the money can be subscribed by another affiliate. This cash will be invested in battery metals mining projects in Africa. There is an option to subscribe up to a further £4.78m at 10p/share.
Substrate Artificial Intelligence (SAI) has an investment agreement with Indico Investments and Management, which can provide up to Euro2m with shares issued at a discount of 10% to the relevant share price. There is 2% commission on the total amount, plus 15% commission for each capital increase.
Newbury Racecourse (NYR) non-executive director Dominic J Burke bought 3,000 shares at 700p each, taking his stake to 6.51%. Arbuthnot Banking Group (ARBB) chairman and chief executive Sir Henry Angest acquired 100,000 shares at 990p each, taking his stake to 57.3% of the voting shares.
Clean Invest Africa (CIA) has raised £200,000 at 0.35p each.
Alex Albertini has been appointed as a non-executive director of SulNOx Group (SNOX). He has experience in the shipping industry.
AIM
Adam Wilson is stepping down as chief executive of coal supplier Bens Creek (BEN) once a replacement has been found. Lower metallurgical coal prices led to a shortage of cash last year and $13 of convertible loan notes were issued to 29.9% shareholder Avani Resources. That cash should have lasted until the end of 2024. The company blames poor weather in West Virginia for interrupting production and delaying trains transporting coal. Avani Resources has offered another $5m as a working capital facility. While details are worked out Avani has advanced $1.25m. A 12-month offtake agreement for 40,000 short tons of coal is being negotiated with Avani Resources.
Futura Medical (FUM) says 2023 product revenues were around £3.1m following the launch of erectile dysfunction treatment Eroxon in the UK and Belgium. It has already built up a 20% market share. A $4m upfront payment from Haleon for US rights will be recognised in 2024. There was cash of £7.7m at the end of 2023.
Redx Pharma (REDX) is selling global rights to the preclinical-stage KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma virus) inhibitor programme to Jazz Pharmaceuticals for an upfront payment of $10m and potential milestone payments of up to $870m. Redx Pharmaceuticals should have enough cash to get into 2025.
In-game advertising technology provider Bidstack (BIDS) has issued additional convertible loan notes to Irdeto because it has not been able to provide information to Bidstack to publish a shareholder circular. Shareholder approval is required for the convertible issue. Bidstack had drawn down £600,000 from the convertible loan note facility but does not expect to make any more draw downs. The €3m payment from commercial partner Azerion is running out with cash of £1.4m at the end of January and this will run out by the end of March. A strategic review has been initiated.
Building products supplier Alumasc (ALU) has traded strongly, even though the underlying markets, particularly housebuilding, have been weak. Interim revenues increased 6% to £47.8m and pre-tax profit was 14% higher at £6.3m. Water Management increased its profit contribution with recent acquisition ARP only becoming part of the group late in the period. New products helped the housebuilding division. Additional costs on sales meant that the building envelope division profit was lower. A major export order has been delayed, but full year pre-tax profit could still improve from £11.2m to £12.1m.
Cleaning services provider React (REAT) increased its pre-tax profit from £700,000 to £1.8m in the year to September 2023. Revenues grew by 43% and there was a full contribution from the LaddersFree acquisition. Net cash is £1.3m. Current trading is at record levels. Pre-tax profit is expected to grow to £2.1m this year. This has been trimmed because of additional investment in systems to cope with further growth. Tax losses are running out, so the reported earnings will be lower despite the underlying progress.
Semiconductors developer Sondrel (SND) revealed that it had received £1.5m form the customer where payments had been delayed. This has enabled deferred payments to be made by Sondrel. New business opportunities are being negotiated. Even so, Sondrel needs to raise more cash before the end of March to put it on a sound financial footing.
Bushveld Minerals (BMN) has suspended full year guidance until it receives funds from Southern Point Resources relating to last year’s fundraising. Full year production fell 3% to 3,714mt, but sales rose 13% to 4,051mt. However, production has been affected by the lack of cash and it fell to 267mt in January. Southern Point Resources owes more than $10m and claims processing delays and the default of a funding partner have delayed the payment. The payment should be made by the end of February.
Cloud computing services provider Beeks Financial Cloud (BKS) has secured a significant multi-year contract with one of the world’s largest global exchange groups. The contract requires regulatory approval so it may not make a contribution in the year to June 2024. The value of the deal was not disclosed but it could be worth £3m or more each year. Another contract has been increased in size. Canaccord Genuity is maintaining its 2023-24 pre-tax profit forecast at £4.1m and increasing the 2024-25 figure from £5.3m to £6m.
Verditek (VDTK) has agreed terms to sell its solar business and become a shell. The buyers are the holders of secured convertible loan notes in return for the surrender of £528,340 loan notes and £50,000 in cash. The company will transfer the shareholder loan to the new company for nominal consideration. The bondholders are providing Verditek with a loan facility of up to €100,000 to fund the operating costs of the solar business. If the deal does not go ahead by the end of February Verditek will be running out of cash. A new management team is interested in joining Verditek and there are plans to raise £300,000.
RF components and systems developer Filtronic (FTC) has won a £7.8m contract for ground station antenna amplifiers for a leading global supplier of LEO satellite communications equipment. It also released interims with revenues 1% ahead at £8.5m. The cost base has been increased to cope with future growth, so there was a swing from profit to loss. Cavendish has raised its full year revenues expectations from £20.5m to £23.5m and pre-tax profit estimate has more than trebled from £800,000 to £2.5m.
