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Quoted Micro 28 October 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Electrification technology developer Equipmake (EQIP) has raised £3m at 3p/share. Chief executive Ian Foley has subscribed for 6.67 million shares, although his stake will be diluted to 34.1%. The cash should last for six months and move the business towards cash breakeven. There was £2.48m in the bank at the end of May 2024. In the year to May 2024, the cash outflow from operations was £6.3m. The company estimates a requirement of £5.5m for working capital over the next 12 months. A potential licensing agreement could bring in £4.6m over a two-year period. Equipmake could reach cash breakeven in 2025-26. The focus is on higher margin work and bus repowering range will be rationalised. Costs are also being reduced, but it is investing in its commercial team.
Igraine (KING) has secured right of first refusal on current and future battery storage projects developed by GEM Energia. AIM-quoted Vela Technologies (VELA) is providing a loan facility with a minimum commitment of £200,000. Igraine will issue 35.5 million shares, which is 29.1% of the company, to GEM in return for the rights. David Levis, the chief executive of GEM, is joining the Igraine board as an executive director. He founded GEM to develop battery energy storage projects in the UK. It develops the projects up to the point where it either sells them or proceeds with the development itself. Igraine will have the right to receive 8% of the sales proceeds of a disposal or be involved in their further development. Initial sites will be sold to generate cash for Igraine and strengthen the balance sheet. Each site requires £150,000-£250,000 to secure grid connections and get to the ready to build stage. Every MW of capacity is valued at £120,000. After costs, a 100MW site could generate cash of more than £7m. There are four sites which are already in progress.
Oscillate (MUSH) has started hydrogen operations in Minnesota. A hydrogen soil-gas sensor has been bought and pre-field work started, which will provide data to enable further progress. Igraine has been diluted from 10.2% to 5.05% following the recent share issue.
Lift Global Ventures (LFT) says investee company Trans-Africa Energy has not received the £12m it was waiting for from an African investor. It is talking to alternative sources of finance for the energy infrastructure project in Ghana. The redemption date on the loan notes held by Lift Global Ventures has been extended to the end of 2024 and in return the value will be increased from £1m to £1.25m.
Ananda Developments (ANA) says two of its potential medicines, MRX2 and MRX2T, will be used in National Institute for Health and Care Research and NHS co-funded phase IIIa epilepsy clinical trials involving up to 500 patients. This could support marketing authorisation applications if the trials are successful.
EDX Medical Group (EDX) has raised £300,000 from a Saudi Arabian investor at 11p/share, which was a 22% premium to the market price.
Corporate businesses developer Macaulay Capital (MCAP) managing director David Horner has doubled his shareholding to 500,000 shares by buying 250,000 shares at 20p each. His family has a 24.9% stake. Marula Mining (MARU) director Jason Brewer has increased his shareholding by 340,000 shares at 5.38p each. That takes his stake, held through Gathoni Muchai Investments to 9.13%. Mike Cass has increased his stake in BWA Group (BWAP) to 15.1%. James and Alexandra Pace have a 5% stake in Shepherd Neame (SHEP).
AIM
Footwear retailer Shoe Zone (SHOE) says that poor weather hit second half sales, but it has traded in line with expectations. Full year revenues were 3% lower at £161.3m with a second half decline wiping out the interim growth. Trading did improve in August and September. Zeus forecasts a fall in pre-tax profit from £16.5m to £9.5m. The full year dividend will slip from 17.4p/share to 6.2p/share.
Disinfection products supplier Tristel (TSTL) beat expectations in the year to June 2024. There were initial revenues from the US, but they will take time to build up. Sales grew in nearly every market, with small dips in Australasia and China. A price increase in the UK, combined with higher volumes, helped hospital medical device decontamination jump 38%. The main growth in sales is in the UK and Europe. In the year to June 2024, revenues improved from £36m to £41.9m, while pre-tax profit rose from £6.2m to £8.2m. There was a reallocation of costs from overheads to cost of sales, so this affected comparatives. The total dividend was raised 29% to 13.52p/share.
Telecoms enterprise software provider Cerillion (CER) continues to grow faster than its underlying market. Revenues were 14% higher in the second half, enabling profit to be better than expected. There are record new orders and this underpins further growth in the next couple of years. The €12.4m order from the previously unnamed Virgin Media Ireland is contributing to the growth. It probably generated £6m last year. This is the first contract with a tier-1 telecoms company and could help to win other contracts with this level of business. In the year to September 2024, revenues were 12% ahead at £43.8m.
Online marketing services provider XL Media (XLM) is selling its North American business for up to $30m in cash, with $20m payable on completion and up to $10m in April – based on revenues and gross profit in 2024. Some cash should be redistributed to shareholders by the end of the year. The company will effectively become a cash shell.
