Tag Archives: Investors journal

NEX EXCHANGE

Imperial X (IMPP) non-executive director Melissa Sturgess has sold 4.615 million shares at 2p each and she retains an equal number of shares. The total stake was acquired at 1p a share, so she has effectively made her money back. Imperial X is moving into the cannabis sector. Charles Morgan, a relation of Melissa Sturgess, converted £46,150 of loan notes into 4.615 million shares.

NQ Minerals (NQMI) has invested a further £150,000 Tasmania Energy Metals through a convertible loan, taking the total investment to £450,000. The exclusivity period relating to the acquisition of an option over the company’s assets has been extended to the end of October 2019. NQ would have nine months to exercise the option in return for shares worth £5.5m. The latest investment will be used to develop a facility that would produce nickel and cobalt salts for electric vehicle batteries.

Founder Stephen Minion has resigned from the board of Ashley House (ASH) so that there are no conflicts of interest between his role as a director and his other interests. He is chairman and major shareholder of Invescare, which has provided a loan to Ashley House.

iGaming software developer Ganapati (GANP) says that its Malta-based subsidiary has signed a resale agreement with BetConstruct, which will provide the company’s slot games to its integrated operators via its platform. Another deal is with PG Entertainment and this will make Ganapati’s games available in Latin America via a smartphone platform.

Asia Wealth Group Holdings Ltd (AWLP) improved pre-tax profit from $150,000 to $268,000 in the year to February 2019, partly due to a reduction in impairment losses. The company is looking at fintech acquisitions.

The conversion of loan notes in Equatorial Mining and Exploration (EM.P) has led to the issue of just over nine billion shares. There are 24.2bn shares in issue.

Valiant Investments has changed its name to Eurocann International (BUD).

AIM  

Oil and gas company Amerisur Resources (AMER) has effectively put itself up for sale and multiple companies are interested in bidding. They are being provided confidential information. The formal sale process continues.

Execution only broker Share (SHRE) made a first half profit even though stockmarket trading conditions and volumes have been poor and the dividend from Euroclear was moved to the second half. Revenues increased 9% to £11.1m as interest income grew. Account fees have been increased. Share is benefiting from its digital investment. The 20,000 accounts being taken on from JP Morgan will contribute from September. A full year profit of £400,000 is forecast.

Credit hire and legal services provider Anexo (ANX) is trading more strongly than expected, even after previous upgrades. Management has managed to reduce insurance costs. The full year pre-tax profit forecast has been increased by 15% to £23m and next years by 14% to £25m.

Artificial intelligence-based physician platform DocDoc, where Adamas Finance Asia (ADAM) is an investor, has raised $13m. Adamas led the convertible loan note financing for the Singapore-based company. DocDoc operates in eight countries. Hong Kong-based CASIL Clearing has reduced its stake in Adamas from 6.9% to 2.9%. Pello Capital has been appointed joint broker.

Presidential Energy (PPC) is not making the progress it hoped to, but profit is improving. The share price of the Argentina-focused oil and gas company has been declining. finnCap describes its estimates for average production and EBITDA as “challenging” due to delays and disruptions. It has been forecasting EBITDA of $27.9m due to an oil price estimate that is above current levels, whereas the company believes it could be around $20m. There are no plans to change the forecast until the interims are released in September.

StatPro (SOG) increased organic annualised recurring revenues by 3.2% to £56.5m in the first half. The asset management performance software provider increased interim revenues £27.2m to £28.3m, while pre-tax profit improved from £2.37m to £2.66m due to flat operating costs. Net debt is £24.2m.

Richard Bernstein has increased his stake in Ultimate Sports Group (USG) from 27% to 29.8%. Bernstein has an agreement with Ultimate where he would receive 1% of the value of the first acquisition he introduces to the company as long as it is completed by 30 September. Matthew Farnum-Schneider has been appointed chief executive of Ultimate. He has been granted a range of options. Some are exercisable at 20p a share, which is just below the current share price, some at 40p a share and others at 60p a share. Geoffrey Simmonds has left the board.

Urban Exposure (UEX) is not going ahead with a proposed issue of 6.5% secure sterling bonds 2026 because of market conditions.  

MAIN MARKET

S and U (SUS) says demand for motor finance has been strong in the first half, even though the quality of business has been increased. The Aspen property bridging finance business has net receivables of £24m and is growing gradually in a weak housing market. Borrowings are just over £125m and there are additional facilities of £35m. The interims will be published on 24 September.

Construction company nmcn (NMCN) increased interim revenues from £161.2m to £184m, while pre-tax profit improved from £2.5m to £3.5m. The former North Midland Construction had net cash of £15.6m at the end of June 2019. The order book is worth £456m with the main increase coming from the built environment division, which accounts for one-fourth of the order value. A full year profit of £7.4m is forecast.

Iconic Labs (ICON) is making its first acquisition since transforming itself from stem cell services provider WideCells into a social media marketing business. Iconic has agreed to acquire social media agency Social Alchemist. Iconic Labs is still in a poor financial state. There are £600,000 of legacy debts that have to be paid, plus £400,000 that is disputed. The European High Growth Opportunities Securitization Fund will provide up to £1.375m in six tranches in return for loan notes. This is dependent on a prospectus being issued within six months. This prospectus will enable warrants to be attached to the loan notes. There are also more shares to be issued under the previous financing agreement.

Argo Blockchain (ARB) generated 163 bitcoins in July and these are valued at £1.36m. They were mined at a margin of 80%. More mining machines have been ordered and will be up and running by the fourth quarter. This investment will quadruple capacity. Argo could be highly profitable in the second half with a full year pre-tax profit of £6m.

Andrew Hore