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Corporate news review Friday 15th September 2017
Aviva AV. has completed the sale of its 50% shareholding in life insurance and pension joint ventures Unicorp Vida and Caja España Vida, as well as its retail life insurance business Aviva Vida y Pensiones, to Santalucía. Total consideration of the transaction is €475m (£424m).
Avon Rubber AVON issues a pre-close trading update ahead of its year end close on 30 Sept 2017. Trading in the second half has been good across the Group and Avon expects FY adjusted PBT to be in line with current market expectations, with continuing strong cash generation.
Edenville Energy EDL reports interims. CEO Rufus Short said: “The first half of 2017 was an extremely busy and transformational period for the Company. Having raised funds in February to start production, we have been able to rapidly put in place the required infrastructure and are seeing strong demand for our coal.”The remainder of 2017 is expected to be equally busy and we look forward to providing updates as matters progress.”.
Purplebricks Group PURP announces that it is formally launching its business in the US later today. In line with the region by region rollout successfully adopted for entry in the UK and Australian markets, the US launch will commence in Los Angeles, before extending across the state of California and other targeted key states thereafter.
Wetherspoon (JD) JDW publishes FY results, revealing LfL sales up 4%, revenues up 4.1% at £1.66bn, and PBT up 27.6% at £102.8m. EPS rocketed 43.3% to 69.2p and the group maintained its FY dividend at 12.0p. Since the year end, Wetherspoon’s LfL sales have continued to be encouraging and have increased by 6.1%. CEO Tim Martin believes that comparisons will become more stretching as the year progresses, and sales, which were very strong in the summer holidays, are likely to return to more modest levels.
Quoted Micro 22 May 2017
NEX EXCHANGE
London and south east England residential property developer St Mark Homes (SMAP) says it will in the immediate future focus on homes for sale for less than £600,000, because this is the London help to buy limit. In 2016, revenues fell from £3.1m to £1.34m but the unchanged contribution from joint ventures and a release of negative goodwill of £150,000 – a non-cash item – meant that pre-tax profit improved from £549,000 to £652,000. There is still negative goodwill of £137,000 on the balance sheet which is likely to boost a future financial year. A lower tax charge helped earnings per share to rise from 14.8p to 16.6p. Total dividends were 11% higher at 5p a share. There was a cash outflow from operations in the period. The NAV is £5.8m, following a share issue that raised £690,000 net of costs via an open offer to existing shareholders. That is 131p a share. Finance director Sean Ryan acquired 4,912 shares at an average price of 94p each.
Markets operator WMC Retail Partners (WELL) benefitted from an increased valuation of its Luton market but trading was down on the previous year. In 2016, revenues dipped from £4.31m to £4.23m, including £100,000 of consultancy revenues, and a pre-tax profit of £13,000 was turned into a £58,000 loss. WMC is on course to reopen its Cornish site under the name Cornucopia in July.
Property developer Formation Group (FRM) moved back into profit at the interim stage based on continuing operations. Revenues doubled from £10.2m to £20.2m, while an operating loss of £84,000 was turned into a profit of £48,000. The corresponding period also included a £1.08m write-back of loans secured on past properties. There was £1.58m in the bank at the end of February 2017. The NAV was £10.4m.
Block Energy (BLOK) says that Schlumberger has completed the acquisition of three production sharIng contracts in the Republic of Georgia that are near to Bock’s own interests. This indicates the interest in the region. Roger McMechan has been appointed as technical manager for Block’s interests.
Investment company Early Equity (EEQP) increased its interim loss from £46,000 to £67,000. The NAV fell from £770,000 to £639,000 at the end of February 2017. The value of investments in BWA Group and Alpha Prospects declined and the investment in Devilfish Poker was written off, although it is hoped that there could eventually some value to the shareholding. Yicom Global, a healthcare products supplier primarily focused on China, has been increasing its number of sales agents and sales.
Coinsilium Group Ltd (COIN) says that nano-payments company SatoshiPay has linked up with PayPal so that 200 million users could potentially use its service. Coinsilium has a 12.1% stake in SatoshiPay.
