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Quoted Micro 21 October 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
ProBiotix Health (PBX) has sent out a circular for the requisitioned general meeting on 1 November. The meeting has been requisitioned by Seneca Partners and related investors that hold 5.46% in total. Seneca Partners is also an investor in AIM-quoted OptiBiotix Health (LON: OPTI), which is also unhappy with the current management, but a relationship agreement means that it could not requisition a general meeting. OptiBiotix Health and related individuals own 37.95% and will vote in favour of the resolutions. ProBiotix Health wants to block these shares from being voted. The first resolution is to remove the chief executive Steen Andersen and the second is to remove non-exec Frederik Bruhn-Petersen, whose firm recently subscribed for shares, a funding that OptiBiotix Health was unhappy about. Seneca Partners and OptiBiotix Health are also unhappy that the chief executive wanted to leave the Aquis Stock Exchange.
Marula Mining (MARU) is finalising negotiations to establish a new joint venture with a Chinese battery manufacturer and lithium offtake partner at the Blesburg lithium and tantalum mine. This would be for a lithium acid leaching processing plant, which could be commissioned by next summer. This will use spodumene from the mine and could produce 2,000 tonnes of high-grade lithium product each year. A subscription of £750,000, which comes through the issue of 15 million shares at 5p each via the AUO Commercial Brokerage LLC subscription agreement, will be used to fund the installation of an ore sorter at Blesburg and the costs of other projects. Gathoni Muchai Investments, where Marula Mining board member Jason Brewer is a director, bought 430,000 shares at 5.96p each.
At the end of the three months to September 2024, Arbuthnot Banking (ARBB) customer deposit balances were £3.8bn and customer loans £2.5bn. Funds under management and administration have grown 18% to more than £2bn in the nine months to September 2024. Arbuthnot Banking has completed its move to new offices in the City of London. Management is assessing the proposed new capital rules and deciding if strategy changes will be required. The Budget could also affect strategy.
Substrate Artificial Intelligence (SAI) intends to leave the Aquis Stock Exchange, although it will remain on the BME growth market in Spain. The cancellation of trading on Aquis will happen on 15 November.
Invinity Energy Systems (IES) is extending the expiry date of the 8.67 million options, exercisable at 175p/share, held by Gamesa Electric to 10 May 2025. Employee share options will be extended until 21 November 2029.
Mendell Helium (MDH) has agreed to sell its plant-based health and wellness business to Orsus Therapeutics, which will leave the seller with a 28% stake plus six million warrants in the buyer. This is conditional on shareholder approval. The Orsus Therapeutics shares may be distributed to Mendell Helium shareholders. Mendell Helium has an option to acquire Kansas-focused M3 Helium.
Inqo Investments (INQO) has made an investment in Empower Clean Cooking. Uganda-based Empower produces biomass pellets for cooking fuel.
Vehicle electrification technology developer Equipmake (EQIP) is supplying its zero emission drivetrain for use in Textron Safeaero 220 airside de-icing vehicles. There were successful trials earlier in the year.
Former Made Tech (MTEC) finance director Deborah Lovegrove has taken on the same role at All Things Considered (ATC).
AIM
Pulsar Helium Inc (PLSR) shares were already trading on TSX-V and the OTCQB Venture Market and the additional cash raised by coming to AIM on 18 October and raising £3.875m at 25p/share. This will fund further exploration in of the Topaz helium project in northern Minnesota, close to the Canadian border. So far, an appraisal well has been drilled and this confirmed the presence of helium. This will be drilled deeper. There were 1.47 million shares traded on the first day. Having opened on 29p the shares closed the day at 27.5p.
Mothercare (MTC) shares returned from suspension following the 2023-24 results publication and refinancing. There is a new £8m two-year loan facility from Gordon Brothers, which receives 43.4 million warrants exercisable at 8.5p/share. There is also a joint venture with Reliance Brands, which will acquire 51% for £16m, covering the Indian sub-continent. In the year to March 2024, underlying pre-tax profit dipped from £3.4m to £3.1m. Overall revenues continue to decline, and Cavendish expects a small loss this year.