EnergyPathways (EPP) has been asked by the UK government to participate in the Hydrogen Storage Business Model. This will help to define the new investment support scheme. The first Hydrogen Storage Allocation Round should be in 2025.
Seascape Energy Asia (SEA) has been awarded a 28% participating interest in a production sharing contract over the DEWA complex cluster, offshore Sarawak, Malaysia. Enquest owns 42% and Petroleum Sarawak holds 30%. The area has 12 gas discoveries in shallow water near to the coast. Six will be focused on and these have 500bcf of gas in place. Seascape Energy Asia will commit $600,000 for a detailed resource assessment and field development plan.
Specialist recruitment firm Gattaca (GATC) reported an underlying 2023-24 pre-tax profit decline from £3.7m to £2.9m on 5% lower net fee income of £40.1m. There was a 3% increase in net fee income for contract work, but permanent income dropped by one-third. Despite the decline, Gattaca is gaining market share. Costs have been reduced and the US business has been sold. There could be a modest improvement in profit this year.
Prospex Energy (PXEN) recently acquired a 7.2365% working interest in the onshore Spain Viura gas field, which recommenced production last week. The Viura 1B development well has encountered significant gas shows in the Utrillas-A reservoir and a new gas bearing reservoir interval below that. The well, which cost Prospex Energy €375,000, could contribute to production in November Flow testing results for the deeper reservoir will be available next year. There should be a significant upgrade to recoverable reserves. The European gas price is rising.
Musical instruments retailer Gear4Music (G4M) continues to recover with growth in the second quarter nearly offsetting the decline in the first quarter and further improvement in October. In the six months to September 2024, UK sales grew 4%, but European sales declined. Total sales were 1% lower at £61.7m. Gross margin has fallen back, but the interim loss will be reduced. Full year revenues are expected to be higher and pre-tax profit could jump from £1.1m to £2.8m.
Information and data publisher Merit Group (MRIT) has been hit by the ending of project work and the lack of replacement work. Sales resource is being added, but that will take time to boost revenues. Canaccord Genuity has changed its 2024-25 forecast from a £900,000 profit to a loss of £800,000 after a 11% reduction in expected revenues to £18.5m, which is lower than the 2022-23 figure. A return to profit is forecast for next year. There are management changes that are flagged for next year.
Ariana Resources (AAU) has reviewed the data for the Dokwe gold project in Zimbabwe. There are several zones of potential extensions to mineralisation. There are also gold-in-soil anomalies to follow up and drilling is planned. The in-pit resource is 1.2moz in two open pits at Dokwe Central and Dokwe North. Measured and indicated resources are 30Mt at 1.3g/t gold. Ariana Resources believes there could be annual production of up to 100,000 ounces of gold for up to 15 years. A revision of the pre-feasibility study is underway.
At the end of the week, property developer and investor Caledonian Trust (CNN), which has been on AIM for more than 29 years, announced its proposed departure. The direct annual cost of the quotation is £100,000 and liquidity is poor. A general meeting to gain shareholder approval will be held on 18 November. There is already support from holders of 85.3% of the shares. The quotation could end on 26 November. NAV is 195.1p/share.
Adams (ADA) is proposing the cancellation of the AIM quotation and sell off the company’s investments, many of which are also quoted on AIM, to return the cash to shareholders. Prior to this Adams will be buying back shares at 4p each. The estimated NAV is 3.72p/share. Liquidity is limited because Richard Griffiths owns 94% of Adams. A general meeting will be held on 27 November and, if passed, the cancellation will be on 5 December.
MAIN MARKET
Advanced materials developer HeiQ (LON: HEIQ) has found growing its business difficult, particularly in textiles, flooring and antimicrobials and not recovery is expected until well into 2025. Another restructuring plan will cut costs and focus on certain facilities. Non-core operations will be scaled back. Some parts of the business may be sold, and outside finance is being sought for AeoniQ. Part of the cost cutting is giving up the listing. This should take effect on 19 November. Because the shares are on the transition category of the market since the restructuring of the Main Market, no shareholder vote is required. The shares will be traded by JP Jenkins. Daren Morecombe has increased his stake from 14.5% to 22%.
Bloomsbury Publishing (BMY) grew interim revenues by 32% to £179.8m, while pre-tax profit jumped from £17.7m to £26.6m. This is due to strong consumer division revenues due to strong sales of fantasy fiction and cookery books.
LED lighting and wiring accessories supplier Luceco (LUCE) increased third quarter revenues by 3% with residential EV charging the main growth area. However, excluding acquisitions, like-for-like revenues were 3.6% lower, partly due to phasing of orders so that there is a strong fourth quarter order book. Margins are improving. Net debt was £67m at the end of September 2024.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 19 February 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Vehicle electrification technology developer Equipmake (EQIP) has raised £4m at 6p/share and a further £110,000 from a retail offer. This will fund research and development for the international market and finding opportunities in the US. There is also grant funding of up to £4.57m. The order book is valued at £13.1m and mainly relates to the bus market. The cash will last at least 12 months.