Helium One Global (HE1) says Itumbula West-1 has flowed a high concentration of helium to surface. A measured helium concentration of up to 4.7% equates to nearly 9,000 times normal background levels. The well results will be evaluated. The company raised £4.7m at 1.5p, which is still a 650% premium to the share price prior to positive drilling news.
Artemis Resources (ARV) has discovered spodumene bearing pegmatites with Li2O grades of up to 1.82% at the Mount Marie prospect in the Greater Carlow project. This is the first tangible proof of spodumene bearing pegmatites and it could be part of a lithium corridor according to WH Ireland. Assay information is being assessed and should be published on 13 February.
MAIN MARKET
S and U (SUS) says tough trading conditions are hampering trading. Advances by motor finance provider Advantage were 7% lower than last year. In the second half of 2023-24 90% of due payments were made, down from 94% in the previous period. This means that pre-tax profit will be 10%-15% below expectations of £38m. Net receivables for Aspen Bridging have increased from £114m to £130m. The second interim dividend will be raised from 35p/share to 38p/share.
A new African investor has invested $500,000 in Blencowe Resources (BRES) at 5p/share and a further $2.5m has been conditionally raised at the same price.
First Tin (1SN) says sampling at the Taronga tin project confirms extensions to known mineralisation to the northeast and southwest and identified other potential targets.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 25 December 2023
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Good Life Plus (GDLF) completed its reversal into Semper Fortis Esports. There was £1.4m raised at 2p/share. The share price improved 11.1% to 2.5p. The business has been trading for just over two years and it offers members daily prize draws. There are more than 21,000 active members and monthly recurring revenues are £210,000. The company is currently loss-making, partly due to investment in marketing, although the increasing scale means gross profit is improving. The cash will fund further investment in marketing. Sportingbet founder Mark Blandford is one of the new investors.
Kondor AI (KNDR) joined the Access segment of Aquis on 21 September having raised £1.5m at 3p/share and by the end of the week the share price was 8.25p. There was £400,500 raised in November. Kondor AI intends to develop artificial intelligence products in areas such as health diagnostics, search and text recognition. A beta demonstration product is being tested.
Secured Property Developments (SPD) has appointed Paul Ryan as executive director and Noel Lyons as non-exec and they have acquired £150,000 worth of shares at 26.11p each. The existing directors resigned. It appears likely that the focus may change to technology and cleantech. Peterhouse has become corporate adviser. The changes sparked a 60% rise in the share price to 20p.
Incanthera (INC) has secured a commercial deal with a subsidiary of health and beauty company AS Watson for the launch of the Skin + CELL skincare range. This should generate significant revenues in 2024. The plan is to roll out the brand to 1,000 stores in Europe, followed by Asia. Manufacturing has been subcontracted. To fund this, £800,000 was raised at 7p/share and £200,000 of debt owed to the University of Bradford was converted into shares. There was net debt of £199,0090 at the end of September 2023.
Vanadium flow batteries developer Invintiy Energy Systems (IES) says full year revenues will be at least £21.6m, which is below forecast, and the EBIDA loss will be higher than expected at £22m. That means net cash will be around £1m. Forecast revenues for 2024 have been downgraded and the loss raised. This is based on exiting projects. Canaccord Genuity believes that there will be a cash injection from a strategic partner, which will offset the cash outflow in 2024.
Valereum (VLRM) has renegotiated the acquisition of the GSX Group, which is dependent on the approval of shareholders. It is paying five million shares and 10 million warrants exercisable at 1p each. The deal includes GATENet DFMI intellectual property, which puts the group in a strong position in tokenisation. The GATE token will the sole token used. As part of the deal former AIM boss Simon Brickles will become a non-executive director. GSX chief executive Nick Cowan will take up that role in the group.
Coinsilium Group (COIN) says a recovery in cryptocurrency markets is having a positive effect on the company. The expected approval of the first spot Bitcoin ETF should create more opportunities.
Aquaculture technology developer OTAQ (OTAQ) had a strong second half and full year revenues will be £4.4m, which is higher than expected. Oil and gas demand has improved. There was positive EBITDA in the second half. There are opportunities in Geotracking for next year.
Wishbone Gold (WSBN) is exercising the option over the Crescent East lithium and gold project in Western Australia. In return, 18.6 million shares worth around £400,000. Gold mineralisation has been confirmed and there is potential for lithium in the southern area.
Personalised medicine company EDX Medical (EDX) had £1.1m in the bank at the end of September 2023. There was £1.5m outflow from operating activities in the six months to September 2023.
Mydecine Innovations Group Inc (MYIG) is the largest faller on the week with a 70.6% decline to 2.5p, even though it has received notice of allowance from the US patent office for the MYCO-005 compound. It mimics psilocin but without some of the side effects.
ChallengerX (CXS) has moved from net assets of £282,000 to net liabilities of £33,000 at the end of June 2023.
Rogue Baron (SHNJ) has raised £50,000 at 0.35p/share. The spirits company is still performing due diligence on the acquisition of a vodka brand.
Marula Mining (MARU) says dual listings on the Nairobi Stock Exchange and JSE should happen in the first quarter of 2024. Indicative terms have been received indicative terms for an offtake agreement with a European commodity trader for the lithium output of Blesberg lithium and tantalum mine. Transportation of the modular processing plant for the Kinusi copper mine will not happen until early 2024.