Joshua Alliance is offering 40p/share in cash for each share in N Brown Group (BWNG). The share price has not been this high since February 2023. The Alliance family and related parties already own 53.4% of N Brown. The bid values the fashion brands company at £191m. The chief executive and finance director of N Brown will elect for a share alternative.
Motor dealer Vertu Motors (VTU) had a strong September sales period, and it continues to outperform the sector, particularly in electric vehicle sales. Strong aftersales business and a stabilised second hand car market means that the outlook is positive. In the six months to August 2024, revenues were 3% ahead at £2.49bn. Full year revenues are expected to be flat and pre-tax profit slightly higher at £38m. NAV of 112.8p/share is forecast. A further £3m share buy back is planned.
Weak interior design markets, particularly in the UK, hit interim the figures of Sanderson Design Group (SDG). The timing of licensing revenues exacerbated the downturn in underlying pre-tax profit from £6.8m to £2.2m. The dividend has been reduced by one-third to 0.5p/share. Net cash fell to £9.6m at the end of July 2024.Trading continues to weaken with a 10% downturn in revenues so far in this financial year. The aftermath of the UK Budget and the US election could determine the full year outcome. Investec has reduced its pre-tax profit forecast by 8% to £7.5m, down from £12.2m last year.
Digital mental health services provider Kooth (KOO) says the State of Pennsylvania has terminated its contract with the AIM company. The contract started on 11 October 2022 and the end date was extended from June 2024 to June 2025. However, there is a right to terminate with a 30-day notice period. Kooth says that it was negotiating a new contract, and it is unsure what the status of ongoing work will be. When it was announced, the contract was said to be worth $3m in its pilot year.
Approval for further development of the Wressle field in Lincolnshire has been revoked, because of a legal challenge that greenhouse gas emissions were not taken into account in the original decision. Union Jack Oil (UJO) has a 40% interest in the Wressle development and Europa Oil & Gas (EOG) owns 30%. A revised application for Wressle can be made with additional data on emissions. The existing production continues.
Executive search company Norman Broadbent (NBB) says third quarter revenues are 16% lower than last year at £2.7m. Even so, it was the strongest quarter of the year. September was particularly strong.
CloudCoCo (CLCO) is selling its managed IT services business for £9.2m. This will discharge liabilities, including the MXC loan notes, and leave cash of £950,000. If the sale does not go ahead management will need to consider if there is a future for the group. There are also discussions concerning the sale of the Connect business. The focus will be on the product reseller business.
Decision making software provider ActiveOps (AOM) grew first half revenues by 9% to £14.3m. Annualised recurring revenues are £26.2m. Net revenue retention is 1085. There is cash of £13.4m. Demand is being driven by organisations needing to reduce the cost base. Investment in sales will pay off next year.
Iodine supplier Iofina (IOF) is on course to meet iodine production guidance for this year. There was 163.9 metric tonnes produced in the third quarter. Iodine prices have been higher than in the first half when they were $66.84/kg.
Armadale Capital (ACP) proposes a cancellation of the AIM quotation because it believes that being public does not benefit the company because of the costs. Armadale Capital needs to reduce the cash burn and sell non-core assets. The resources company can be more flexible as a private company. A general meeting will be held on 1 November.
Emmerson (EML) says that the regional authority in Morocco have made an unfavourable environmental recommendation relating to the Khemisset potash project. The full decision is not yet available. Emmerson had previously appealed against the regional authority’s decision not to approve the project under environmental grounds.
MAIN MARKET
Online travel hostel agency Hostelworld (HSW) has moved into a net cash position and trading is in line with expectations even though there has been a small fall in revenues in the nine months to September 2024 due to lower average booking values. Direct marketing costs are down from 51% of revenues to 46%, while operating costs are also lower. Four-fifths of bookings are from social media. Capital allocation policy is being assessed.
Kitchenware retailer ProCook Group (PROC) says second quarter trading shows it is outperforming the market. Interim revenues are 8% ahead at £28.3m with like-for-like revenues 4% higher. The fastest growth is in ecommerce, helped by the relaunch on Amazon, but retail is also recovering. Higher inventory levels meant that net debt has moved up to £4.2m.