Coinsilium (COIN) says that the SalitaFinance AI-driven platform, where it has a 6.7% stake, has received investment from a top ten global infrastructure bank. Another investee company, crypto friendly payments company Greengage Global has secured an agreement with a new regulated partner and this will enable the earlier launch of Greengage’s US dollar currency accounts along with forex and SWIFT payments services for clients.
Investment Evolution Credit (IEC) has appointed Axis Capital Markets as corporate broker to help to raise up to £100m via the previously announced bond offering. The share price rose by 50% on the week to 60p. The December 2023 admission price was 4.5p.
RentGuarantor (RGG) has entered a three-year marketing deal with student letting company University Living. The rent guarantee service will be promoted to residential tenants. This will broaden access to the market.
Mortgage Chat (MCAI) has raised £105,000 at 0.05p each. The strategy is moving towards the development of an artificial intelligence platform called Mortgage Chat connecting borrowers and lenders.
Brewer Adnams (ADB) has asked advisers to explore options for funding growth plans.
Marula Mining (MARU) has published a shareholder circular to gain approval for a subscription by AUO Commercial Brokerage. The first subscription will raise £3.75m at 3.75p/share with further subscriptions potentially raising £4.78m at 10p/share. The general meeting is on 8 March.
BWA Group (BWAP) has come to a settlement with St-Georges Eco-Mining Corp, which will convert some loan notes into 146.2 million shares and cancel £1.42m of convertible notes. Connected parties will also be encouraged to rerun up to £1.8m of convertible notes.
TruSpine Technologies (TSP) has entered into a £50,000 loan note agreement with Martin Armstrong, a former chairman. This can be converted into shares at 2.5p each.
Lord Nicholas Monson has increased his stake in Lift Global Ventures (LFT) from 4.96% to 5.33%.
AIM
Katoro Gold (KAT) has raised £750,000 at 0.1p/share, along with warrants exercisable at 0.2p/share that could raise up to £1.5m, and it is planning board changes. Executive chairman Louis Coetzee is stepping down. Outstanding board fees of £91,000 have been reduced to £63,600. A new strategy will involve maximising value from existing interests and seeking new opportunities in critical metals, including uranium. Paul Johnson, who has previously run Power Metal Resources and Metal Tiger has been appointed strategic consultant. The company plans to change its name to Katoro Global Resources.
Good Energy (GOOD) is building on its energy efficiency services business through the acquisition of Maidstone-based JPS Renewable Energy, which is a solar and storage installation business. The initial consideration is £7m in cash and shares with deferred consideration of up to £6.75m over two years. The vendors placed 842,000 of the 1.32 million shares issued at 250p each. JPS generated revenues of £12.4m and pre-tax profit of £600,000 in the year to April 2023 and pre-tax profit could increase to £1.3m this year.
Neometals (NMT) says a review of the Spargos project in Western Australia indicates low potential for lithium-bearing pegmatites. Sampling did not produce any significant results. There will be field mapping to investigate two potassium anomalies and a strategic review of the project.
Gattaca (GATC) is still finding the permanent staffing market difficult, and first half net fee income is expected to decline 16% to £18.9m. This has led to downgrades for full year net fee income, but cost cutting has meant that the full year pre-tax profit forecast is maintained at £3m. The figures will be second half weighted.
Harvest Minerals (HMI) received fertiliser orders for 34,880 tonnes, of which 28,707 tonnes were invoiced in 2023. There have been 1,250 tonnes invoiced so far in 2024. Sales guidance is 70,000 tonnes for 2024. Cash was $630,000 at the end of 2023. Cost are being reduced.
Trading in Artemis Resources (ARV) shares has resumed on ASX. Trading was halted on 8 February although it continued on AIM. Artemis Resources published an update on the West Pilbara project exploration. This shows potential sub vertical orientation of pegmatites at Kobe and Osborne. The first drill hole potentially stopped short of the Osborne target. A drilling programme to test Osborne is planned for March to test near surface lithium rich zones.
M&A activity remains weak at professional services network operator DSW Capital (DSW) and that will hit this year’s profit. There appeared to be an improving trend, but January was poor and that hit network revenues. February is also set to be disappointing. The other activities are trading well. The 2023-24 pre-tax profit will be between £600,000 and £700,000. There was cash of £2.7m at the end of January 2024.
Baron Oil (BOIL) has raised £3m at 0.05p/share, while the retail offer generated £260,000. This will fund drilling preparations for the Chuditch-2 appraisal well south of Timor-Leste, which is planned for the fourth quarter. Shell discovered the Chuditch-1 gas field in the Chuditch production sharing contract in 1998. Timor-Leste authorities recently approved the farm-up agreement with TIMOR GAP Chuditch Unipessoal relating to the production sharing contract. Baron Oil’s subsidiary will retain 60% of the production sharing contract and the partner, which has increased its interest from 25% to 40%, will be responsible for 20% of all costs, including the Chuditch-2 appraisal well.