Cadence Minerals (KDNC) investee company European Metals Holdings (EMH) says that the definitive feasibility study for the Cinovec lithium project in the Czech Republic has been delayed until the first quarter of 2024. This will allow time to complete capital and operating cost estimation and project implementation scheduling.
SulNOx Group (SNOX) says that its Ghana-based distributor has purchased 3,700 litres of SulNOxEco fuel additive and committed to a minimum of 15,000 litres each year, which is valued at £250,000. SulNOx has raised £1.8m at 23p/share. The share price is down 1.92% to 25.5p.
Walls and Futures REIT (WAFR) had an NAV of 87p/share at the end of September 2023. Property values increased by £60,000.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) is involved in a £1.5m fundraising for Rapid Retail, which supplies portable shops and kiosks, and it is investing £100,000 in existing shares and providing a 9% secured convertible loan of £400,000. The rest of the cash is coming from Harrock Investments, which is controlled by Capital for Colleagues non-executive Bill Ainscough.
Trading in Pharma C Investments (PCIL) will resume on 27 December This follows the recent publication of annual results and interim figures. There has been £281,000 raised at 0.01p/share. These shares are 91% of the enlarged share capital. Peter Wall will be executive chairman. The investment strategy has been changed to technology.
Gunsynd (GUN) NAV fell from £3.85m to £2.15m in the year to July 2023, including cash of £164,000.
Oberon Investments (OBE) has received FCA approval for the acquisition of Nexus Investment Management and the Nexus Investments Evergreen EIS Scale-Up Fund. Harry Hyman has increased his stake from 3.82% to 4.98%.
Macaulay Capital (MCAP) is making a £125,000 loan to a subsidiary of investee company Vale Foods. This loan earns 10%/year and provides cash to finance an increase in capacity. Macaulay Capital director David Horner is personally lending £100,000.
Cooks Coffee Company (COOK) is buying back shareholdings of less than 1,125 shares.
Adnams (ADB) director Sacha Berendji acquired 300 A shares at £19 each.
Jared Gurfein has been appointed as chief executive of Looking Glass Labs (NFTX), replacing Dorian Banks.
AIM
Trading has not gone to plan at Hargreaves Services (LON: HSP) but it is able to offer an enhanced dividend pay out. Reduced commodity prices and a slowdown in the German economy have hit the performance of German associate company HRMS, which is expected to make a first half loss. The flipside of the HRMS underperformance is that working capital is unwinding and cash generation has strengthened. Hargreaves Servies has received £8m from HRMS and the two sides have agreed that an annual distribution of £7m can be sustained. This enables Hargreaves Services to pay an annual dividend of 36p/share, compared with previous expectations of 21.9p/share. This will be paid in two equal instalments. The 2024-25 dividend is expected to be maintained.
Filtronic (FTC) has gained two new contracts. There is a £4.8m contract for LEO satellite communications equipment. This is a follow-on contract for second generation Cerus32 solid state power amplifier modules for ground stations. This shows the increasing importance of the satellite market. Filtronic also won a £4.5m defence contract starting in January. Revenues will be recognised in 2024-25 and 2025-26. Interim results will be published on 6 February.
Video games publisher tinyBuild (TBLD) has secured the cash it requires for working capital. The fundraising includes a one-for-six open offer and should raise $14.2m at 5p/share, which is above the current share price. Interactive entertainment company Atari is investing $2m. Chief executive Alex Nichiporchik will underwrite up to $10m of the fundraising. The video games market continues to deteriorate. Full year revenues are likely to be between $40m and $50m with a greater than expected proportion of lower margin games. Cost cutting should reduce cash outflow by up to $10m/year.
Microsaic Systems (MSYS) is negotiating the acquisition of some of the assets of Modern Warter from DeepVerge (DVRG), which is running out of cash, for £100,000. The assets include water testing equipment plus IP and rights to related equipment. It does not include the Australian business. Intercompany debt will be discharged as part of the deal. The exclusivity period lasts until 16 January. Trading in DeepVerge shares will be cancelled on 27 December.
Bidstack (BIDS) has sorted out its problem with Azerion. The in-game advertising technology provider has reached a settlement that means that Azerion will pay €3m to Bidstack. The two parties will form a new non-exclusive commercial partnership in 2024.
Helium One (HE1) announced a placing raising £6.1m at 0.25p/share. This will fund the drilling of the Itumbula West-A well starting in early January. There will also be 25.1 million shares issued in lieu of fees.
SRT Marine Systems (SRT) is raising £10m at 35p/share with up to £500,000 more to come from a retail offer. This includes a £7m investment by Ocean Infinity. There were no revenues from systems in the first half, but they should make a significant contribution as work on contracts reaches points where it can be invoiced. Earlier this year, SRT raised £5.36m from a placing and Primary Bid offer at 50p/share.
Graphene technology developer Versarien (VRS) has found it difficult to complete the disposal of non-core assets. In the year to September 2023, revenues were £5.45m and cash fell to £600,000. There was £450,000 raised since then, but cash has fallen to £420,000. A general meeting will be held to gain shareholder approval for a reduction in share capital and nominal value to make it easier to raise money from share issues.