Property investor Town Centre Securities (TOWN) is no longer a REIT. That means that there is more flexibility for the business. EPRA net tangible assets slipped 2.5% to 277p/share at the end of June 2024. The loan to value ratio is 50.8%. The final dividend is 2.5p/share.
The space sector is attracting more investment and Seraphim Space Investment Trust (SSIT) will benefit. In the year to June 2024, the NAV improved from 92.9p/share to 96.2p/share, helped by share buy backs. Many of the investment portfolio are reaching maturity and Astroscale has floated on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Shell company Dukemount Capital (DKE) has raised £98,500 from a share issue at 0.025p/share and £51,500 from convertible loan notes with the same conversion price. Loans were previously converted into shares and £300,000 was raised earlier in the year at 0.04p/share. Th outstanding warrants are being repriced to 0.0375p. Richard Edwards has joined the board, and he owns one-quarter of the company.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 6 May 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Good Life Plus (GDLF) has traded strongly since joining Aquis and raising cash for marketing. The luxury prize draw company increased the number of subscribers from 21,000 at the end of 2023 to 30,000. Churn has been reduced.
Invinity Energy Systems (IES) raised £56m at 23p/share with £25m committed by the UK Infrastructure Bank and £3m from Korean Investment Partners. There is also an open offer to raise up to £6.6m. The share price slipped 6.12% to 23p. IES will use £30m to increase capacity ahead of the launch of the latest version of the Mistral flow battery.
KR1 (KR1) gained shareholder approval for the market acquisition of up to 14.99% of its shares. NAV was 132.05p/share at the end of March 2024, down from 134.6p/share one month earlier. There was £1.96m in income from digital assets during the month.
Apollon Formularies (APOL) has sent a general meeting notice for 28 May to gain approval of the cancelation of the Aquis quotation. The company is selling its IP to a Canadian company.
Rogue Baron (SHNJ) has acquired Eight Vodka for £70,000 in shares at 0.5p each. Eight Vodka is distilled eight times in Ecuador.
Trading in Silverwood Brands (SLWD) was restored following the completion of a capital reduction. Phoenix Asset Management increased its stake from 0.94% to 29.9%. In the first quarter a rebranding of Balmonds has disrupted sales. The costs of acquiring Cosme Science hit profitability of Sonotas.
One Health Group (OHGR) says it did better than expected last year with annual revenues improving from £20.5m to £23m. Net cash was £4.7m at the end of March 2024. There was a 13% increase in NHS patient referrals for treatments. New five-year contracts have been secured with the two largest customers.
RentGuarantor Holdings (RGG) says first quarter revenues were 62% ahead and the number of tenant contracts was 38% higher.
Investment company MaxRets Ventures (MAX) reported net assets of £19,000 at the end of October 2023, down from £497,000. There was no new investment during the year. A transformative acquisition is being sought.
Hydrogen Future Industries (HFI) more than halved the interim cash outflow from operating activities to £234,000. Ther was £263,000 in the bank at the end of January 2024, but £612,000 has been raised since then. Testing of the prototype wind turbine and the electrolyser has gone well.
Substrate AI (SAI) generated revenues of $8.6m in 2023. There was $4.42m in the bank.
Hacienda Management has taken a 7.48% stake in Supernova Digital Assets (SOL). Pete Mills increased his stake in Oscillate (MUSH) from 3.02% to 4.03%. DXS International (DXSP) chairman Robert Sutcliffe bought 100,000 shares at 1.46p/share.
AIM
Trinity Exploration & Production (TRIN) has agreed a bid from fellow AIM-quoted Trinidad oil and gas company Touchstone Exploration (TXP), which is offering 1.5 shares for every Trinity share. The Trinity shareholders will own one-fifth of the enlarged company. The combined group will be in a stronger position to make investments in new production. The Touchstone Exploration share price is 4.85% lower at 39.25p, valuing each Trinity share at 58.875p – the share price is 50% higher at 54p.
Alpha Financial Markets Consulting (AFM) has confirmed that BridgePoint Advisers has made a bid approach and Cinven is considering making a bid. Revolution Bars Group (RBG) has received interest from Nightcap (NGHT), which is assessing the situation and options include a bid or acquisition of some sites or subsidiaries.
