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Quoted Micro 10 February 2025
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Third quarter revenue from emissions reduction additives supplier SulNOx Group (SNOX) more than doubled to £208,000 compared to the same period last year. Volume growth was 88.7%. There was cash of £2.5m at the end of 2024. There are 44 shipping companies evaluating the additives and there are more set to sign up. Crystal is the first cruise operator to evaluate the additive, and it made an average fuel saving of 3.4%.
Rogue Baron (SHNJ) has decided to change its strategy from drinks, because of a lack of market support for the sector, to natural resources, particularly in North America. The spirits business will be sold. The disposal will turn Rogue Baron into an Enterprise Company on Aquis. An investment committee of Hamish Harris and Charlie Wood will consider potential investments base or precious metals. The company name will change to Richmond Hill Resources. Tomoya Daimon has resigned from the board. A placing raised £209,000 0.6p/share.
Oscillate (MUSH) says it has analysed early-stage data for hydrogen in the Animikie Basin in northern Minnesota. Soil gas sensing equipment has been deployed, and shallow soil gas sampling technology will evaluate hydrogen potential.
Marula Mining (MARU) says assay results of copper concentrate samples from the Kinusi copper mine in Tanzania provide further confirmation of high-grade copper content of the material stockpile.
Oberon Investments Group (OBE) is holding a general meeting to gain approval for a capital reduction to create distributable reserves.
Coinsilium Group Ltd (COIN) is rebranding its Nifty Labs subsidiary as Forza (Gibraltar) and it will focus on treasury management for the holding company. Coinsilium is assessing innovative opportunities in treasury management.
Trading in Hydrogen Future Industries (HFI) shares has been suspended because accounts for the year to July 2024 have not been published.
Barry Hersh has forfeited the 18.66 million unpaid shares in Global Connectivity (GCON).
Paul Mathieson’s stake in Investment Evolution Credit (IEC) has reduced from 38.9% to 35.4%. That was prior to a £35,650 subscription at 1p/share. Dr Richard Leaver doubled his shareholding to two million shares after the subscription and he has become chief executive. Dr Leaver is a former director of AIM companies Blue Star Capital (BLU), Image Scan (IGE) and Toumaz. He has experience with AI and the board believes this will help to grow the consumer credit business. John van Kuffeler will not become chairman.
Supernova Digital Assets (SOL) generated revenues of £114,000 in the 12 months to October 2024 according to unaudited management accounts. A £2.7m increase in the fair value of digital assets and tokens. The pre-tax profit was £2.41m. Net assets were £5.8m at the end of October 2024.
Ventura Finance, which is controlled by Mark Jackson, owns 3.93% of Walls and Futures REIT (WAFR).
DXS International (DXSP) chairman Bob Sutcliffe is continuing to buy shares adding another 20,000 at 3.5p each, taking his stake to 1.99%. Shepherd Neame (SHEP) has amended an earlier purchase by chairman Richard Oldfield (that was said to be 42,459 shares) to 1,500 shares at 519p each. He has also acquired 2,000 shares at 540p each. BWA Group (BWAP) managing director has bought 1.5 million shares at 0.15p each, taking his stake to 6.75%. Ananda Pharma (ANA) chief executive Melissa Sturgess bought 5 million shares at 0.43p each, taking her shareholding above 10%.
Time to ACT (TTA) has appointed VSA Capital as corporate adviser and broker.
Jim Williams has resigned from VVV Resources (VVV) and David Ajemain has been appointed as executive chairman. The company is reviewing potential projects.
ASSET MATCH
VP Fintech (VPF) joined the Asset Match private market on 5 February. It owns 56% of Canadian company Valens Pay, which has developed a fintech platform that offers directly or via third parties users services including payment, forex and investments. There is no limit on size of transaction. At the end of 2024, there were 21 partners using the platform. Co-founder James Holmes owns 46.1%, TP Finans ApS, which is owned by co-founder Torben Pedersen, 38.9% and Torben Pedersen’s own holding is 12.1%. The first share auction will be in March. At a share price of 100p, the market capitalisation is £25m.
Nightcap (NGHT) has acquired the 115 lease on the i360 Tower in Brighton. It is one of the world’s tallest moving observation towers with 20,000 square foot of hospitality space. The deal excludes any debt, which has been released by the local council.
Oil and gas explorer and producer SDX Energy (SDX) has left AIM and joined Asset Match on 3 February. The first auction will be in March.
Isle of Scilly Steamship (IOS) has appointed Jonathan Hinkles as managing director of airline Skybus. He has been an adviser for six months and his job is to return Skybus to sustainable profitability. Skybus flies from airports in Cornwall and Devon to St Mary’s and has seven aircraft.