Bluejay Mining (JAY) has appointed Roderick McIllree, Harry Ansell and Troy Whitaker to the board with the latter becoming chief operating officer. Robert Edwards, Bo Stensgaard and Peter Waugh have stepped down from the board. Roderick McIllree was previously chief executive between 2015 and 2022. The strategy is to focus on the Disko magmatic massive sulphide project in Greenland.
Thor Energy (THR) investee company EnviroCopper has reached agreement with Andromeda Metals to acquire the Alford West property and combine it with Alford East in return for a 5% stake in EnviroCopper and A$50,000 in cash with deferred consideration of a 10% share of any successful mining operations. There will also be a A$150,000 cash payment when a mining lease is granted. Alligator Energy is making a A$900,000 strategic investment in EnviroCopper to help fund its copper projects. That will give it a 7.8% interest and further investments could take the stake to 50.1%. Thor Energy’s stake has been diluted to 26.5%.
MAIN MARKET
A dual listing on the New York Stock Exchange was supposed to give Diversified Energy Company (DEC) a boost, but the share price slumped after Democrats in the US opened an inquiry into the company and questioned its business model. They are concerned about The US oil and gas producer’s methane emissions and abandonment risk.
Bowen Fintech (BWN) plans to acquire 93.49% of the share capital of MINNADEOOYASAN-HANBAI Co (MOH) and the enlarged business is expected to be valued at £42.7m. Japan-based MOH is a crowdfunding platform focused on property. It has been operating since 2007 and raised Y62bn (£378m) during the year to March 2023. Bowen Financial is issuing shares at 15p each and that will value MOH at £34.5m. The share price was suspended at 12p until a prospectus is issued. In October 2022, £2m was raised at 4p/share. At the end of April 2023, there was £1.7m in the bank.
IT services provider Triad (TRD) reported a dip in interim revenues and a more than doubled loss of £990,000. This was worse than expected. Cash has fallen to £2.62m. The interim dividend is maintained at 2p/share. Four new contracts have been won. This should improve the second half figures and next year’s results. Deputy executive chairman Charlotte Rigg has bought 4,444 shares at 135p each.
Andrew Hore
Vox Market Podcast -CEO Alan Green talks about Revolution Bars, Bidstack & GreenX Metals
Alan Green talks about #RBG Revolution Bars, #BIDS Bidstack, #GRX GreenX Metals
Alan Green covers the upcoming Georgina Energy IPO & Bidstack #BIDS on this week’s Stockbox Research Talks
Alan Green covers the upcoming Georgina Energy IPO & Bidstack #BIDS on this week’s Stockbox Research Talks
Quoted Micro 10 October 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Arbuthnot Banking Group (ARBB) says full results should be ahead of market expectations of a £13m pre-tax profit. The third quarter trading statement says Arbuthnot Latham deposits exceed £3bn, although costs of deposits are rising. Base rate rises have a positive effect on results as changes to deposit rates lag the rises in interest rates. Credit criteria are being tightened, particularly for property. Assets under management are £1.35bn. Non-exec Sir Nigel Boardman acquired 9.749 shares at 810p each.
Helium Ventures (HEV) has conditionally agreed to acquire Vestigo Technologies, which has developed tracking product Trackimo. Shares will be issued at 10p each and the existing share capital prior to the deal would be valued at £1.68m. Helium Ventures plans to move to the standard list after the reverse takeover. In 2021, Vestigo had revenues of $28.1m and has partnerships with Vodafone and Paramount. Trading in the shares has been suspended.
Quantum Exponential (QBIT) had net assets of £5.6m at the end of April 2022, following an increase in the value of its option in cyber security business Arqit Inc. Since then, two new quantum technology investments have been made. There is still cash for further investments and there are plans to set up a fund that will raise further funds to invest in quantum technology.
Hydrogen Future Industries (HFI) has acquired a suite of international patents through a joint venture. The patents are relevant for the company’s wind-based hydrogen production system, plus other systems. The patents were issued to the vendor when it employed the boss of HFI’s development subsidiary. The payment will be £33,000 in cash, 5.2 million shares and 2.5 warrants exercisable at 12p each, with the second tranche of the payment dependent on the achievement of development milestones.
National Milk Records (NMRP) generated a 6% increase in 2021-22 revenues to £23.2m, while pre-tax profit improved from £1.65m to £2.22m. The dividend was raised by one-third to 2p a share. The milk recording and testing services increased revenues. The biggest increase was in genomics which rose from £292,000 to £488,000 and there is a potential launch in the US during 2023.
EPE Special Opportunities Ltd (ESO) has invested £2m in Denzel’s Ltd, a premium dog snacks brand, which raised £3m in total. Denzil’s has listings in major supermarkets and has launched its own website. It is part of the Tesco Incubator Programme.
There has been a mineral resource upgrade at the Amapa iron project in Brazil, where Cadence Minerals (KDR) owns 27%. The updated resource at Amapa is 276Mt grading 38.33% Fe, up from 177Mt. The measured resource is 55Mt grading 39.26% Fe.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) had net assets of £13.8m at the end of May 2022, equivalent to 74.5p a share.
S-Ventures (SVEN) has gained new contracts for its natural food businesses with ASDA, Holland Barrett, Co-op, WH Smith and easyJet. Two retailers in Finland have started stocking company products.