Electric Guitar (ELEG) moved from the standard list to AIM following the reverse takeover of 3radical on 3 May. It is the first in a planned series of acquisitions in the digital marketing sector, where regulatory and market changes, such as the blocking of third-party cookies, provide significant growth opportunities. 3radical was acquired for 61.2 million shares valued at £1.28m. A fundraising generated £1.32m at 2.1p/share and that valued the company at £4.7m. 3radical was set up by the founders of campaign management software provider Alterian at the end of 2011 The shares had been suspended at 2.1p and they fell to 1.8p when trading recommenced on AIM.
Multi-channel retailer TheWorks.co.uk (WRKS) moved from a premium listing to AIM. The board felt the company was too small for the cost and regulatory burden of the Main Market. One of the attractions of AIM is that the company will no longer be classified as a Public Interest Entity and it will be able to choose an auditor from a wider range of firms. Singer forecasts a slump in pre-tax profit from £10.1m to £1m in the year to April 2024.
Cornish Metals (CUSN) has published a preliminary economic assessment of the South Crofty tin project in Cornwall. There is an after-tax NPV8 of $201m at a tin price of $31,000 /tonne. Pre-production capital requirement is $177m, which is higher than previous estimates, and there should be 14-year mine life. Life of mine all in sustaining cost is estimated at $13,661/tonne. Planned first production is in 2027.
Horizonte Minerals (HZM) has enough cash until 17 May and senior lenders have agreed to extend waivers on loans, including deferring interest payments, until 15 May. These lenders have security over the company’s assets. Horizonte Minerals has guaranteed the debt of the subsidiary that owns the Araguaia project. Discussions with creditors and investors continue in an attempt to achieve some recovery value for creditors. That may include the disposal of the Araguaia project. None of the proposals are likely to recover value for shareholders.
Arrow Exploration (AXL) grew average production from 1.3mboe/day in 2022 to 2.2mboe/day in 2023 and revenues increased from $28.1m to $50.6m, which was slightly lower than forecast. There was cash of $13m at the end of 2023 and this fell to $12m at the end of March 2024. Production has reached 2.9mboe/day in March, while drilling activity will lead to further increases in the medium-term. Canaccord Genuity has cut its 2024 revenues forecast from $103.9m to $98.6m and net cash is expected to be $17m at the end of 2024.
Trading at property services provider Kinovo (KINO) is ahead of expectations with organic growth of 23% in the year to March 2024. Underlying pre-tax profit should be more than £6m, excluding costs related to the DCB contracts, which were guaranteed by Kinovo when it was sold, still to be completed.
Mark Halpin has stepped down as chief executive of managed IT services provider CloudCoCo (CLCO) and MXC Guernsey, which holds a 10.6% stake, has extended its loan notes to 31 August 2026 in return for a £550,000 fee. The amount outstanding on the loan notes is £5.85m. MXC can also appoint an executive director and Ian Smith becomes interim chief executive. The shares returned from suspension following the release of figures for the year to September 2023 showing revenues 7% ahead at £26m. The loss was flat at £2.6m. There was a cash inflow from operating activities. Net debt was £6.3m at the end of September 2023.
Brake discs developer Surface Transforms (SCE) raised £6.5m fundraising at 1p/share. There will be a one-for 1.76036319 open offer at the same price. That could raise £2m. The cash will finance the scale up of manufacturing. Factory capacity will be increased to £75m. This year’s revenues are forecast to be £17.5m.
Gift wrap and stationery supplier IG Design (IGR) did better than expected in the year to March 2024 with margins recovering and pre-tax profit improving from $9.2m to $25.9m, compared with a forecast of $20.5m, even though revenues fell. Net cash nearly doubled to $95m. It appears the recovery is gathering pace. Management believes that margins could return to previous levels this year and an operating margin of more than 6% in 2026-27, suggesting a pre-tax profit of around $50m.
IT distributor Northamber (NAR) is acquiring Tempura Technology and Tempura Communications, which distribute unified communications products, for £6.02m in cash and 181,818 shares. There is £2.64m of the cash consideration contingent on EBITDA in the years ending June 2025, 2026 and 2027. This is a profitable business that has been growing organically.