Milamber Ventures (MLVP) has paid £75,000 for a 15% in Essential Learning, which provides apprenticeship training. The UK Apprenticeship Levy is expected to generate £2.8bn to be invested in training. In the nine months to April 2016, revenues were £616,000 and lost nearly £30,000. Share placings at 16p a share and 20p a share raised a total of £75,000.
Wheelsure Holdings (WHLP) has raised £500,000 at 1p a share and it hopes to raise a further £50,000. Management says that the economic climate has delayed sales of its Tracksure rail safety components and Wheelsure is short of cash to develop the business. The cash is needed for marketing, product development and patent protection. There are trials of products in process. Wheelsure is focusing on generating more sales from existing customers while targeting longer-term sales from new customers.
Karoo Energy (KEP) has raised £465,000 at 3p a share. These investors will receive a warrant exercisable at 6p a share for each share they subscribed for. The warrants last for 36 months. The cash will be used for shale gas exploration in Botswana.
AIM
A strong end to the financial year means that Bilby (BILB) expects to report EBITDA of at least £3.6m, compared with a forecast of £3m. The building services provider says that demand was strong at the end of the financial year with some work starting earlier than expected. There is a cash balance of £2.5m. The figures for the year to March 2017 will be reported before the end of June.
Mortice (MORT) has sparked another profit forecast upgrade following a trading statement. House broker finnCap has increased its 2016-17 pre-tax profit forecast from $4.3m to $5m and next year’s forecast has been raised from $6.2m to $7m. Revenues are better than expected and costs have been kept under control. Net debt was $13.6m at the end of March 2017. The facilities management and security divisions both generated much higher revenues.
Gemfields (GEM) has received an unsolicited bid from 47.1% shareholder Pallinghurst Resources. The offer is not generous. Pallinghurst is offering 1.91 of its shares for each Gemfields share. That is equivalent to 38.5p a share or a total value of £211.5m.
Veltyco Group (VLTY) did even better than expected in 2016. Revenues were 7% ahead of forecast at €6.1m. Underlying pre-tax profit was €1.74m and Northland forecasts a 2017 profit of €4.27m, helped by recent acquisitions. The online gaming marketing business has started 2017 strongly.
RNA therapeutics developer Silence Therapeutics (SLN) has gained a European Patent Office grant for its chemical modification technology and expects to use this patent to generate revenues from specific medicines that are already undergoing clinical trials.
A recovery in oil and gas demand has helped Hardide (HDD) in the first half. Revenues increased by 59% to £1.51m. The underlying operating loss fell from £1.02m to £720,000. Production is building up at the new US facility. Sales are yet to come through from the approvals already given by Airbus Group. A $100,000 order has been received from General Electric.
LightwaveRF (LWRF) reported a slightly reduced interim loss on revenues that grew from £804,000 to £1.17m. The loss fell from £384,000 to £333,000. The home automation business has developed technology and it needs to generate higher sales in order to move into profit. A partnership with Google in the voice control area has propelled the share price upwards.
ImmuPharma (IMM) says that the latest clinical trial results show that Lupuzor, a potential treatment for Lupus, has a robust safety profile. The phase III trial of 200 patients has been going on for 52 weeks and the full results should be available in the first quarter of 2018.
Tiso Blackstar Group SE (TBGR) is selling its 22.9% stake in industrial holding company KTH back to the company. The payment of around £86m will be paid over 19 months with £7m due before the end of 2017 and the rest by the end of 2018. Tiso Blackstar will repay its debt of £23m and a special dividend of £2.3m. The rest of the cash will be reinvested in media investments. There are plans to move the listing in South Africa from AltX to the Main Market. The company is also moving its registered office from Malta to the UK.
Management has announced a potential bid for recruitment company InterQuest Group (ITQ) but the independent directors are not impressed. Chisbridge Ltd is offering 42- a share. The two independent directors say the offer undervalues the company.
Brave Bison (BBSN) has approached Zinc Media (ZIN) and merger discussions are underway. Herald Investments has stakes in both companies.