Marshalls of Cambridge (MCH) has appointed David Mitchard as a non-executive director.
AIM
Engineering consultancy RC Fornax (RCFX) joined AIM on 5 February after raising £5.2m at 32.5p/share. Existing shareholders raised a further £1m. The share price ended the week at 35p. RC Fornax was set up in 2020 and is focused on the UK defence sector and it would like to move into new territories.
Building components manufacturer Alumasc (ALU) is maintaining margins and has managed to generate organic growth in a period where the construction market contracted. New product development and improving efficiency help to improve the figures. Interim revenues rose by one-fifth to £57.4m with organic growth of 8%. Pre-tax profit was 19% ahead at £7.5m. Exports grew 43% as demand from the Chek Lap Kok project in Hong Kong started to build. The interim dividend was raised by 1% to 3.5p/share.
Energy supplier and energy efficiency services provider Good Energy (GOOD) has reached agreement with Dubai-based Esyasoft and is recommending a 490p/share bid. That is higher than the share price had ever previously been and values Good Energy at £99.4m. Major shareholder and former potential bidder Ecotricity has committed to accepting the bid.
Digital tech services provider TPXimpact (TPX) says third quarter trading was in line with expectations, but contract starts have been delayed and slow to build up which will hit the fourth quarter. This is due to the UK government putting off spending decisions. The UK government comprehensive spending review should be completed in June and spending will hopefully return to expected levels after that. Dowgate has cut 2024-25 revenues from £84m to £76m, which has led to a pre-tax profit downgrade to £2.8m.
RA International (RAI) directors have decided to ask for shareholder permission to leave AIM. The remote services provider to global organisations says that disclosure requirements hamper the business by enabling rivals have a greater insight into its strategy. Also, confidentiality agreements mean that it is difficult to provide investors with the information they want. Liquidity is poor because Soraya Narfeldt and Lars Narfeldt own more than 80% of RA International. Contract mobilisation delays are hampering trading, and a loss is expected for 2024. Costs will be reduced this year and non-core business could be sold for up to $5m.
Lung cancer diagnostics developer Lung Life AI (LLAI) is planning to leave AIM with discussions continuing with one strategic partner to help to commercialise its lung cancer tests. However, there is unlikely to be an agreement in the short-term and cash, currently $1.31m, is only going to last until later in the second quarter. A public share issue is unlikely to be viable. If no source of funding can be found, then the company would be wound up.
Fuels, food and feed distributor NWF (NWF) reported an improvement in underlying pre-tax profit from £3.4m to £3.6m. Higher contributions from fuels and feed offset a small dip in profit at food distribution, where the new site at Lymedale is taking longer than expected to fill up. There are £600,000 of exceptional costs relating to an investigation into a conflict of interest in contracting transport services and the investigation will be completed by May. Full year pre-tax profit expectations have been maintained at £8.6m.
Space and defence communications technology supplier Filtronic (FTC) trebled interim revenues and went from loss to a pre-tax profit, excluding the movement in the value of SpaceX warrants and share-based payments, of £7.8m. The momentum is not expected to continue in the second half, where the comparatives are much tougher anyway. Despite investment in new capacity and working capital requirements net cash is £5.1m and it should be much higher at the year-end. There have been two forecast upgrades in recent months, and it is not a surprise that the full year pre-tax profit forecast has been maintained at £11.5m, up £3.4m last year. There is potential for further contract wins, though.
APQ Global Ltd (APQ) says the US government’s slashing of international aid and foreign assistance has created a tough environment for its investee companies. Cash flow generation and refinancing debt should enable APQ Global to repay convertible loan holders by the end of March, but it is more uncertain than previously. The outstanding principle is £26.1m. Delphos is the main investment and two-thirds of its transaction advisory contracts have been cancelled, and they were worth $5m. The others are also likely to be cancelled. Cash inflows over December and January were expected to be $18.9m, but they were $1.1m. The estimate for February has been downgraded from $16.5m to $14.5m, although the March estimate has been raised from $4.3m to $11.1m. That still means a reduction $12m over the period. APQ Global had $3.2m in cash at the end of January.
Cosmetics supplier Warpaint London (W7L) warns that growth is slowing. Interim revenues were 25% higher in the first half and they grew 14% to £102m for the full year. Usually, the second half is much stronger. Margins continue to improve. So far this year, revenues are 15% ahead.
Ilika (IKA) has successfully demonstrated the scalability of its Goliath battery and it will produce prototypes for potential customers. The battery was produced using standard equipment. Ilika is working with Mpac (MPAC) on a 1.5MWh solid state battery production line to produce the Goliath prototype for automotive use. The Agratas factory built to supply Jaguar Land Rover is assessing it its ability to produce Goliath batteries.