Heavy mineral sands project developer Kazera Global (KZG) says recent changes at the National Nuclear Regulator in South Africa mean that it will have to provide additional information on how it will meet financial obligations. This should be funded by cash flow. A response is expected shortly and that will allow heavy mineral sands production to start in Alexander Bay, South Africa.
Oil and gas producer Jadestone Energy (JSE) reported a $91.3m loss for 2023 due to asset impairments, lower oil prices and higher interest costs. Capital investment has increased net debt to $110.5m by the end of March 2024. Average production in the first quarter of 2024 was 17,200 boe/day, which was hit by the Australian cyclone season. Production guidance for 2024 is 20,000-22,000 boe/day.
MAIN MARKET
Castings (CGS) did better than expected in the year to March 2024 and Canaccord Genuity upgraded its pre-tax profit forecast from £27.1m to £28.2m. Margins improved in the second half. Net cash is £32m.
Cybersecurity firm Narf Industries (NARF) is accelerating work on capabilities uniquely effective in battling a new generation threat. Developed was funded through a $2.3m contract from DARPA.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 31 October 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
TECC Capital (TEC) has agreed terms for the acquisition of diagnostics business EDX Medical Ltd for £12m in shares, while a placing will raise £1.2m at 6p a share. The shares remain suspended. Trading in the enlargement group should commence on 14 November under the name EDX Medical Group. EDX Medical develops digital diagnostic products and services for cancer, heart disease, neurology and infectious diseases.
Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd (GSVR) joined the Apex segment of the Aquis Stock Exchange on 25 October. The Mexico-focused silver miner was already quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange. The share price started at 27.5p and it has stayed at that level. There were 884 shares traded on the first day and there were four trades during the week. Guanajuato Silver is targeting annualised production of 3.4 million ounces of silver-equivalent ounces by the end of 2022 and up to six million ounces by the end of 2023.
Coinsilium Group Ltd (COIN) says that the terms of the agreement for the IOV Labs Asia joint venture are being renegotiated. This could mean a different business model, but the outcome is uncertain. So far this year, Coinsilium has invested $575,000 of crypto currency in Web3 ventures. Chief executive Eddy Travia bought 250,000 Coinsilium shares at 1.95p each and chairman Malcolm Palle bought 250,000 at 1.9p each.
Gunsynd (GUN) has invested £50,000 in Omega Oil & Gas, which listed on ASX on 25 October. This is part of a $15.07m fundraising at €0.20 a share. Omega has two exploration permits in Queensland. A two well drilling programme is planned.
SulNOx Group (SNOX) increased interim revenues from £24,000 to £75,000, but the loss moved up from £724,000 to £965,000. There was £311,000 in the bank at the end of September 2022. There were delays to sales and at least £31,500 should be included in the third quarter.
Altona Rare Earths (ANR) is still on track to publish a maiden mineral resource estimate for the Monte Muambe rare earths project in the first quarter of 2023.
In the year to April 2021, IamFire (FIRE) reported a cash outflow from operating activities of £349,000. Management expects investee companies WeShop and 10%-owned Bio2Pure to make progress this year.
AQRU (AQRU) has launched a cryptocurrency-collateralised lending service called BlockLender.
Marula Mining (MARU) has raised £450,000 at 2p a share and plans to issue £265,000 secured convertible loan notes. There are talks with two Africa-focused mining investment funds that could invest up to £1m. A $5m lithium prepayment facility was secured for the Blesberg project in South Africa. Marula Mining will use $1.7m to take 100% ownership of Blesberg. Shareholders are being asked to approve the change in the investing strategy to allow the acquisition of majority interests in projects.
Sidney Sussex College reduced its stake in brewer Adnams (ADB) from 4.22% to 3.17%. Director Michael Heald increased his stake from 19.32% to 20.37% by buying 3,00 B shares at £89 each.