Beowulf Mining (BEM) is raising cash to invest in Kallak iron ore project in northern Sweden and the graphite anode materials plant in Finland. There will be a rights issue and a PrimaryBid retail offer in the UK raising up to £7.5m in total. A formal decision on the fundraising and pricing will be made on 7 March. A capital reorganisation will reduce the par value of the shares from 1p to 0.1p. The cash will be spent on the Kallak pre-feasibility study and environmental studies, which will enable the application for an environmental permit.
Bushveld Minerals (BMN) has received a $4m payment from Southern Point Resources, which will be repaid when the $12.5m subscription is finally received. This takes the interest free loans to $6m, which have been paid to a South African subsidiary. Southern Point Resources says that the subscription will be paid by 28 February. The financial position of the company is being managed so that vanadium production, which has restarted, can continue until the rest of the cash is received.
Coal miner MC Mining (MCM) advises shareholders not to accept the A$0.16/ share bid from a company controlled by the majority shareholders. One condition is the acceptance by 50.1% of the shares not owned by the bidder.
Crossword Cybersecurity (CCS) has entered a partnership agreement with IT distributor TD SYNNEX, which will sell Crossword’s Trillion threat intelligence platform.
MAIN MARKET
Pendragon has completed the sale of its motor distributor business and will focus on its motor dealer software. The name has changed to Pinewood Technologies (PINE).
Better contract news from data integrity and banking integration software provider Gresham Technologies (GHT), which has secured a $1.5m contract for its Claretti software. The customer is described as a cash management and retail digital services provider. The deal covers the US and is for five years.
HeiQ (HEIQ) is acquiring a manufacturing facility in Portugal to commercialise the AeoniQ synthetic filament yarns technology. Commercial production could start by 2026. Capacity will be 3,000 tons.
HeiQ wants to raise £2.44m. A placing raised £685,000 at 8.7p/share and there is a retail offer of up to £75,000 closing on 22 February. The rest of the cash will come from an issue of non-interest bearing convertible loan notes with a conversion price of 8.7p/share. Revenues were $41m in 2023, but EBITDA will be lower than expected. Net debt is $2m. The year end is being changed from December to June 2024.
XP Power (XPP) says that weak demand meant that 2023 figures will be well below expectations. The 2024 results will be second half weighted. Net debt was £112.7m at the end of 2023.
Carclo (CAR) is closing its Tucson facility and manufacturing will be moved to Pennsylvania.
BSF Enterprise (BSFA) is setting up a separate subsidiary to develop a cultivated leather business.
Dispensa (DISP), originally known as Zamaz, is calling a general meeting on 14 March to gain shareholder approval for the delisting from the standard list.
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
Ian Pollard – Stagecoach #SGC regional mileage down but fare revenue up
Stagecoach Group plc SGC updates for the year to the 27th April that it has seen further strong trading in its UK Rail Division, resulting in an increase in expectations for adjusted earnings per share from when interim results were announced in December. The financial performance of UK rail and Virgin rail is ahead of expectations, Regional bus saw a fall of 0.5% in like for like vehicle miles but strangely like-for-like revenue per vehicle mile grew 4.0% and like-for-like revenue per journey also increased 3.6%. which seems to indicate something about fares.
Shield Therapeutics plc STX saw revenue for the year to 31st December grow from £0.6 to £11.9m whilst the annual loss fell from £19.6 million to £19.6 million1.8m. The CEO states that they are now well positioned to deliver further positive news through 2019. A significant highlight for the year was the receipt of £11.0 million upfront from Norgine in respect of a licence agreement.
Gattaca plc GATC Profit before tax and basic earnings per share for the six months to the end of January each rose by 12% and underlying reported EBITDA by 14%. The interim dividend of 3% which was paid last year is, however, not being repeated this year in line with the revised dividend policy. The Board will consider dividends at the year end but this comes with a warning that if they are resumed it would only be at modest levels.
Audioboom Group plc BOOM reports trading ahead of management expectations with quarterly revenue of c.US$4.6 million, up 180% to a record .US$4.6 million, The CEO is delighted with the first quarter start to 2019. and claims that “the potential is now there to deliver significant shareholder value this year”. with key developments including an enhanced global commercial agreements signed with Spotify a strong pipeline of content acqusition and other opportunities, including 11 new shows which were signed during the first quarter.