Edenville Energy (EDL), which operates the Rukwa coal project in Tanzania, has signed a letter of intent to supply 1,000t of coal/month and this could increase to 7,000t/month. This should hopefully be followed by a formal coal supply agreement so that deliveries can start in July.
Tissue Regenix (TRX) is in talks to acquire US-based regenerative medicine company CellRight Technologies.
MAIN MARKET
Flying Brands Ltd (FBDU) says that the prospectus relating to the acquisition of kidney stone analysis company Stone Checker Software has been approved by the authorities. A placing has raised £550,000 at 3p a share.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 27 February 2017
NEX EXCHANGE
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) says that one of its employee-owned investee business FJ Holdings has sold its businesses and been placed in administration. Capital for Colleagues had not been kept up to date with these moves. The loans to FJ and its subsidiary Ham Baker Adams plus the FJ share stake were valued at £1.3m at the end of November 2016, which included a £790,000 valuation for the share stake. That investment is equivalent to one-quarter of Capital for Colleagues’ NAV, suggesting a pro forma NAV of about 40.5p a share if the investment is completely written off. That is well below the current share price.
Ace Liberty & Stone (ALSP) says that the £3.55m sale of Hume House in Leeds announced in January 2016 has not been completed. Hume House was acquired for £1.67m in March 2014 and annual rental income is £188,000. Ace has raised £4.55m from the sale of Bridge House in Luton, which was acquired for £2.75m in November 2014, and been occupied by HM Revenue & Customs for more than three decades.
Middle East-focused investment vehicle Indigo Holdings (INGO) has made its first investment ten days after it joined NEX on 10 February. There was net cash of £818,000 at the time of flotation and €176,800 (£150,000) was spent on a 5% stake in Iranian car ride sharing app Carvanro. Indigo believes that the growing younger population in Iran will be receptive to the service. The app was launched in mid-2016 and registered users and completed rides are growing month-on-month.
Queros Capital Partners (QCP) has issued an additional £960,000 (£950,400 net) of 8% bonds 2025. That takes the bonds in issue to £2.625m. The cash will initially be used to provide bridging loans as Queros seeks to acquire social housing projects in the longer term. NQ Minerals (NQMI) has raised a further £82,000, having raised £128,750 at 0.8p a share last week. IMC Exploration (IMCP) has issued 2.5 million shares at 1p each to pay for professional fees and converted a Wilhan loan note into 3.2 million shares at 2p each. .
Peterhouse has replaced Grant Thornton as corporate adviser to Chinese medical products and services provider MiLOC Group (ML.P). Director Dennis Ow has satisfied a HK$500,000 loan by transferring 177,353 shares previously pledged as collateral, taking his stake to 0.44%.
Impact investing company Menhaden Capital (MHN) has decided to delist from the NEX Exchange Main Board in order to reduce costs but retain its premium listing on the London Stock Exchange.
AIM
Fishing tackle and products retailer Fishing Republic (FISH) is on course to increase pre-tax profit from £305,000 to £404,000 in 2016. Year-on-year revenues were 40% ahead, suggesting a figure of around £5.8m. A new store was opened in Mildenhall at the end of 2016 and another in Milton Keynes in January 2017. Two more, in Reading and Ipswich, are planned before the end of the fourth quarter. These stores will all be ready for the 2017 fishing season. Online sales have fallen but a greater proportion of them are direct through the company’s website which has improved gross margin. Last year’s share issue has diluted earnings per share but investing the cash in new stores will help to compensate for that. The 2016 figures will be published before the end of April.
Software robotics company Blue Prism (PRSM) says that its revenues were strong in the first quarter and it already expects full year revenues to be well ahead of expectations.
North Italy-based gas producer Saffron Energy (SRON) joined AIM on 24 January and ended the day at 7.38p. Saffron raised £2.5m at 5p a share. The cash will finance the development of three gas fields.
Gold recovery services and mining company Goldplat (GDP) increased its revenues in the first half even though gold sales were lower due to delays in selling gold from the Ghana plant, which did not get the required licence to sell the gold until the end of the period. The gold has been sold in the second half. First half revenues were still higher because of a 15% rise in the gold price achieved and currency movements. There was still £885,000 in the bank at the end of 2016. A full year pre-tax profit of £1.94m is forecast as the benefits from the investment in the Kilimapesa gold mine start to show through. Further capital investment will be required for the Kenyan mine and the gold recovery activities.