Team Internet (TIG) revealed 2024 revenues fell 4% to £803m. Even three months ago growth was anticipated. Profit also declined. The original domain names business grew revenues by 7%, while the new comparison division grew 43%. The search division, which is the rest of the online marketing business, reports a 11% decline in revenues. This is the main profit contributor and gains elsewhere were more than offset by the lower profit here. Net debt was $97m at the end of 2024. It would have fallen without acquisition costs. The Shinez acquisition has not gone as well as expected and there will be a non-cash write-down, plus legal action against the sellers.
Online gaming marketing services provider B90 Holdings (B90) moved into profit in 2024 as overheads were slashed. Zeus forecasts a pre-tax profit of €600,000 on revenues two-thirds ahead at €5m. Net cash is €1.1m. Profit and net cash could double this year.
Gfinity (GFIN) has signed an exclusive licence agreement with 0M Technology Solutions to commercialise 0M’s AI technology Connected IQ (CIQ). Gfinity believes it combine its network and contacts in the advertising sector to help commercialise CIQ. The fee is 30% of net profit generated by the licence. It is unclear how quickly sales can be built up. Gfinity has the option to buy 0M for £2m after the first anniversary of the agreement and lasting until the end of third year. 0M is owned by Robert Keith, who owns 19.6%. Gfinity has raised £260,000 ay 0.0625p/share. The new shares come with warrants exercisable at 0.09p/share.
Sustainable laundry technology developer Xeros Technology (XSG) is progressing with tech verification from four global washing machine manufacturers and two of those could move to substantial paid-for joint development agreements. Timing is uncertain, though. Even so, Cavendish has reduced its 2024 and 2025 forecast revenues. The loss is estimated to decline from £4.8m to £4.5m in 2024. Net cash was £2.8m at the end of 2024 and it should be £800,000 at the end of 2025.
Nativo Resources (NTVO) announced a share consolidation of 1,500 existing shares into one new share. The board believes this will help to make the share price less volatile.
MAIN MARKET
Homeware products supplier Ultimate Products (ULTP) says recovery has been slower than expected as the consumer market remains weak. Higher freight costs and taxes will hit profit for the year to July 2025. Pre-tax profit is forecast to fall from £14.4m to £11m.
Codex Acquisitions (CODX) has entered into an acquisition agreement of Technologies New Energy, a Portugal-based renewable energy company, for £28m in shares at a notional price of 20p each. This would make the deal large enough for the company to be readmitted to the Main Market. Trading in the shares was suspended at 5.5p.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 19 August 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
ProBiotix Health (PBX) has secured a commercial agreement for InstaMelt with DanCare Health. InstaMelt is a food supplement dosage format that offers innovative features for health brands. DanCare will launch the supplement in China in the fourth quarter under its own brand.
Samarkand (SMK) reported a dip in full year revenues from £17.5m to £16.9m and the loss was slightly higher at £4.88m, but that was after a £2.1m impairment charge after the ending of development of Nomad Checkout technology. Net debt was £600,000 at the end of March 2024. The weak Chinese ecommerce market hampered progress. Revenues from own-brands grew, while sales of third-party brands declined. The audit report in the accounts includes a material uncertainty in respect of going concern. Costs are being reduced and the focus is on core activities. Guild Financial Advisory has been appointed as corporate adviser.
Fenikso (FNK) has invested up to $250,000 in a six-month secured convertible loan note issued by AIM-quoted Coro Energy (CORO). This loan provides an annualised coupon of 40%. The loan is secured on the shares of Coro Asia Renewables, which owns renewable assets in the Philippines. Fenikso has more than $5m in cash left in the bank.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) had net assets of 87.87p/share at the end of May 2024, which is a small increase over the previous quarter. This was after paying a 2p/share dividend during the period.
Phoenix Digital Assets (PNIX) is buying back up to 140 million shares and it can spend up to £7.5m. The programme lasts until 23 July. So far, nearly £10,000 has been spent on 500,000 shares.
Valereum (VLRM) is using Fireblocks’ technology as part of its infrastructure. It will enable secure sending and storing of digital assets. The Fireblocks advanced wallet security technology will be integrated in the platform. A subsidiary has been set up in El Salvador.
Coinsilium Group (COIN) chief executive Eddy Travia bought 300,000 shares at 1.6p each and executive chairman Malcolm Palle has acquired 300,000 shares at 1.62p each.
Mark Horrocks has increased his stake in Lift Global Ventures (LFT) from 17.6% to 19.96%.