Find beachfront villas & houses for sale in Greece; http://www.hiddengreece.net
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 12 February 2018
NEX EXCHANGE
Western Selection (WESP) maintained its NAV at 95p a share at the end of the six month period of December 2017. Net debt was £1.13m. A sharp upturn in the value of the stake in Bilby (BILB) and offset declines in other investments. The interim dividend is unchanged at 1.1p a share. The shares go ex-dividend on 8 March.
Gledhow Investments (GDH) has granted six million options to its directors and company secretary. Guy Miller and Brett Miller will receive 2.5 million options each and Geoffrey Melamet receives 1 million. The exercise price is 1p a share. They last for five years and would equate to 10.9% of the enlarged share capital if taken up. The current share price is 1p (0.75p/1.25p). Gledhow had a NAV of £714,452 at the end of September 2017, which is equivalent to 1.45p a share. Since the year end, a gain of £115,000 was achieved on the sale of Coinsilium shares and Gledhow retains a significant stake which in Coinsilium, where the share price is more than three times the level at the end of September 2017. That could add more than £100,000 to the Gledhow NAV but the Coinsilium share price is volatile. Directors and company secretary remuneration was £21,514 last year. There are 4.9 million warrants exercisable at 1.5p each but these expire on 6 March 2017. Bruce Rowan and related parties own 83.37% of the current share capital.
IMC Exploration (IMCP) is continuing with its plans to move to the standard list. IMC has signed heads of agreement with Trove Metals Ltd and this should lead to a joint venture for the project at Avoca, County Wicklow. The current Koza/IMC joint venture has been set aside. IMC has decided to focus on the 12 most prospective of its 15 licences.
Crossword Cybersecurity (CCS) says that its revenues more than doubled to more than £700,000 in 2017. There is customer interest in the Rizikon cyber security product and the General Data Protection Regulations will provide momentum when they come into force in May. Full year figures should be published by the end of April.
Sandal (SAND) says that radiators supplier Pitacs will be a distributor of the Energie MiHome range. Pitacs is launching a new boiler in April and the Energie MiHome thermostats and radiator valves can be sold with this. Pitacs supplies more than 2,000 independent plumbers’ merchants as well as Plumb Nation.
Angelfish Investments (ANGP) says that its investee company Rapid Nutrition plans to gain a quotation in London. Rapid, which is already quoted on the SIX Swiss Exchange, has developed a nutraceutical product range. One of the terms of the £150,000 loan to Rapid was that it should be admitted to the London market by the end of February but this date has been extended to the end of April because of delays in the flotation process. If admission to the market happens by 1 March, then the principal and interest will convert into Rapid shares. If it takes longer than the interest after the end of February is payable in cash.
BWA Group (BWAP) has issued £220,000 of 4% convertible loan notes, with £120,000 taken up by Bath Group, which is owned by BWA chairman Richard Battersby. Bath has taken £70,000 of the loan notes in lieu of cash owed by BWA investee company Mineralfields Group.
Trevor Lloyd has succeeded Philip Kirkham as chairman of National Milk Records (NMR).
Kryptonite 1 (KR1) has changed its name to KR1.
AIM
Shield Therapeutics (STX) disappointed the market with phase III patient trial results for the use of Feraccru in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease that did not meet statistical significance requirements. The results are being analysed in order to identify the reason the trial failed. The share price fell by two-thirds.
Diversified Gas and Oil (DGOC) expects to complete the acquisition of Appalachian producing gas and oil assets from CNX Gas by the end of March. This will cost $85m (£59.9m), while the acquisition of Alliance Petroleum will cost a further $95m (£66.9m). A placing at 80p a share has raised £133.1m. The group’s net working interest production will increase by 173% to 28,133 boed. Management expects annualised EBITDA to be $70m-$75m.
OnTheMarket (OTMP) joined AIM on 9 February having raised £30m at 165p a share. The share price ended the day at 148p. The online property portal operator will make significant investment in its business over the next two years and this will lead it to fall into loss for a couple of years.
Draper Esprit (GROW) has made three new investments. Evonetix is developing the ability for parallel synthesis of DNA on silicon arrays. Droplet Computing has developed technology to decouple applications from the operating system for online and offline use. Kaptivo is developing products to provide whiteboard live streaming and image capture.
Seeing Machines (SEE) has published a trading statement to try to reassure investors following the unexpected departure of its chief executive. Interim revenues will be greater than the A$13.6m reported for last year. The fleet business is gaining revenues internationally. There is growing interest in the driver fatigue technology from Transport for London.
Recruitment software provider Dillistone (DSG) says that its 2017 figures will be much better than expected. This led to a pre-tax profit upgrade from £200,000 to £300,000. This is still a depressed figure due to the investment in GatedTalent and the future of the business depends on the take-up of this new product.
Engineering and technology recruiter Gattaca (GATC) says that weakness in the technology sector will hold back its progress and its chief executive has resigned. Underlying pre-tax profit is set to decline for a second year while the dividend could be halved to 11.5p a share in order for its to be twice covered.