Ace Liberty & Stone (ALSP) chief executive Ismail Ghandour bought 15,000 shares at 55p each and finance director Ivan Minter acquired 20,000 shares at the same price. Last week, Ace Liberty & Stone launched a heavily discounted open offer to raise £4.56m at 25p a share. The open offer closes on 14 November
David Evans has increased his stake in Oberon Investments (OBE) from 8.74% to 9.36%. Mark Horrocks has raised his stake in Lift Global Ventures (LFT) to 7.1%. Chris Akers has increased his stake in Quetzal Capital (QTZ) from 23.4% to 24.1%. Phoenix Asset Management has a 16.5% stake in Silverwood Brands (SLWD).
AIM
Billing and charging software provider Cerillion (CER) says higher utilisation rates and beneficial exchange rate movements mean that pre-tax profit for the year to September 2022 will be much higher than the forecast £10.1m. Net cash is anticipated to be £20m. The pipeline of opportunities remains strong.
Vianet (VNET) says both divisions are increasing revenues. The smart machines division has increased vending connections by 24% to 52,490. Even though the pub sector is having a tough time, the smart zones division is growing revenues as the clients try to improve efficiency. Overall interim revenues are 13% ahead at £7.18m. However, there are cost pressures and Cenkos has reduced its 2022-23 forecast operating profit by £450,000 to £3.05m, with a bigger reduction of £950,000 to £4.04m next year.
Merit Group (MRIT) is selling its media, events and training operations to a business owned by Merit shareholder Lord Ashcroft for £4.5m. The cash will be used to pay off debt of £3.2m. Merit will focus on the Dods Political Intelligence and data businesses.
Building products supplier Alumasc (ALU) says volumes and margins improved in the first quarter. Transport and materials costs are stabilising, and exports are growing. Forecast full year pre-tax profit is £11.3m, down from £12.7m.
Franchise Brands (FRAN) says that Filta and Metro Rod are trading strongly, and full year group pre-tax profit will be better than expected. The consumer franchise businesses are finding it difficult to recruit franchisees. The 2022 pre-tax profit forecast has been raised by 5% to £12.4m.
Allergy Therapeutics (AGY) is able to restart production at its Worthing facility in the middle of November. The facility was shut down during peak production for does for the pollen season because of quality control problems.
ECR Minerals (ECR) has an option to purchase Placer Gold, which owns three mining tenements in Queensland. They are known as the Hurricane project, and it is prospective for gold and antimony. The option cost £144,000, while the total cost could be £3.8m, including a net smelter royalty capped at £3m.
Active investor Chris Akers has taken a 3.32% stake in Fiinu Group (BANK), which was formed in July when the Fiinu banking business reversed into the AIM shell Immediate Acquisition. Fiinu has developed the Plugin Overdraft, which provides customers with an overdraft facility without the requirement to switch banks.
Managed IT services provider CloudCoCo (CLCO) trebled revenues to £24m in the year to September 2022, while EBITDA improved from £745,000 to around £1m. There were four acquisitions in late 2021 so they contributed to the growth. Investment is sales is starting to pay off and there should be further growth in revenues and profit this year.
Secure payments technology provider PCI-Pal (PCIP) increased first quarter revenues by 29%, compared with a 20% forecast for the full year. An Open Banking payment service has been launched.
MAIN MARKET
MADE.com (MADE) says that the parties it invited to work towards making an offer for the company as part of the formal sale process will not be able to meet the necessary timetable. The company is running out of cash. There are no current funding proposals or possible offers. The main subsidiary is no longer taking orders. It appears there is little hope for shareholders unless something happens soon.
Eastinco Mining and Exploration (ATN) has acquired Aterian, and this sparked a move from the Aquis Stock Exchange to the standard list. The deal takes the business into Morocco, and it has existing projects in Rwanda. There was £854,000 raised in a placing at 1p a share. The share price ended the week at 0.95p. There are 15 different potential Moroccan prospects. They include the Agdz project, where there is a ten-year mining licence over a prospect with copper and gold deposits already identified.
Unicorn Mineral Resources (UMR) has exploration licences in two project areas in the Republic of Ireland. It is still early days in terms of exploration, but the licences in the Kilmallock area are reaching the point when drilling for zinc can commence, and the £930,000 raised at 10p a share in the flotation will finance that. The share price ended the week at 17.5p (15p/20p).