Mortgage Chat (MCAI) has changed corporate adviser to Alfred Henry Corporate Finance. JEAMP Hold Co has sold its 18.1% stake.
AIM
Global Petroleum (GBP) is setting up a joint venture with Callum Baxter, former chief technical officer of Greatland Gold (GGP), to diversify into mineral exploration in Western Australia. Global Petroleum will pay £200,000 for 70% of the joint venture and Callum Baxter will retain the other 30%, although this can be increased to 80% for an additional £50,000. Global Petroleum will spend a minimum of £750,000 over 12 months and fund 100% of spending until a decision to mine. Global Petroleum is raising £600,000 at 0.065p/share and existing shareholders can participate in a retail offer. This cash will finance the purchase of 80% of the exploration licence. Under a consultancy agreement Callum Baxter will receive 200 million Global Petroleum shares and 10% of the total number of new shares issued in the fundraising. The retail offer to existing shareholders via CMC closes on 16 August.
Artemis Resources (ARV) reports high grade gold in veins at the Titan prospect. As well as significant grades of copper. A 10.4 ounce gold bar has been produced from metal extracted from the Titan prospect. A tenement review of the Carlow project area has led to mapping of further gold veins. These are parts of the Karratha gold project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This could be a large scale regional discovery.
Cannabis-based medicines developer Celadon Pharmaceuticals (CEL) continues to make progress, but it has not received all the cash from the fundraising earlier this year. An investor that was going to subscribe £1m in four tranches and it has only paid £600,000 so far. This leaves the company short of funds. The expiry date of the £7m committed credit facility provided by a high net worth investor has been extended to 30 November 2025, but an initial attempt to drawdown £1m has led to £100,000 being received and £900,000 being delayed until a property has been sold. Celadon Pharmaceuticals is in talks with other potential lenders. The company has £49,000 in cash.
Bluejay Mining (JAY) is the latest minerals explorer to evaluate possible deposits of hydrogen and helium. Historical drilling within the Outokumpu belt revealed substantial concentrations of hydrogen and helium. There are also signs of lithium. There will be sampling and testing.
Biome Technologies (BIOM) is raising £950,000 at 5p/share and offering retail shareholders the opportunity to invest up to £80,000 more. The same share price will be used for the conversion of £1.28m of convertible loan notes. The cash is required for short-term working capital for the RF division, plus the financing of additional stock for Bioplastics. Allenby expects revenues to improve from £6.98m to £7.82m in 2024, mainly due to Bioplastics, and a reduced loss of £862,000, from £1.2m.
Drug discovery company BiVictriX Therapeutics (BVX) believes leaving AIM is the best way of progressing the business. Management believes that the current valuation undervalues the company due to lack of liquidity and becoming a private company will help access to further funding. The share price is hampering partnership discussions. There are plans to appoint JP Jenkins to provide a matched bargains facility. This comes almost exactly three years since the company joined AIM and raised £7.5m at 20p/share. There were 2.72 million options granted to management at 13p each.
Energy services provider Inspired (INSE) is on course to meet full year forecasts, but it will need to win significant optimisation contracts. The timing of the contracts is uncertain and there should be more information about the progress when the interims are published. There will be no more deferred consideration payable by the end of the year. The ESG and software businesses continue to grow.
Jag Grewal has resigned as chief executive of Cambridge Nutritional Sciences (CNSL), which makes diagnostic tests for food sensitivity and other personalised health requirements, and James Cooper becomes interim chief executive. This follows the recent full year figures showing a reduced loss. In the year to March 2024, continuing operations generated revenues of £9.8m, up from £7.5m. However, this was affected by the timing of orders and this year’s revenues could be lower.
Lung cancer diagnostics developer LungLife AI (LLAI) says that the finalised Local Coverage Determination issued by the Medicare Administrative Contractor Noridian Healthcare Solutions, which has jurisdiction over the company’s California laboratory, enables it to apply for coverage to receive payment. A price of $2,030 has been fixed for each LungLB test. The next step is obtaining coverage from public and private payers.
Commercial property services provider Fletcher King (FLK) increased full year revenues from £3.08m to £3.83m, while pre-tax profit more than trebled to £504,000. The final dividend is trebled to 2.25p/share. There was £3.8m in cash at the end of April 2024. Working on rating appeals helped income to improve. Management says that there are signs of recovery in the commercial property market, particularly at the higher quality end.
Medical imaging technology developer IXICO (IXI) says figures for the year to September 2024 will be ahead of expectations. Revenues will be between £5.5m to £5.9m, compared with expectations of £5.2m. Cash levels will improve. A new contract has been won to provide imaging biomarker services for phase 1 / 2 clinical trial for patients with Huntington’s Disease.