Conygar Investment Company (CIC) is selling its investment property portfolio to Regional Commercial Midco, which is owned by Regional REIT, for £129.8m – a few hundred thousand pounds ahead of its book valuation. Regional REIT will issue 26.3 million shares at 106.347p a share and assume bank debt and repayment of zero dividend preference shares. Shareholders will have to approve the transaction. Conygar will be able to focus on its development assets.
Vernalis (VER) made further progress in building sales of the Tuzistra cough treatment in the first few months of the cough season. In the six months to December 2016, revenues were one-third higher at £800,000 and the second half could be stronger. Growth in Tuzistra sales was not enough to offset declines elsewhere and total revenues fell from £6.1m to £5.6m. There could be two additional cough treatments on sale next year if the FDA approvals are achieved. Net cash was £74.2m at the end of 2016.
Security technology and services supplier Synectics (SNX) reported a 4% rise in revenues to £70.9m last year but higher margin gaming contracts meant that there was a sharp bounce back in profit. Net cash was £2.17m at the end of November 2016. This year’s underlying pre-tax profit is expected to grow from £2.6m to £3m, although this represents slower growth than originally expected.
Cairn is resigning as nominated adviser to CloudTag Inc (CTAG) on 10 April but the company has managed to raise £975,000 at 3.75p a share via Novum Securities at a cost of £58,500. Trading in the shares was subsequently suspended pending an announcement. CloudTag will need to find another nominated adviser to continue on AIM.
International benefits insurance provider GBGI Ltd (GBGI) joined AIM on 22 February when it was valued at £130.4m at 150p a share. The share price was unchanged at the end of the week. GBGI intends to pay a dividend equivalent to 60% of distributable profit.
Stellar Diamonds (STEL) is raising £324,500 from a placing at 5.5p a share and up to £250,000 from an open offer at the same price. Once the placing is completed the shares will return from suspension. The cash will help to pay creditors and be used to progress the Tonguma project in Sierra Leone. Further cash will be required.
Timber processing and renewable energy business Active Energy (AEG) is in discussions to acquire further timber assets in North America and Europe. AEG WoodFibre generated lower revenues in 2016 because of weak demand from MDF manufacturers in Turkey after the coup. A new softwood processing plant should be up and running in April. The CoalSwitch division will be the main focus of growth this year.
SigmaRoc (SRC) says that its maiden acquisition Ronez has been integrated more quickly than it expected. The new systems should be up and running by the end of April and the back office systems budget should be halved. January sales volumes were ahead of budget and the first quarter order book is strong for the Channel Islands-based construction materials supplier. SigmaRoc has secured a £2m revolving credit facility from Santander and a £18m term facility is being negotiated. These two facilities will last until 2021.
Northland has increased its profit forecasts for online gaming marketing business Veltyco Group (VLTY). The 2016 pre-tax profit estimate has been raised from €1.35m to €1.99m, which is in line with the recent trading statement. The 2017 profit forecast has been raised from €3.18m to €4.27m and for 2018 from €4.21m to €5.44m.
Savannah Resources (SAV) has raised £2.24m at 5.25p a share and it has letters of intent for a further £1.01m from the chairman and a major investor, Al Marjan, which will maintain its stake at 29.9%. Savannah has reduced its full year loss from £3.1m to £1.8m and there was £700,000 left in the bank at the end of 2016. This year Savannah expects to complete the scoping study for the Mutamba heavy mineral sands project in Mozambique, where it has signed a consortium agreement with Rio Tinto, and start mining copper in Oman. Savannah is also defining drill targets for Lithium in Finland.
Premier African Minerals (PREM) is on course to get production restarted at the RHA tungsten mine. Underground mining contract terms have been agreed with delivery of up to 16,000 tonnes of ore each month.