AIM-quoted Jangada Mines (JAN) has increased its holding in Blencowe Resources (BRES) from 2% to 9.5% by investing £610,000. The investment was part of a £750,000 placing at 4p a share where RAB Capital and JUB Capital also bought shares. Every two shares come with a warrant exercisable at 8p each. The cash will be invested in the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda, which has a net present value of $482m.
BSF Enterprise (BSFA) has received a £100,000 grant for further development of its serum-free media, City-mix. The grant is provided by EIT Food, which aims to commercialise cultivated meat. City-mix can be used to cultivate meat and leather. The company plans to unveil the first 100% lab-grown fillet in the next few months.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 14 March 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Aquis Exchange (AQX) has announced that it will be joining the Aquis Apex segment with VSA as its corporate adviser. Aquis Exchange will retain its AIM quotation. This follows Invinity Energy Systems (IES), which joined the Aquis Apex segment on 9 March. This includes the ordinary shares that are quoted on AIM, as well as quotations for short-term warrants and long-term warrants that are not traded on any other markets. VSA also plans to create an index that includes all the companies on the Aquis Apex segment called the VSA Capital AQSE Apex Index.
Majestic Corporation (MCJ) is a recycler of electronic waste with a focus on extracting the precious metals from the equipment and it was introduced to the Aquis access segment on Thursday. The share price opened at 30p and then fell back to the introduction price of 25p (20p/30p). The reason for the flotation is to gain access to potential funding via share issues. Gold, silver, copper and other metals can be extracted from the electronic waste. Most of the materials that the company recycles are sent to Japan for processing and re-use in manufacturing. In the six months to June 2021, revenues increased from $14.4m to $15.5m, while pre-tax profit improved from $312,000 to $766,000. There was $1.89m in the bank at the end of June 2021 and an additional $233,000 owed by the chief executive. There are also import loans of $2.11m.
Good Energy (GOOD) investee company Zap-Map has linked up with the RAC so that it can be better placed to help electric vehicle drivers. Zap-Map will be used by 1,600 RAC patrols. The 2021 figures will be published on 29 March.
Goodbody Health Inc (GDBY) says 2021 revenues are expected to be around £17m, helped by PCR testing. That will drop off, but the revenues in the first two months of 2020 were £3.8m. There is likely to be a dip in interim revenues, but new products and services will help growth in the second half. Blood testing services have been launched in the clinic network.
Ananda Developments (ANA) says five seeds of each of 13 strains of cannabis have been planted by DJT Plants. Nine cuttings will be taken from each plant and then replanted. The shareholder circular for the acquisition of the 50% of DJT that is not owned by Ananda should soon be completed.
BWA Group (BWAP) has raised up to £500,000 at 0.6p a share. The cash will be used for exploration programmes at the Nkoteng and Dehane heavy mineral sands areas in Cameroon. This should produce initial mineral resources.
KR1 (KR1) is participating in the Interlay crowdloan and Polkadot (DOT) parachain auction. Interlay is building interBTC a Bitcoin-backed asset that enables interoperability between multiple blockchains while being resistant to censorship. KR1 contributed 250,000 DOT and this will be returned after 96 days. INTR tokens will then be issued. KR1 has also invested $509,224 in Interlay Seed-2 shares. It already owns 1,060 Seed-1 shares.
Altona Rare Earths (ANR) is not going ahead with the Malawi-based Chambre rare earths project joint venture and the potential partner’s representative on the Altona board Hilton Banda has resigned.
Walls and Futures REIT (WAFR) has launched Pax Homes, which provides homes for people with autism and their families.
AIM
Destiny Pharma (DEST) has raised £6m, with a possible £1m more to come from an open offer, at 50p a share. The companies c.diff prevention treatment NTCD-M3 addresses a market worth more than $1bn. There is a good chance that a partner can be secured this year. There is more than one pharma company that is interested. The XF-73 treatment for the prevention of post-surgical infections requires further feedback from the FDA for its phase 3 trial in the US.
MTI Wireless Edge (MWE) is closing its Russian business and that will slow progress this year, but profit should still grow. In 2021, revenues increased 6% to $43.2m, while higher transport costs and exchange rate movements meant that pre-tax profit was flat at $4.04m. Russia accounted for 6% of revenues and 5% of profit. In 2022, pre-tax profit is expected to be $4.55m.