Zephyr Energy (ZPHR) says production from the Williston Basin assets increased by around 10% to 1,226 barrels of oil equivalent/day in the second quarter. First half production was 1,189boepd. Last year’s average was 1,040boepd and it should average between 1,100boepd and 1,300boepd in 2024.
Recently floated medical technology company AOTI Inc (AOTI) says second quarter trading was strong. Interim revenues should grow by more than one-quarter to $26.3m. Full year revenues are expected to rise by at least 30%.
MAIN MARKET
S and U (SUS) says the trends of the first quarter continued in the second quarter. The motor finance provider is suffering from lower collection rates due to uncertainties around the FCA review outcome. The Aspen property finance business is doing well, and receivables grew by 13%. Edison is maintaining its 2024-25 pre-tax profit forecast at £29m, down from £33.6m. The total dividend should be unchanged at 120p/share. Berenberg cut its share price target from 2180p to 2100p.
Renewables-focused investment company JLEN Environmental Assets Group Ltd (JLEN) has launched a share buyback of up to £20m following the sale of assets. There is already authority to buy back up to 15% of the share capital. JLEN is selling a 51% interest in a portfolio of six gas-to-grid anaerobic digestion facilities for £68.1m, which is the June 2024 valuation. JLEN retains the other 49%. The buyer is Future Biogas, which has been the operator of the assets. The rest of the cash will reduce debt.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 11 March 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Luxury prize draw operator Good Life Plus (GDLF) raised £2.03m via a subscription at 2.25p/share, which is a premium to the market price of 1.875p. The subscriber is Winforton Investments, which is associated with Sportingbet founder Mark Blandford, which will have a 17.9% stake. The cash will be spent on marketing to accelerate growth and subscription numbers. Options have been granted to management at the subscription price. The reverse takeover of Semper Fortis Esports was done at 2p/share.
Cadence Minerals (KDNC) says the capital expenditure requirements for Amapa iron project have been reduced. Project financing talks continue with parties interested in taking a stake in the project. Cadence Minerals has invested $12.1m in Amapa and owns 32.6% of the project. The stake in Hastings Technology Metals has been sold. Cadence Minerals expects to leave the Aquis Stock Exchange on 5 April.
Food company Essentially Group (ESSN) is acquiring Best of Latin Foodstuff Trading for £1.95m. The company sources food from growers in Latin America and supplies hotels and restaurants in the UAE, where Essentially Group already supplies juices and other drinks. The deal will triple the revenues of Essentially Group. The former owner Catalina Onate will become an executive director of Essentially Group.
RentGuarantor Holdings (RGG) has raised £430,000 at 274p/share. The cash will finance the hiring of additional staff. Chief executive Paul Foy is converting £250,000 of convertible loan notes at 210p/share. He still has £250,000 of convertible loan notes.
Investment Evolution (IEC) is expanding into Spain, and it will grant subsidiary MRAL Spain non-exclusive recurring rights to the Mr Amazing Loans brand. Spanish company Investment Evolution Credit, not part of the group, will provide lending technology for a 49% stake in MRAL Spain.
Coinsilium Group Ltd (COIN) has raised £472,500 at 2.5p/share with executive directors subscribing £40,000. There have also been creditor payments of £83,900 in shares. Each new share comes with a warrant exercisable at 3.75p/share. The cash will be invested in Web3 and AI technology and provide working capital.
Marula Mining (MARU) has added to its team in Kenya. Gilbert Kibet is project geologist and Joy Chebet will be graduate geologist. Exploration work will commence on the Larisoro manganese mine in northern Kenya.
Flex Labs (FLEX) says Supernova Digital Assets (SOL), which is associated with its executive chairman, has sold 1.24 million shares and raised £81,425. These sales were between December and February. Supernova Digital Assets plans to return cash to shareholders via a tender offer after Phoenix Digital Assets (PNIX), in which it owns 30 million shares, completes its tender offer. There will have to be a capital reorganisation to enable the tender offer to happen and £242,000 has been raised at 0.1p/share for working capital while the capital changes are arranged.
Kasei Holdings has changed its name to Kasei Digital Assets (KASH). Non-executive director Bryan Coyne bought 75,000 shares at 9.75p each. Gunsynd (GUN) executive director Donald Strang bought three million shares at 0.148p/share.
AIM
Wealth management company Mattioli Woods (MTW) is recommending an 804p/share bid from a company owned by Pollen Street Capital. That values Mattioli Woods at £432m and shareholders will still receive the interim dividend of 9p/share. The 2203-24 prospective multiple at the bid price is less than 17, falling below 15 the following year. When it joined AIM in November 2015 at 132p/share Mattioli Woods was valued at £22.5m.