Edenville Energy (EDL) has raised £2m at 0.8p a share, with every two new shares eligible for a warrant exercisable at 1.08p a share over the next 18 months. The cash will be used to acquire capital equipment and finance other costs of developing the Rukwa coal project in Tanzania. Commercial mining should begin by the end of the first quarter of 2017. Edenville has relinquished its uranium prospecting licence to concentrate on Rukwa.
MAIN MARKET
Small company-focused investment company Athelney Trust (ATY) has increased its dividend by 8.8% to 8.6p a share, although NAV growth was more modest at 2.5%. Last year, Athelney did not do as well as AIM or the FTSE Fledgling index which each grew by around 15%. Athelney is more exposed to the commercial property market than AIM or the Fledgling index. Property shares were hit by the EU referendum and did not clawback their falls by the end of the year. Athelney takes a long-term view and it has still outperformed AIM since 2005. The focus remains companies that are steadily growing profitability and dividends. Realised capital gains were £294,000 in 2016, helped by takeovers of Premier Farnell, UK Mail and Wireless. A stake was acquired in Lavendon last year and that is being taken over. The NAV was 251.1p a share at the end of 2016. Having raised £407,000 at 233.2p a share last April, Athelney still had invested most of the cash and had £59,000 left in the bank – slightly higher than a year earlier. The NAV had slipped to 250.4p a share by the end of January.
Standard listed and TSX Venture Capital Market-quoted Zenith Energy (ZEN) is selling its operations in Argentina so that it can concentrate on its operations in Italy and Azerbaijan. Production was suspended in 2015 because a storage tank owned by the state oil company collapsed so oil could not be transported. The operations are being sold for a nominal sum because investment is required and the buyers are taking on environmental responsibilities.
Standard list shell Sealand Capital Galaxy Ltd (SCGL) is acquiring SecureCom Group for 10 million shares and £1m in cash. Sealand had £600,000 in cash at the end of June 2016 and it is raising a further £1.4m (1.27m net of expenses) at 20p a share. The November 2015 flotation price was 10p. SecureCom also brings cash with it and pro forma cash is £3.26m and there is subscription money owed to the company of £8.58m. The pro forma NAV is 3.87m because of the heavy losses incurred by SecureCom, which has spent large amounts on sales and marketing of its instant messaging and communications products n the Asia Pacific region.
Andrew Hore
Brand CEO Alan Green discusses Edenville Energy (ADL) & Coats Group (COA) on the VOX Markets podcast
Brand CEO Alan Green discusses Edenville Energy (ADL) & Coats Group (COA), and mentions Andalas Energy (ADL) with Justin Waite on the VOX Markets podcast. Interview starts at 25 minutes 50 seconds.
Quoted Micro 16 January 2017
NEX / ISDX
Ecommerce technology provider Netalogue Technologies (NTLP) has secured three contracts in the drinks sector. Brewer Marston’s, pubs operator Enterprise Inns and drinks wholesaler Matthew Clark have bought ecommerce portals. They all used the iTradeNetwork online ordering system previously but this will no longer be available from August so this provides a significant opportunity for Netalogue.
Goldcrest Resources (GCRP) has raised £217,000 at 0.25p a share to provide working capital so that it can execute its plans. Further shares are being issued to Pelamis Investments Ltd for the conversion of a £70,000 convertible loan note at 0.25p a share and from issuing 48.52 million shares at the same price to settle £121,000 of liabilities. Goldcrest plans to seek further gold projects. Peterhouse has been appointed as corporate adviser and broker.
NQ Minerals (NQMI) has secured funding of A$4m and raised £400,000 at 8p a share. The loan is secured on the assets of a subsidiary and has an annual interest charge of 12%, payable quarterly. There is a fee of A$35,000. Greg Lane, who has experience in mine development, has joined the board. He has four million options exercisable at 7p a share.
AIM
This year will be an important one for battery technology developer Ilika (IKA). There are discussions with potential licensees for solid state battery technology and there should be deals during 2017. Stereax M250 batteries are being assessed by a number of potential customers. In the six months to October 2016, revenues improved from £254,000 to £329,000 but the operating loss edged up to £2.2m. Full year revenues should grow from £600,000 to £2.5m, which is partly underpinned by recent grant wins. Losses are expected to continue for the time being. The balance sheet is strong and there should be £6.7m in cash at the end of April thanks to cash raised late in 2016.