Trading in the shares of BOS Global Holdings (BOS) remains suspended because of the resignation of RFC Ambrian as nominated adviser. BOS still does not have enough working capital so it cannot publish its 2016-17 annual report because the uncertainty over the AIM quotation scuppered a £1.2m placing.
Trading in Kennedy Ventures (KENV) shares will recommence on 12 February following the publication of its annual report. There was a cash outflow of £2.76m in the year to June 2017. The Namibia Tantalite Investment Mine run by African Tantalum has made its fourth shipment of tantalum to its North American customer and there are two more potential customers.
Croma Security Solutions (CSSG) says its first half figures will be much better than those reported for the first half of last year. The EBITDA will improve from £440,000 to more than £1.1m. The company’s largest ever contract was won at the end of the period. There has been an increase in demand for personnel from Croma Vigilant and it has won a five year contract. There is also improved demand for technology supplied by Croma Systems. The interims will be published in February.
BNN Technology (BNN) will lose its AIM quotation on 12 February. A matched bargain facility will be set up. The remaining board hopes to do at least one deal with the two US-listed companies it is in discussions with concerning the acquisition of all or most of BNN’s business.
Strategic Minerals (SML) has extended its access to the Cobre magnetite stockpile in New Mexico until the end of March 2019. This will provide cash to finance other projects.
Origo Partners (OPP) has sold 4.7% of Jinan Heng Yu Environmental Protection Co Ltd for the equivalent of $3m. This is in line with book value but it may take many months for the cash to be received. Origo retains a 7.2% indirect stake. The Origo NAV was $0.09 a share at the end of June 2017.
Alba Mineral Resources (ALBA) has secured additional exploration licences in Greenland. The 466 square km of land is in north west Greenland. Exploration work can be combined with existing licence areas.
Mercantile Ports and Logistics (MPL) says its port in Mumbai will receive its first revenues in a few weeks, following delays in the first customer sorting out its logistics. A further 200 metres is being added to the quay on the east flank of the facility.
Physiomics (PYC) has won a £70,000 contract from a major pharma company. The company’s Virtual Tumour computer model will be used for helping to predict outcomes in pre-clinical testing.
Warpaint London (W7L) says its 2017 results will be in line with expectations suggesting a pre-tax profit of £9.8m and a total dividend of 4p a share.
Polarean Imaging has relaunched plans to come to AIM. It had planned to float at the end of 2017 and the new proposed date is 22 February.
Fryer management services provider Filta Group Holdings (FLTA) says its 2017 revenues were 30% higher at £13.25m. The sale of the refrigeration business should increase the group margin.
TechFinancials Inc (TECH) has pulled out of the sale of non-core operations because the buyer had still not obtained regulatory approval.
MAIN MARKET
Cadmium-free quantum dots producer Nanoco (NANO) has secured a material development and supply agreement with a major US firm that will provide funding to expand Nanoco’s manufacturing site in Runcorn. The deal covers the production of nano-particles for electronic devices. Commercial supply should commence in 2019.
Dukemount Capital (DKE) has secured a two month extension to its option on a property in north west England while talks with a housing association continue. Plans for the refurbishment of the building will be presented to the housing association. Gary Carp has increased his stake from below 3% to 5% in the past fortnight.
Flying Brands Ltd (FBDU) is negotiating to buy a North American medical imaging software developer, which owns FDA-approved medical imaging software that fits well with Flying Brands; own software. The cost of £500,000 would mainly be financed through a share issue.
Avocet Mining (AVM) has completed the sale of Resolute (West Africa) for $5m.
Path Investments (PATH) is still intending to raise cash and move to AIM in the first quarter of 2018. The farm-in deal to acquire 50% of Alfeld-Elze II licence and gas field in Germany is expected to go ahead in the near future.
Chuk Kin Lau has increased his stake in book publisher Quarto Group (QRT) from 20% to 25.6%. Cavendish Asset Management nearly halved its stake to 3.69%.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 22 January 2018
NEX EXCHANGE
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) reported a decline in full year revenues from £560,000 to £372,000 and there was no repeat of the realised gains on investments in the previous year. There was an increase in unrealised gains from £71,000 to £317,000. However, there was a £1.32m investment impairment. This meant that a profit of £158,000 was turned into a loss of £1.17m. There is £1.28m in the bank. The employee-owned businesses investor is focusing on managing its portfolio and the advisory business spun off into a joint venture. The NAV is 42.7p a share.
First Sentinel (FSEN) has invested the £1.4m it raised when it joined NEX last year. These investments include fellow NEX-quoted company NQ Minerals, where First Sentinel boss Brian Stockbridge is chairman, AIM-quoted UK Oil and Gas Investments and AIM-quoted Premier African Minerals. There is a £65,000 loan to unquoted tea cafés operator Yumchaa, where Stockbridge is 50% shareholder. The loan has an interest rate of 12% and lasts until October.