Challenger Energy (CEG) has secured a farm out deal for the OFF-1 exploration asset, offshore Uruguay with Chevron. Challenger Energy will retain a 40% interest. The oil and gas explorer will receive a cash payment of $12.5m on completion, plus a carry of up to $15m on 3D seismic and 50% of the cost of an exploration well up to a $20m share. However, a well could cost between $50m and $100m according to Zeus, so Challenger Energy could still have to make a cash contribution. Regulatory approvals will take months.
A large diagnostics company has made a bid approach to kidney disease diagnostics developer, Renalytix (RENX). This has sparked a formal sale process, so that the company can assess whether there are other potential bidders. It is also possible that there could be a decision to stay independent. Funding options are being reviewed. Costs have been reduced, but there is currently cash and securities of $3.7m and the cash outflows remain significant so this will only last until the end of April. A share issue and/or debt financing will be required.
Empire Metals (EEE) says study results for the Pitfield project in Western Australia show favourable mineralogy and metallurgy in the high-grade titanium samples. This should simplify processing. Around two-thirds of the contained titanium is titanite, which can be processed at low temperatures. The overall end product would be ideal for a titanium dioxide pigment producer.
Kinovo (KINO) estimates that the costs of the guarantees to complete work on projects taken on by ex-subsidiary DCB will be £2.9m higher than previously expected. Cash flow from the continuing operations will help to fund this but Kinovo will move into net debt by the end of March. This will not affect the pre-exceptional pre-tax profit forecast of £5.8m, up from £4.9m.
LungLife AI (LLAI) raised £1.8m at 35p/share. The lung cancer diagnostics developer is starting the commercialisation process for its diagnostic technology. The cash will fund the evidence generating activities, including an early access programme and clinical utility studies. There should be enough cash until April 2025.
Controlled environment agriculture technology developer Light Science Technologies (LST) has appointed former ITM Power (ITM) boss Dr Graham Cooley as non-executive chairman. He bought a 7.5% stake last year and has been awarded 6.66 million options exercisable at 5p each. Richard Mills, who is boss of the growing systems division of Haygrove and has helped to develop global partnerships, has also joined the board. Myles Halley and Robert Naylor have stepped down. The company has been broadening its activities into fire protection.
Performance nutrition products provider Science in Sport (SIS) is focusing on improving margins rather than growing revenues. This strategy change was in the fourth quarter of 2023, so there was not much time to affect trading. In 2023, revenue dipped from £63.8m to £62.8m due to lower online sales. The Science in Sport brand grew sales by 17%. Liberum trimmed its 2023 revenues estimate, but it also reduced the forecast loss to £4.8m. The 2024 forecast revenues have been cut, but the loss is still forecast to be £3.1m with a move to breakeven in 2025.
Duke Capital (DUKE) has exited another investment with a total return on invested capital of 2.1 times. Street lighting columns manufacturer Fabrikat has been acquired by Metalogalva. Duke Capital has already received £2.7m from Fabrikat and will receive a further £10m after the takeover. There is potential performance-related deferred consideration.
Netcall (NET) continues to build its annual contract values and they have reached £30m. Recurring revenues were three-quarters of the interim revenues. There is rapid growth in cloud business and the cash in the balance sheet enables consistent investment in research and development. Full year pre-tax profit will edge up to £6.7m.
Nexus Infrastructure (NEXS) has focused on its Tamdown civil engineering business and the remaining cash from disposals has come in handy in a tough time for the housebuilding sector. Revenues fell from £98.4m to £88.7m. There is still £14.6m in cash. The final dividend is 2p/share. The order book is recovering and was £57.2m at the end of January 2024. There should be a recovery in the housebuilding sector over the next year, but the timing is uncertain.
Strategic Minerals (SML) sold 4,898 tons from the Cobre magnetite stockpile during February. That is the highest monthly figure since March 2021. Quarterly sales should be around 13,000 tons and annual revenues from Cobre should be around $3.5m.
Floor levelling equipment supplier Somero Enterprises (SOM) reported a 10% dip in revenues to $120.7m because of the weak North American market. Europe and Australia performed better. Pre-tax profit fell from $42.3m to $34.5m and the dividend was reduced from 35.5p/share to 30.6p/share. This year’s revenues are likely to be flat, but additional investment in a new facility in Belgium means that there will be a further decline in pre-tax profit.