Packaging supplier Robinson (RBN) says that trading is still tough but it has gained planning permission on part of its surplus property portfolio. The outline planning permission covers 23 acres on two sites. House broker finnCap believes that this could double the value of the land from £5m to £10m – equivalent to 60p a share. The disappointing trading and investment in sales and marketing has led to a 12.5% downgrade in the 2016 pre-tax profit forecast to £2m, and the 2017 forecast has been cut to £2.1m.
Somero Enterprises Inc (SOM) has sparked another forecast upgrade with its latest trading statement. A strong finish to the year means that the earnings per share for 2016 have been upgraded from 22.7 cents to 24.4 cents. There was good demand for newer products and larger concrete levelling machines. Net cash is expected to be $18.7m and the dividend payout ration has been increased from 30% to 40% of net adjusted income. There is even potential for a special dividend.
Cloud-based telecom services provider Cloudcall (CALL) increased its full year revenues by 50% to £4.9m with a large chunk of this growth coming from existing customers. Around 400 customers were added each month last year. There is cash of £3.2m. The expected 2016 loss of £3.5m is similar to the year before but it is expected to be reduced in 2017. Around 85% of revenues are recurring or repeating.
Focusrite (TUNE) says trading continues to be strong and cash is building up. Foreign exchange movements have been favourable. Timothy Carroll has taken over as chief executive.
Tertiary Minerals (TYM) is evaluating acquisitions so that it can generate revenues and profit earlier than would be the case with its current fluorspar interests. Legal changes in Sweden and poor market conditions for fluorspar has delayed progress with the existing assets.
Caledonia Mining Corporation (CMCL) says that its Blanket mine beat production expectations for 2016. There was an 18% increase in fourth quarter gold production (year-on-year) and 2016 gold production was 18% higher at 50,351 ounces. Caledonia owns 49% of Blanket mine. In 2017, production of 60,000 ounces is expected and the mine cost is estimated to be lower than in 2016 at $600-$630/ounce. Investment in infrastructure are improving production but there is a lot more to come and annual production of 80,000 ounces of gold is anticipated in 2021.
Evgen Pharma (EVG) has received a positive interim safety review from the Data Safety Monitoring Board for the use of SFX-01 to treat subarachnoid haemorrhage. This means that the phase II trial will proceed and results should be available in the first half of 2018. So far, 26 patients have enrolled out of a total of 90 people.
Pensions services provider Mattioli Woods (MTW) says that revenues are growing faster than expected. Profit growth has been held back by investment in the business but finnCap has raised its earnings per share estimate from 30.5p to 32.5p. The interim figures are due to be published on 7 February.
Edenville Energy (EDL) has started trial mining at its Rukwa coal project in Tanzania and commercial mining should begin by the end of the first quarter of 2017. The trail mining is generating revenues.
The old guard continues to depart from 1Spatial (SPA) with the latest being Marcus Yeoman.
MAIN MARKET
Canadian oil and gas explorer and producer Zenith Energy Ltd (ZEN) joined the standard list on 11 January. The company, which operates onshore oil and gas fields in Azerbaijan, Argentina and Italy, is already listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Zenith also produces electricity in Italy. AIM-quoted and NEX-quoted Gunsynd (GUN) has invested £524,000 in Zenith.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 21 November 2016
ISDX
Crossword Cybersecurity (CCS) has raised £1.4m via a placing and subscription at 190p a share – the same as the current bid price – and the cash will be invested in sales and marketing and further cyber security product development. There was £668,000 in the bank at the end of June 2016. Chief executive Thomas Ilube subscribed for 132,103 shares but his holding has been diluted from 52.6% to 44.4%.