Marula Mining (MARU) has taken a 49% interest in the Kinusi copper mining project in Tanzania. The licences last seven years. In return for the interest, Marula has reimbursed $50,000 of costs incurred by Takela Mining and issued it with 4.5 million shares at 2p each.
Quetzal Capital (QTZ) had £1.07m in the bank out of net assets of £2.86m at the end of June 2022.
Goodbody Health (GDBY) secured a distribution agreement with blood collection services provider Tasso Inc, which supplies virtually painless medical devices to draw a blood sample with no needles. Goodbody’s clinics will be able to extract more blood than from a finger prick.
Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne (HYDP) reinstated the interim dividend at the rate of 14p a share.
Director buying at Kent-based brewer Shepherd Neame (SHEP) pushed the share price 0.4% higher at 672.5p. Richard Oldfield bought 6,000 shares at 675p a share and George Barnes acquired 3,200 shares at 672p each. The final dividend is 15p a share and the shares go ex-dividend on 13 October. Coinsilium (COIN) chairman Malcolm Palle acquired 500,000 shares at 1.9p each, while chief executive Eddy Travia bought 500,000 shares at 1.95p each. The share price rose 8.11% to 2p.
Global Smollan has increased its stake in Samarkand Group (SMK) from 14.8% to 17.6%.
Pioneer Media Holdings Inc (PNER) has raised $1m through a sale of units at 10 cents each. They include one share and one-half of a warrant exercisable at 25 cents. This cash will be spent on technology development and expanding the web3 gaming business.
Invinity Energy Systems (IES) has sold a 1.3MWh VS3 flow battery system for use in a datacentre in Arizona. Amati reduced its stake from 5.87% to 4.92%.
Trading in the shares of Vulcan Industries (VUL), Hot Rock Investments (HRIP) and VVV Resources Ltd (VVV) has been suspended due to failure to publish results.
AIM
Peter Gyllenhammar has taken a 11.2% stake in Pressure Technologies (PRES) following the share price slump after last week’s trading statement. Pressure Technologies had a disappointing second half. There will be a full year loss and the engineering company will also breach covenants on its bank facility. More cash is required. Net debt was £5.4m at the interim stage and it could be £3.9m at year-end. The finance could come from a share issue or a convertible issue or another form of funding. Management is talking to Lloyds about the bank facility. Forecast net assets are £15.4m, including the company’s main factory, which is nearly double the market capitalisation.
Former broker analyst Bill Currie has taken a 4.15% stake in online retailer In The Style (ITS). He is a non-executive director of retail loyalty technology developer Eagle Eye (EYE) and he owns 12.9% of the company. Lombard Odier has cut its stake from 20.1% to 19.8% and Ameriprise Financial has reduced its stake from 5% to 4.39%.
Gateley (GTLY) has acquired patent attorney Symbiosis IP for up to £2.5m. The business made a pre-tax profit of £300,000 in the year to March 2022. This business fits with Adamson Jones.
In video game advertising technology developer Bidstack (BIDS) raised £10.5m at 2.85p a share. Irdeto subscribed for £5m worth of shares. There are plans to develop a platform for sports bodies to control content that appears in their licenced IP. The rest will go on working capital and commercial development.
Public Policy Holding Company Inc (PPHC) is acquiring California-based KP Public Affairs in an earnings enhancing deal. Public Policy Holding Company provides public affairs, crisis management and lobbying services in the US. The acquisition enhances earnings by 2% in 2022 and 9% in 2023.
NWF (NWF) continues to perform strongly with the feed division recovering, helped by higher milk prices, and food distribution trading better than expected. Fuel distribution volumes are lower than in the previous year as people delay refilling their tanks, although margins have improved.
Seeing Machines (SEE) has an exclusive collaboration deal with Magna International for rear view mirror occupant monitoring applications in vehicles. Magan is paying $17.5m in cash ($10m immediately and $7.5m over two years) and investing $47.5m via a convertible note, which is convertible at 11p a share. This should be enough cash to get the driver monitoring technology business to profitability.
Oxford Biodynamics (OBD) is raising £9.1m via a placing at 20p a share and up to a further £2.95m could be raised through a one-for-6.81644 open offer. The share price rose 56.3% to 17.975p, which is still well below the placing price. This cash will help to fund the commercial development of the EpiSwitch CiRT test for cancer, which has been issued with a US reimbursement code earlier in the week.
Parcel and freight delivery company DX (DX.) has published interim figures and it intends to recommence dividend payments. A total dividend of 1.5p a share is expected for 2022-23 and that provides a base for further growth. Cash could still grow steadily. Trading in the shares remains suspended.
PCF Group (PCF) has suspended new lending by PCF Bank while it is trying to raise additional finance. Castle Trust Capital decided not to bid for PCF. Sales of assets and other options to raise money are being considered. There will be further cost cutting.
Battery cells developer AMTE Power (AMTE) has signed a framework deal with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre to produce up to 60,000 Ultra High Power cells annually. The cells are fast charging and have high power delivery. Production commences in three months and the cells will be used for in-vehicle trials by potential customers – the initial focus is high performance electric vehicles – ahead of the opening of AMTE’s own factory in Dundee in a few years.
Horizonte Mining (HZM) announced a fundraising on Tuesday evening and the size of the placing was increased from £61.7m to £70.5m at 90.5p a share. This larger fundraising has also reduced the contribution from major shareholder La Mancha from £23.8m to £22m. The cash will help to complete the construction of the Araguaia nickel project in Brazil. Total capital cost has increased from $477m to $537m. First production is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.