Block Energy (BLOK) has further delayed the planned move to AIM. The oil and gas company has a new expected admission date of end-February. Trading remains suspended on NEX.
AIM
Mark Watkin Jones intends to step down as chief executive of student and private rental accommodation developer Watkin Jones (WJG) but he will stay until a successor is identified. In the year to September 2017, revenues were 13% higher at £301.9m and underlying operating profit rose by a similar percentage to £42.7m. The dividend was 6.6p a share, equivalent to a 10% increase if Watkin Jones had been quoted for all the previous year. Investor demand for student accommodation and private rental residential property remains strong.
Van Elle (VNL) has an outstanding debt of £1.6m from failed facilities management and construction company Carillion. finnCap has also assumed lower second half profit of £1.3m relating to expected business from Carillion. The specialist piling contractor has a poor record since floating and this does not help.
Engineering and IT recruitment company Gattaca (GATC) says that most of Carillion’s debt to the company is insured with around £100,000 uninsured. Premier Technical Services (PTSG) says that it has £800,000 of annual revenues with Carillion with £300,000 still owed. Elsewhere, business is in line with expectations. Bilby (BILB) says that it does not think that the contract with CarillionAmey will be impacted.
Sinclair Pharma (SPH) directors have been buying shares on the back of the news that it has received regulatory approval of Ellanse pre-mixed bioresorbable collagen stimulating fillers in Brazil, one of the most important global markets. Ellanse will be soft launched immediately and the full launch is a matter of weeks away. Other Sinclair dermatological products are selling well in Brazil.
K3 Capital (K3C) reported interim figures that were better than forecast. This led to a £1m increase in forecast full year revenues but the pre-tax profit forecast is maintained at £5.4m because of additional costs required to accelerate the growth of the business. The business broker and corporate finance adviser announced an interim dividend of 2.85p a share and a total dividend of 8.2p a share is forecast for the full year.
Full year trading at Midwich (MIDW) was better than expected with revenues 28% ahead at £470m, helped by acquisitions performing ahead of expectations. The audio visual equipment distributor has also improved gross margin. The 2017 results will be published on 13 March.
Utilitywise (UTW) has changed its accounting policy relating to initial revenue recognition of new contracts.
LiDCO (LID) has signed up a new Japanese distributor. Merit Medical has a three year exclusive agreement and there is potential to significantly increase last year’s sales of £117,000. The LiDCOunity version 2 monitor has been approved in Japan.
African Battery Metals (ABM) is the new name for Sula Iron and Gold. Prior to the name change, £1.75m was raised and the Riverfort facility terminated with an associated buy back of shares. ABM is paying $100,000 ($50,000 is still outstanding) for a 70% stake in cobalt licences in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The other shareholder will retain its 30% stake up until a decision is made to mine, so ABM will pay the exploration costs.
Orosur Mining Inc (OMI) produced 7,052 ounces of gold at an average cash operating cost of $867/ounce in the second quarter and plans to produce at least 30,000 ounces in the financial year. Although the South America-focused gold producer and explorer generated $2.16m in cash in the second quarter, there was a $251,000 loss in the period because the all in sustaining cost was higher than the gold price received. Asset Chile has forfeited the 16% stake it earned in Anillo because it did not move into phase 2 of the project.
Shareholders have approved share buybacks by China New Energy Ltd (CNEL) until the end of 2019. Up to one-fifth of the shares can be acquired for less than 2p a share. The bioenergy technology developer and operator increased revenues from £8.85m to £24.7m in 2017 and the order book is worth £13.7m. The company was profitable last year and anticipates it will be in 2018.
Data software company WANdisco (WAND) says bookings increased 45% to $22.5m in 2017 with two-thirds generated by WANdisco Fusion software. There was cash of $27.4m at the end of 2017, with $4m from a new growth capital facility.
Thor Mining (THR) has had its stake in US Lithium diluted to 20.8% due to a A$240,000 fundraising at A$0.12 a share, which is four times the Thor acquisition price. US Lithium plans an ASX-listing.
Veltyco Group (VLTY) is acquiring a 51% stake in Varkasso, which has exclusive rights to use the crypto wallet technology platform 8Crypt, for £265,000 in cash and shares. Veltyco will incorporate the 8Crypt crypto wallet in all the gaming platforms it is involved with.
Newmont Mining has decided not to become involved in the Greatland Gold (GGP)-owned Ernest Giles gold project in Australia. It appears that the project was not in the right place or large enough for Newmont to go ahead with, although it took its time to make a final decision. Greatland benefits from the work conducted by Newmont, which has identified a large gold anomaly. Targeted exploration will be undertaken at Ernest Giles in the first quarter of 2018.