Brewer Daniel Thwaites (THW) made a small loss in the six months to September 2016 due to the impact of a loss on interest rate swaps of £5.7m due to the fall in sterling but the underlying business is still highly profitable. A 5% increase in revenues to £44m led to an improvement in operating profit from continuing operations from £7m to £7.4m. Investment in hotels and bars has offset the effect of the national living wage. However, the loss on interest rate swaps meant that a previous interim profit of £5.7m was turned into a loss of £300,000. An unchanged interim dividend of 1.1p a share was announced. Net debt was £34.9m at the end of September 2016 and more capital investment is planned. There are ongoing plans to relocate the brewery and offices and this should be completed in 2018. Thwaites has been named as preferred partner to redevelop Dee House, a grade II listed Georgian building, in Chester.
AIM cash shell Tengri Resources (TEN) has joined the ISDX Growth Market. The AIM quotation will be retained and it is seeking a technology acquisition. Tengri has paid Robust Resources $200,000 in cash, 4.3 million shares and sold Robust its shareholding in gold explorer Prospech in return for the relinquishment of a loan of $1.02m. Tengri has raised £650,000 from an issue of convertible loan stock – which would be equivalent to 65.5% of Tengri if converted – having previously raised £100,000 from a share issue at 5p a share. A general meeting is planned to reorganise the company’s capital and change the name of the company to Forbes Ventures – the ticker will be changed to FOR. The share price was 1p prior to joining ISDX and it ended the week at 2p (1.5p/2.5p).
Ganapati (GANP), the developer of apps for social media and games, has clarified the bonds it has issued to Japanese investors. They are three-year bonds, not two-year bonds as previously stated, with an option to renew for a further year. EveryMatrix Ltd is in talks with Ganapati’s Malta business to obtain an online casino licence but this will be dependent on Ganapati being granted a licence from the British Gambling Commission and a class 4 licence from the Malta Gaming Authority.
The Italian agent of Tracksure has subscribed for up to 4.55 million shares in Wheelsure Holdings (WHLP) in lieu of its commission on sales up until the end of August 2017. There will be an initial issue of 562,400 shares in lieu of commission of £5,624. Daniel Stewart has taken its fee for the previous fundraising by the company in the form of 500,000 shares at 1p each and 3.52 million warrants to subscribe for shares at 1p each.
FT8 (GFT) continues to assess potential fintech investments and decisions will be made on specific investments before the end of the year. A lack of financial resources remains a constraint. There was less than £3,000 in the bank at the end of June 2016. Opportunities have also been sought in the US that are in a similar sector to Homeland Health Care, where an FT8 investment provides technology for the employee benefits operations.
Hellenic Capital (HECP) has adopted a new pronged investment policy – UK property and African natural resources investments – but it is not changing its name to City and Commercial Investments. Hellenic will wait until it has made investments before deciding on a new name.
Investors have subscribed for just over 50% of the shares in the one-for-three open offer by St Mark Homes (SMAP). This has raised £694,000 at 105p a share.
Greenbrook Industries has increases its stake in Sandal (SAND) to 29.6%. The shares were transferred to Greenbrook as part of loan agreements with Robin Fuller and Kingswood Asset Management.
AIM
Kuala Lumpur Kepong has increased its bid for MP Evans (MPE) from 640p a share to 740p a share, which values the oil palm plantations operator at £415.4m. The bid will be declared unconditional if acceptances reach 50%. The bid has been rejected by MP Evans. This offer cannot be increased unless there is a rival bidder or the target recommends an increased offer. There is scope for a rival bidder.
Transport-related software and services provider Tracsis (TRCS) promised that the second half of its financial year would produce the vast majority of profit and it has delivered. In the year to July 2016, the underlying pre-tax profit improved from £5.6m to £6.7m. There is net cash of £10.7m with potential deferred consideration of £6.15m. The rail technology and services division grew organically and thanks to a contribution from software company Ontrac. The remote control monitoring equipment business generated lower revenues but this year it will benefit from a US contract. Traffic & data services benefited from a contribution from traffic planning services provider SEP in a stronger part of its financial year – the first half included a partial contribution during the off-season. Earnings per share were slightly flattered by a lower tax rate. This holds back potential earnings growth this year to around 9% even though pre-tax profit is forecast to improve to £8m helped by a full contribution from SEP.