Saietta Group (SED) has appointed administrators and following the resignation of Canaccord Genuity as nominated adviser the AIM quotation will be cancelled at the beginning of April. The electric drivetrain technology developer company has failed to secure additional cash and although there is interest in the business no firm buyer has been found.
MAIN MARKET
Ground engineering and piling business Keller (KLR) reported flat revenues of £2.97bn, but operating profit was two-thirds higher at £180.9m – £150m was expected before the recent trading statement. Pre-tax profit jumped from £93.5m to £153.4m. Net debt was one-third lower at £146.2m. The dividend is one-fifth ahead at 45.2p/share. Non-core businesses are being exited. The year-end order book was worth £1.5bn.
Standard list shell Spiritus Mundi (SPMU) has entered into heads of terms for the purchase of InReste, which has developed clinical diagnostic tests and operates a laboratory in Singapore. Spiritus Mundi chairman Zaccheus Peh is the controlling shareholder of InReste and will be the controlling shareholder of the holding company after the acquisition.
IT services provider Triad Group (TRD) is winning new business and it returned to profit in November. There will be initial costs of contracts in the fourth quarter. That means that there will be a greater benefit in the first quarter of the next financial year.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 8 January 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Coinsilium (COIN) was the biggest riser on the week with a 55.3% improvement to 2.95p. This is the highest the share price has been since August 2022. The increased trading levels at the end of December continued into early January. The vast majority of the trades were buys with limited selling.
Professor Trevor Jones bought 150,000 shares in EDX Medical Group (EDX) at 6.25p each and 139,074 shares at 7.35p each. These are his first share purchases, and he owns 0.096% of EDX Medical. The share price is at the highest level since just after the flotation in June 2021
NFT Investments (NFT) reported a 54% increase in NAV to £43.8m at the end of September. Crypto assets rose by 67% and there are plans to liquidate these holdings after April. There will then be a tender offer to shareholders. NAV is 4.67p/share. The share price edged is 2.7p.
All Things Considered (ATC) has opened a new office in Los Angeles, which increases capacity by 30%. There is a ten-year lease.
Founder Paul Ryan reduced his stake in Pharma C Investments (PCIL) from 8.52% to 3.9%, while James Formolli took a 8.05% shareholding.
Ventura Finance has increased its stake in Secured Property Developments (SPD) from 3.66% to 4.28%.
AIM
Cancer diagnostics firm Angle (AGL) reported breakthrough results from DNA molecular analysis of cancer patient blood samples, and this covers many types of cancer. This proves the effectiveness of the Parsortix system combined with DNA analysis. Angle believes that using CTC-DNA testing of living cancer cells alongside ctDNA (DNA fragments released from dead cancer cells into the blood) will improve the way cancer is treated. It may enable doctors to track the clonal evolution of a patient’s cancer. Earlier in the week, a $250,000 pilot study to assess breast cancer patients was secured.
An $11m preclinical milestone payment to C4X Discovery (C4XD) has been triggered by the preclinical progress of C4XD’s NRF2 Activator programme. AstraZeneca is using the programme to develop an oral therapy for treating inflammatory and respiratory diseases. At the end of July 2023, C4XD had £4.22m in the bank after a £6m cash outflow from operating activities.
Plexus Holdings (POS) agreed an IP licence agreement with SLB, which replaces a previous surface production wellhead licence agreement with a subsidiary of SLB. For $5.2m in cash, SLB gets a licence in perpetuity to use POS-GRIP technology in specific markets. The 2023-24 revenues forecast has been upgraded to £14m and pre-tax profit raised by 467% to £1.7m. However, this is a one-off, so Plexus could fall back into loss next year. Plexus was the best AIM performer in 2023.
Real-time oil condition analysis company Tan Delta Systems (TAND) says that progress has been slower than hoped since floating in August. Full year revenues will decline from £1.6m to £1.44m, which is lower than expected. Customer trials have been delayed, but there has been greater interest in the technology. The loss will be in line with expectations at £400,000. Cash was £4.5m at the end of the year.
LungLife AI Inc (LLAI) has successfully validated its LungLB early lung cancer detection test. The positive predictive value was 81% in distinguishing cancer nodules smaller than 15mm. The current standard is 60%. There will be an early access programme offered in the first quarter of 2024. The test will be optimised for additional uses.
Floorcoverings distributor Likewise (LIKE) grew 2023 revenues by 13% to £139.5m, which is better than expected. The overall market declined. Pre-tax profit is forecast to slip from £2.6m to £2.5m. The profit is expected to rise to £3.4m in 2024 because of the operational gearing of the business.