Gold miner Chaarat Group Holdings (CGH) has extended the convertible loan notes from 31 October 2022 to 31 July 2023. Interest will be capitalised until the end of October and then the principal of $28.7m plus accrued interest will incur an annual interest rate of 12%. There is also a fee of 1%. If converted there will be 77 million shares issued.
MAIN MARKET
Shell company Milton Capital (MII) floated on the standard list on 4 October. There was £1m raised at 1p a share. The share price ended the week at 1.1p. The initial focus is acquisition targets in the technology sector. Total flotation costs were capped at £50,000 and Peterhouse paid additional costs of £5,955. The first year’s operating costs will also be £50,000.
Data integrity software supplier Gresham Technologies (GHT) has won a £1m plus contract for Clareti Control from a major European financial and banking group. There is also A$19m of work for ANZ in the year to September 2023, which is 15% higher than last year on a constant currency basis. Full year revenues and profit will be ahead of expectations.
Golden Nice International has subscribed £650,000 worth of shares in Anglo African Agriculture (AAAP) at 5p a share. That is a 28.2% stake. There are also 13 million warrants exercisable at 5p each. Golden Nice International has also acquired 65% of convertible loan notes in issue at a 15% discount to face value. They convert into 13.7 million shares at 5p each. The other loan notes will be converted into 7.37 million shares with associated warrants. Andrew Monk and Matt Bonner have resigned and replaced by Andy Sui and Simon Grant-Rennick. The company is changing its name to Everest Global.
Shell company Insight Business Support (IBSU) had net assets of £530,000 at the end of June 2022, including cash of £440,000.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 22 August 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Invinity Energy Systems (IES) has signed a memorandum of understanding with US Vanadium to create a US-based 50/50 joint venture to build and sell vanadium flow batteries. Arkansas-based US Vanadium produces high-purity vanadium pentoxide and electrolyte for vanadium flow batteries. Invinity Energy Systems has also delivered and installed a 1.8MWh VS3 flow battery system at the European Marine Energy Centre hydrogen R&D facility in the Orkney Islands.
Valereum (VLRM) is swapping its 20 bitcoin miners in the US for a 24% stake in new company Vinanz, which is conditional on the company listing on a recognised stock exchange. The final stake will depend on the money raised at the time of the listing. This will enable Valereum to concentrate on the Gibraltar Stock Exchange when the deal gets regulatory approval.
CBD and hemp products supplier Voyager Life (VOY) generated revenues of £178,000 in the period to March 2022. There is £1.43m in the bank.
DXS International (DXSP) has entered a licence and services agreement with Deontics, which is a clinical AI company. The technology will be integrated into the DXS clinical software.
Shares in TECC Capital (TEC) remain suspended ahead of a readmission document for the proposed EDX Medical acquisition. There was £1.03m in the bank at the end of March 2022.
Goodbody Healthcare (GDBY) increased revenues by £2.55m to £7.4m in the first half of 2022. This was driven by revenues from the testing clinics. The loss grew from £1.27m to £1.41m. There is cash in the bank of £3.74m.
Psych Capital (PSY) investee company Awakn Life Sciences, where Psych Capital owns 426,000 shares, has entered the US addiction treatment and relapse prevention market through a licensing partnership with Revitalist Lifestyle and Wellness Ltd, a ketamine wellness clinic chain. Awakn has a treatment that was validated in a phase II a/b trial, which delivered 86% abstinence for six months after treatment versus 2% before the trial. Revitalist will pay an annual fee and a revenue share per treatment.
Ingraine (KING) says AZD1656, which is being developed as a treatment for people with diabetes suffering from Covid-19, has shown evidence that it activates T-regs that might suppress the inflammation that is the prime cause of tissue damage in autoimmune disease. LANCET eClinicalMedicine is publishing the results of the phase II clinical trial. Ingraine owns 2% of Excalibur Medicines Ltd, which has exclusive rights to AZD1656.
Wishbone Gold (WSBN) has a second drill rig is on site at the Red Setter gold copper project in the Patersons Range area in Western Australia. The drilling has shown the intersection of multiple zones of quartz veining, carbonate and chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite.
Premium Nickel Resources Ltd, where Evrima (EVA) owns 1.11 million shares, has been readmitted to TSX-V after the reverse takeover of North American Nickel Inc. The first assay results from the Selebi nickel copper cobalt sulphide mine in Botswana have been published. There was a positive update for the Molopo Farms complex project in Botswana, where Evrima has an 8.93% project-level interest.
Hydrogen Utopia International (HUI) is starting a US roadshow from 22 August, following the start of trading of the shares on OTCQB Venture Market. Recent US legislation could increase investor interest in the clean energy market.
Altona Rare Earths (ANR) is raising £1.1m at 8p a share ahead of the planned move to the Main Market at the end of September.
Chris Akers has increased his stake in Oscillate (MUSH) from 13.1% to 14.25%. The share price fell 11%.
AIM
Fashion brand Joules (LON: JOUL) was the worst performer of the week, falling by more than one-third. Trading has deteriorated in recent weeks, although wholesale sales are higher. This means that it will not make a profit this year, even if second half trading improves. Peel Hunt has downgraded its forecast for 20222-23 from a profit of £4m to a loss of £4.2m. Jonathan Brown becomes Joules chief executive at the end of September. Talks with NEXT about a cash injection continue.