Student accommodation developer and manager Watkin Jones (WJG) says that 2015-16 trading was in line with expectations. At the end of September 2016, there was a development pipeline of 21 developments with 6,814 beds. These should be delivered in 2017 and 2018. Management business Fresh Student Living has 12,337 beds under management. The full year figures will be published on 18 January.
Totally (TLY) has acquired sports physiotherapy provider Optimum Sports Performance Centre for an initial £400,000. This is an earnings enhancing deal. There are additional deferred payments of 100% of 2016 EBITDA and 75% of 2017 EBITDA. The total maximum payment is £650,000.
Immobile (IMO) reported a 22% increase in pre-tax profit to £3.3m in the six months to 2016 and the cash pile has reached £17.9m. Immobile provides services to enable mobile and digital commerce. Organic growth was 14% with particularly strong growth in India. Recurring revenues were 94% of the total revenues. The launch of IMIchat provides a further service that can be sold to the customer base. Immobile has won its first US mobile operator client and has yet to see the benefits of this. Kestrel Partners has taken its stake above 5%.
RedstoneConnect (REDS) has paid £2.4m for Commensus, which provides managed IT support services, and this should be earnings enhancing. The deal enables RedstoneConnect to offer cloud-hosting services and provides opportunities for cross-selling.
Sula Iron & Gold (SULA) has launched a placing and open offer to raise up to £1.47m at 0.21p a share. This will help to finance the development of the Ferensola gold project in Sierra Leone. Early next year there will be additional drilling in order to demonstrate the scale of the project.
FIH Group (FIH), formerly Falkland Island Holdings, has achieved 60% of this year’s forecast profit in the first half of the financial year. Normally there is a fairly even split. WH Ireland has maintained its full year profit forecast at £1.85m because the outcome will be dependent on how quickly art logistics services provider Momart fills its additional capacity. Net cash was £4.3m at the end of September 2016. The current share price of 218.5p is similar to NAV, excluding intangibles.
Fire and emergency services resource manager AssetCo (ASTO) has still to renew its main contract in Abu Dhabi. The renewal for the contract was due on 17 November and it is still being renegotiated so the contract will continue on existing terms until the new one is finalised. That should be before the end of the year. Trading is in line with expectations and it appears that the contract will be renewed. The £42m claim against former auditor Grant Thornton is still being pursued.
Tanzania-focused Edenville Energy (EDL) says that results of bulk sampling at the Mkomolo and Namwele deposits indicate that the coal is suitable to feed a power plant and requires little or no washing.
MAIN MARKET
Avation (AVAP) says that its dividends will be based in US dollars from now on. Management believes that it will receive proposals for the disposal of 22 ATR turboprop aircraft before the end of 2016. Avation is seeking a price that is well in excess of NAV and the deal will require shareholder approval. That could lead to a special dividend with part of the proceeds invested in further aircraft.
Marketing services firm Creston (CRE) has recommended a 125p a share bid from value investor DBAY Advisors Ltd, which values the target at £75.8m. Shareholders will also keep the 1.42p a share interim dividend. DBAY has been a Creston shareholder for more than two years.
Andrew Hore
Brand CEO Alan Green discusses Edenville Energy (EDL) and Faron Pharma (FARN) on VOX Markets podcast
Brand CEO Alan Green discusses Edenville Energy (EDL) and Faron Pharma (FARN) with Justin Waite on the VOX Markets podcast. The interview is 19 minute 45 seconds in.
Brand CEO Alan Green talks Sabien Technology (SNT), Edenville Energy (EDR) & Andalas Energy (ADL) on VOX Markets podcast
Brand CEO Alan Green talks Sabien Technology (SNT), Edenville Energy (EDR) & Andalas Energy & Power (ADL) with Justin Waite on the VOX Markets podcast.
The interview is 20 minutes 30 seconds in. Click here to listen.
Brand CEO Alan Green talks Andalas Energy (ADL), Feedback (FDBK) and Edenville Energy (EDL) on VOX Markets podcast
Brand CEO Alan Green discusses Andalas Energy (ADL), Feedback (FDBK) and Edenville Energy (EDL) with Justin Waite on the VOX Markets podcast. The interview is 23 minutes in. Click here to listen.