Delivered ready meals company Parsley Box (MEAL) is raising raised £5.9m at 20p a share – 90% of the original placing price less than one year ago. An open offer could raise up to £1.1m. Revenues are expected to be flat this year, but if the cash is invested successfully then growth could accelerate.
Restaurants and bars operator Various Eateries (VARE) says trading continues to follow an improving trend following lockdowns in the past two years. In the year to 3 October 2021, revenues were 36% ahead at £22.3m and the total loss was £3.7m. That was after £2.5m of insurance proceeds. One consequence of the Covid lockdowns is that there are more potential sites available at lower rents than in the past. Coppa Clubs are hybrids that offer a bar, restaurant, event space and, on some sites, hotel rooms and more sites are being opened. As yet, Italian restaurants brand Tavolino has not opened any more sites. A new pasta restaurant concept called Noci is being launched in Islington and the prospects will be assessed.
Harvest Minerals (HMI) says that it had fertiliser orders totalling 30,161 tonnes by the end of February 2022. That is one-fifth of the sales target for the whole of 2022. There are plans to increase capacity to 200,000 tonnes a year.
Managed IT services provider CloudCoCo (CLCO) reported flat revenues of £8.1m in the year to September 2021 and reduced the loss. Contributions from recent acquisitions and organic growth will help the figures to improve this year. Monthly profitability is targeted by the end of the current financial year. A contract worth £3m over three years has been secured. Further acquisitions should supplement growth.
ThinkSmart (TSL) reported a small underlying profit in 2021. Net cash is £7m, although the main asset is 618,750 shares in Block Inc following its takeover of Afterpay. The legacy lending business is being wound down and there is still income from operating a call centre for Afterpay. Net assets were equal to 75p a share, but in recent months the Block share price has been in decline, so the NAV is lower.
Concrete levelling equipment supplier Somero Enterprises Inc (SOM) reported profit in line with expectations. Revenues increased from $88.6m to $133.3m with strong growth in North America. The supplemental dividend is 22 cents a share and the total dividend for the year is 50.7 cents a share. Growth is likely to slow this year.
NWF (NWF) is benefiting from the volatility of the oil price and additional demand for the fuels division. There have been no supply problems. Feeds price rises are covering cost increases and raw materials have been forward purchased, while the food distribution business is performing as planned. Full year figures will be significantly ahead of expectations.
MAIN MARKET
Gresham Technologies (GHT) increased full year revenues from £24.8m to £37m in 2021, including a £5.6m contribution from last year’s acquisition Electra. Underlying pre-tax profit improved from £1.8m to £4m. The final dividend was maintained at 0.75p a share. There is cash of £9.1m. The core Clareti financial control and data integrity software generated organic growth of 28%. New customers and existing clients spending more is combining to enable strong increases in Clareti revenues. Contracted revenues for 2022 have already reached £37m compared with a full year forecast of £42m. A 2022 pre-tax profit of £5.1m is forecast.
Codex Acquisitions (CODX) did not get off to a good start when it joined the standard list on Wednesday because its website was not working. Codex raised £850,000 at 10p a share. The share price did go to a premium, but the bid/offer spread was 10p/20p. It appears that there were 50 shares traded during the week. The cash shell has effectively been set up by Codex Capital and most of the shares are owned by eight shareholders, including one of the non-exec directors. The NAV is 8.2p a share. The focus of the cash shell is clean and renewable energy assets, particularly infrastructure assets.
Online furniture and housewares retailer Made.com (MADE) increased full year gross revenues by 38% but it still lost money. A 2022-23 pre-tax profit of £8.3m is forecast, even though revenues growth is likely to be slower than previously thought.
Cloudbreak Discovery (CDL) has secured an option on the Icefall project in British Columbia with 1311516 BC Ltd, which will spend C$700,000 over three years to secure a 75% interest in the project. It will also pay Cloudbreak a total of C$120,000 in cash and issue two million shares.
Fragrant Prosperity Holdings (FPP) is not going ahead with the proposed acquisition of cannabis company CiiTECH.
Andrew Hore