Agricultural products supplier and retailer Wynnstay Group (WYN) raised £10.5m in a placing at 560p a share, which was above the minimum price indicated of 550p a share. The plan is to redevelop the Calne feeds site that came with an acquisition earlier this year. This can be developed into a feed mill with a 185,000 metric tonne capacity that produces poultry and ruminant feed. There are also opportunities for further acquisitions.
Online fashion retailer boohoo (BOO) has made a strategic investment in cosmetics supplier Revolution Beauty (REVB), which recently announced a profit warning. boohoo has bought a 7.13% shareholding. Revolution Beauty products are sold through several of boohoo’s websites.
Frasers Group (FRAS) has bid 2p a share for MySale Group (MYSL), which values the retailer at £13.6m. The bid is not recommended.
Newcrest Mining is not taking up the option to acquire a further 5% stake in the Havieron asset, so Greatland Gold (GGP) will retain a 30% stake. The price for the 5% stake had been set at $60m and much of that cash was earmarked to pay off loans from Newcrest. Greatland Gold management says that it is happy to retain the larger stake. The latest mineral resource for the Havieron deposit announced by Newcrest is 5.5 million ounces of gold and 223,000 tonnes of copper.
AI product revenues at Intelligent Ultrasound (IUG) reached £300,000 in the first half. There were royalties from the GE deal and direct product sales. Full year revenues are expected to be £600,000. In the six months to June 2022, group revenues grew 62% to £5.9m, although that includes £1.4m of one-off ultrasound simulation orders from an NHS training initiative. There was a 13% decline in US revenues to £1.1m, but they should recover in the second half. The group remains loss-making and there is cash of £3.5m, which is expected to decline to £1.8m by the end of 2022.
MTI Wireless Edge (MWE) has been winning contracts that should benefit the second half. In the six months to June 2022, revenues improved from $21.3m to $22.7m, while pre-tax profit barely changed from $2.05m to $2.04m, due to a higher interest charge and amortisation related to the recent acquisition of communication and monitoring systems developer PSK WIND Technologies. Russia accounted for 6% of revenues and 5% of profit in 2021.
Full year revenues of digital services provider Made Tech Group (MTEC) were 120% higher at £29.3m and it moved into profit. There was cash of £12.3m at the end of May 2022. The contracted order book is worth £38.2m.
Flexible electrical connectors manufacturer Strip Tinning (STG) shocked the market when it revealed that a Croatian customer wants to terminate a contract from 1 October. This contract for cell management systems for electric vehicles was supposed to be worth €2m a year once peak volumes were hit in a couple of years.
Fishing equipment retailer Angling Direct (ANG) increased interim revenues by 1% to £38.9m, but they weakened in the second quarter and management says that full year revenues will be lower than previous guidance of £82m. That will lead to a sharp reduction in expected EBITDA to between £3m and £3.4m.
In-game advertising services provider Bidstack Group (BIDS) has extended its contract with Sports Interactive, which created the Football Manager game. This is a multi-year renewal of a contract that initially began in 2017.
Specialist recruitment firm Gattaca (GATC) says net fee income grew by 4% to £44m in the year to July 2022. There was an increase in permanent recruitment income offsetting a decline in contract income. There is good demand but a shortage of candidates for the roles.
Frontier IP Group (FIPP) has sold 391,200 ADSs in Exscientia at an average price of $11.97 each. This raised £3.88m. That is £1.85m below book value. Frontier IP still holds 782,400 shares in Exscientia. So far, sales have raised £9.96m compared with a cash cost of less than £2,000.
Property services provider Kinovo (KINO) nearly doubled its operating profit in the year to March 2022. Net debt was reduced to £340,000. First quarter revenues have risen by 28% to £14m and Kinovo has moved into a net cash position. The latest estimate for the liability for DCB, which has gone into administration, is that it will cost £4m plus expenses to complete work, which is lower than previous estimates.
Sustainable energy projects developer SIMEC Atlantis Energy (SAE) finance boss Andrew Dagley was voted off the board at the AGM on Thursday. There were 53.5% of the votes against his re-election. There were also 45% of votes against the audited financial statements for 2021 and 27% against the directors’ remuneration report.
MAIN MARKET
Private equity firm Thoma Bravo LP has made a preliminary approach to artificial intelligence (AI)-based cybersecurity services provider Darktrace (DARK) concerning a possible cash bid. Discussions are at an early stage.
Plant hire company Vp (VP.) has ended its formal sales process after the board unanimously decided to conclude the process.
Flavouring ingredients supplier Treatt (TET) says that profit will be below expectations in the year to September 2022. Restrictions in China have hampered progress, while costs have increased, and sales of iced and leaf tea in the US have been lower than expected. Currency movements have made things worse. The order book is ahead of this time last year.
Mears (MER) has acquired IRT Surveys, which provides data-led services focused on addressing fuel poverty and energy efficiency, for up to £4.1m. The initial payment is £3m, with the rest payable depending on performance over a two-year period. There should be a £200,000 profit contribution this year.