Kodal Minerals (KOD) says that the authorities have approved its exploration licences for the Bougouni lithium project in southern Mali. Triumvirat Mining Company will have a 10% economic interest in the licences, which are for an initial three year life. There has been positive drilling news concerning the Ngoualana and Sogola-Baoule prospects.
Electrical accessories supplier Volex (VLX) moved from the Main Market to AIM on 19 January.
Waste gasification technology business EQTEC (EQT) has partially repaid a five-year, £1.1m loan facility with an annual interest rate of 15%. The remaining balance of £621,000 is repayable in July 2020. The £2m of convertible secured loan note with Altair Group Investment Ltd has been extended until July 2020 and the interest rate doubled to 15%.
Renewable fuels technology developer Velocys (VLS) has raised £14m via a placing at 10p a share and hopes to raise up to £4.4m through an open offer at the same price. Last year, there was a £1.16m share issue at 45p a share. The cash will be used to finance initial development of the Mississippi biorefinery and fund the UK waste-to-renewable jet fuel project which has been around for many years.
Generic drugs supplier Beximco Pharmaceuticals (BXP) expects to complete the £18.2m acquisition of a 85.2% stake in Nuvista Pharma by the end of February.
Gama Aviation (GMAA) says last year’s trading was in line with expectations. The business aviation services provider has incurred $1m of costs relating to legal proceedings and there will be a similar amount to come. There will be around $2.5m of restructuring costs and write-downs. Net debt fell from $19m to $13m.
Although Blancco Technology Group (BLTG) says that first half sales declined this is due to the fact that certain contracts were not repeated in the latest period. The data erasure software business is expected to report continuing full year revenues 6% higher at £28.5m. However, higher overheads mean that there will be little profit.
Cyber security software supplier Crossrider (CROS) says that 2017 trading was in line with expectations and revenues improved 16% to $65.8m, while underlying EBITDA was 29% ahead at $8.3m. Profitability from the core activities more than doubled. There was $69.4m in the bank at the end of 2017.
Legend Gold Corp shareholders have agreed to the arrangement for Altus Strategies (ALS) to acquire the entity that owns the Legend gold projects in Mali in return for 41.1 million Altus shares. The mining projects investor is also applying for a dual listing on the TSX-V. Legend shareholders will be issued three Altus shares for each Legend share that they own, giving them 27.6% of Altus.
Toys supplier Character Group (CCT) says it has exited Christmas with “virtually no excess stocks”. International sales were poor but domestic sales grew. Pokemon products will be launched during the summer.
Caledonia Mining Corporation (CMCL) reported higher than guided annual production at the Blanket gold mine. The prediction was 54,000-56,000 ounces but the outcome was 56,135 ounces.
Sustainable pallets manufacturer RM2 International SA (RM2) had unrestricted cash of $4.1m at the end of 2017, but that could fall to $2m by the end of January. That means that there should be enough cash until the third week in February. Management continues to seek additional finance. There are plenty of potential customers but little in the way of orders.
Tiziana Life Sciences (TILS) has raised a further £150,000 at 150p. This is on top of the £150,000, £275,000 and £200,000 raised at the same price during November and December. There is a warrant with each new share and they are exercisable at 160p a share, although the most recent warrants last until January 2024. The cash is being invested in the phase IIa clinical trial for the Milciclib cancer treatment.
Remote tracking and monitoring products developer Starcom (STAR) says that last year’s turnover improved from $5.1m to $5.5m and lower operating costs mean that it will move from loss to breakeven. Strong orders mean that revenues and margins should improve this year.
Condor Gold (CNR) has obtained a TSX listing.
MAIN MARKET
Path Investments (PATH) is cancelling its standard listing even before finalising its acquisition of a 50% participating interest in the Alfeld-Elze licence and gas field in Germany. The plan is to cancel the standard listing on 19 February and raise money and apply for an AIM quotation in the first quarter of 2018. Path has previously been on AIM in a different guise but if the deal does not go ahead the plan would be to maintain the standard listing.
World Trade Systems (WTS) plans a transaction involving the sale of its assets to a new company that will float on the Channel Islands-based The International Stock Exchange. WTS shareholders will be distributed shares in the new company that will be used to acquire the assets.
Loss-making telecoms firm Toople (TOOP) did not publish a full set of figures on RNS. That is always a giveaway. It did announce that the operating loss declined by 23% to £1.31m in the year to September 2017. Cash flow is much more important for a colander company like Toople.
Technology investment company Sure Ventures (SURE) has joined the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market, having raised £3.31m at 100p a share. The main focus is augmented reality, fintech and the Internet of Things.
Challenger Acquisitions Ltd (CHAL) has invested $300,000 in a new giant observation wheel for Dallas, Texas. Challenger also has the opportunity to operate the wheel.
Andrew Hore