Andrew Hore
Alan Green covers MetalNRG #MNRG and Bidstack #BIDS on this week’s Stockbox Research Talks
Alan Green covers MetalNRG #MNRG and Bidstack #BIDS on this week’s Stockbox Research Talks
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 6 September 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Rutherford Healthcare (RUTH) says a UK investor has agreed to acquire 19 million shares at 65p each. That will raise £12.35m. Rutherford is also issuing 64 million shares to acquire UAE-based Proton Partners International Health Care Investments, which owns the Gulf International Cancer Center in Abu Dhabi.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) has made a new investment in Craft Prospect, a Glasgow-based satellite engineering business. There will be £800,000 invested in ordinary shares for a 11.3% stake. The cash will be used for recruitment and product development.
VSA Capital Group plans to join the Aquis Stock Exchange on 9 September. It was previously quoted on AIM, although it cancelled the quotation in April 2013. London-based VSA provides corporate finance and broking services and has an office in Shanghai. In the year to March 2021, the main subsidiary VSA Capital increased revenues from £2.14m to £2.98m and pre-tax profit jumped from £278,000 to £746,000. Group net assets were £4m at the end of March 2021.
Polygon Global Partners has increased its bid for Watchstone Group (WTG) to 38p a share, up from 34p a share, which values the company at £17.5m. Watchstone still believes the bid is too low. In the middle of August 2021, there was £14.1m in the bank and £1.8m in escrow. There are potential litigation claims on top of that.
KR1 (KR1) has participated in the Moonriver (MOVR) crowdloan and Kusama (KSM) parachain auction. KR1 contributed 5,000 KSM to the crowdloan auction. In return KR1 has received 19,666,35 MOVR and will receive a further 45,888.15 over 48 weeks. KR1 has already sold 15,643.19 MOVR in return for 5,162.25 KSM. KR1 also invested $500,000 in return for Exponent (XPN) tokens. Exponent is an open source platform.
In the year to December 2020, MiLOC Group Ltd (ML.P) increased revenues from HK$15.4m to $20.5m and it moved from loss to a profit of HK$6.22m. The healthcare company sharply reduced its distribution costs and other admin expenses. This reflected the termination of an endorsement agreement and a write-back of a previous over provision for fees.
First half revenues of Yooma Wellness Inc (YOOM) were $2.78m, with $2.18m generated in the second quarter. The interim loss was $5.5m.
Wishbone Gold (WSBN) has identified seven targets at the Cottesloe project in Western Australia.
Eight Capital Partners (ECP) has launched an issue of €25m 4.8% five-year bonds that will be listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. They will help to refinance existing bonds.
Evrima (EVA) is raising £720,000 at 5p a share plus warrants to subscribe for shares at 10p each. This will finance investments in existing investee companies and new investments.
Vulcan Industries (VULC) has raised a further £163,000 at 1.7003p a share.
AIM
Capital equipment manufacturer Mpac (MPAC) had a strong first half with a combination of acquisitive and organic growth in the Americas. Revenues were one-fifth higher at £44.2m, with organic growth of 2%. Pre-tax profit was 88% higher at £4.7m. Net cash was £10.3m at the end of June 2021. Healthcare and food have been the main markets for the company’s packaging and automation equipment, but a new contract has been signed to supply battery cell assembly equipment. The full year pre-tax profit forecast has been upgraded to £8.2m.
Bigblu Broadband (BBB) is returning £26m to shareholders following the recent disposal of Quickline. That will be 45p a share in cash via the issue of B shares by October. There should still be net cash of £1.7m at the ned of November 2021 with deferred consideration due next year. Interim revenues from continuing operations improved from £10.6m to £13.1m. Growth is coming from Australasia, but the Nordic region is expected to return to growth next year.
Mercia Asset Management (MERC) has made a £1.6m direct investment in Locate Bio, which had previously been backed by the manager’s funds. Locate Bio’s products help to accelerate the repair of bone and cartilage. The total of £10m raised by the company will be used to support trials of its technology.
Pennant International (PEN) says interim revenues improved by 17% thanks to a strong performance by the software division. The three-year contracted order book has fallen to £25m, but there are potential contracts in the pipeline. Pennant should return to profit this year.
Interim revenues have trebled to £820,000 at in-game digital advertising firm Bidstack (BIDS), but there is still a long way to go before it reaches profitability. Losses will continue in 2021 and 2022, although there is enough cash in the bank to cover these, following a £10.8m fundraising.
Trading at Manchester-based Northcoders (CODE) has been strong since the software training company joined AIM during the summer. Applications are 162% of 2019 levels and there is 90% revenue visibility for 2021. There are plans to open a new office in Birmingham.
Real-time financial data software provider Arcontech (ARC) reported flat full year revenues and pre-tax profit of £3m and £1.1m respectively. Even so, the dividend was raised by 10% to 2.75p a share.
Bangladesh Bank has approved the acquisition of a majority stake in Sanofi Bangladesh by Beximco Pharmaceuticals (BXP).
MAIN MARKET
Innovaderma (IDP) has completed its product portfolio review and medical device products have been classed as non-core. Packaging of core personal care products has been refreshed and they are available via Amazon. There are plans to use influencers to build sales.
Dealings have commenced in Caracal Gold (GCAT) following its acquisition of Kilmapesa gold mine. There are plans to increase production to 50,000 ounces of gold each year.
One Heritage Group (OHG) has become aware of financial issues with owned associate company One Heritage Maintenance, where it owns the equivalent of a 34% stake. The stake was valued at £285,000.
Andrew Hore