Revolution Bars (RBG) like-for-like sales were 9% ahead in December. However, most of that growth came from Revolucion de Cuba and Peach Pubs with Revolution barely growing even though the previous December’s train strikes meant that comparatives were weak. Eight bars have been closed. That leaves 58 bars and 22 pubs. Net debt is £18.3m. There will be another trading update on 24 January.
Oriole Resources (ORR) has signed a definitive earn-in agreement with BCM International for the Bibemi gold exploration project in Cameroon. That triggers a payment of $450,000. BCM will then spend $4m on exploration to earn 50% of the project. Drilling should start in the first quarter. The Mbe project agreement should be agreed by the end of the month.
LPA Group (LPA) is acquiring Red Box, which enhances the position in ground power products for the aviation sector and reduces dependence on the rail sector. The total cost will be £1.1m. In 2022, Red Box made an operating profit of £81,000 and the deal should be earnings enhancing in 2025.
MAIN MARKET
Hydrogen Utopia International (HUI) is acquiring 49% of medicinal cannabis grower Ohrid Organics and this will generate cash for the group this year. This will help to finance the core waste plastic to hydrogen projects, including a proposed plant in County Longford, Ireland.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 12 July 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Helium Ventures (LON: HEV) is a shell seeking to acquire a business in the upstream natural gas sector, with a focus on helium. It raised £765,000, after expenses, at 10p a share. This followed placings at 1p a share and 5p a share. The underlying value of Helium Ventures cash is 4.9p a share. The share price jumped to 16p (14p/18p) on the first day of trading. That values the company at £2.69m.
Virgata Services did not receive the requisite acceptances for its bid for Walls & Futures REIT (WAFR) and the 10.2% of the share capital that accepted the offer are no longer bound by the acceptances.
KR1 (KR1) has made three new investments. There was a $100,000 investment in the iTrust seed round and it will receive iTrust tokens. A further $50,000 was invested in 625,000 Clover tokens. The largest of the investments was the $400,000 spent on nearly 20.7 million DIVER (Divergence) tokens.
Altona Rare Earths (ANR) has decided not to exercise its option to acquire 51% of the owner of the Nankoma mining project in Uganda because of its inability to carry out due diligence.
Newbury Racecourse (NYR) has signed a media rights agreement with Arena Leisure covering all fixtures until the end of 2028. This replaces existing rights agreements expiring in 2023.
EPE Special Opportunities Ltd (ESO) had an NAV of 582.13p a share at the end of June 2021.
AIM
Ilika (IKA) has raised £18m through a placing at 140p a share and a further £3m from a retail offer via PrimaryBid. An open offer could raise up to £3.7m. The share price was 200p before the fundraising. The cash will finance the development of Goliath battery pouch cells until they exceed the performance of lithium ion batteries and increase the capacity of the pre-pilot line.
Managed IT and networking services provider AdEPT Technology (ADT) will benefit from its earnings enhancing acquisition of Datrix in 2021-22. In the year to March 2021, revenues fell by 6% to £57.9m, while pre-tax profit fell from £7.7m to £6.2m. There was 9% growth in fourth quarter revenues. Management has taken advantage of the past year to restructure the business. . A three-year, £70m bank facility was agreed during March, so there is plenty of funding for other acquisitions.
CMO Group (CMO) is the largest online retailer of building materials in a market where pure online businesses still have a relatively small share. CMO raised £27.3m at 132p a share and existing shareholders raised £17.7m. Pro forma revenues, including Total Tiles which was acquired at the end of 2020, were £67m and pre-tax profit was £1.05m. The share price ended the week at 155.5p.
California-based LungLife AI (LLAI) is developing the LungLB lung cancer diagnostic test. The plan is to have a commercial test available in the US by 2023. It raised £17m at 176p a share and ended the week at 202.5p. LungLB is a blood-based test intended to identify cancerous and benign lung nodules that have been seen through a CT scan. Two-fifths of biopsies following the identification of nodules are not required and the test can stop them happening.
Saietta (SED) has raised nearly £32m, after expenses, at 120p a share to complete the development of its aerial flux motor technology and build a production facility for the motors. Liquid cooled aerial flux motor technology (AFT) has been developed for use with motorcycles and small vehicles. AFT motors are modular in design and highly efficient – reducing the need for additional batteries. There can be high or low voltage versions. The AFT 140 is the motor developed by Saietta. The share price was 121.5p at the end of the week.
Mercia Asset Management (MERC) made an underlying operating profit of £3.3m in the year to March 2021 and on top of that there were significant realised and unrealised gains. The NAV is 40p a share.
There were 97% of rents collected by Real Estate Investors (RLE) in the first half. Occupancy is lower at 83.4% because of the expected ends to certain tenancies, but management believes that the occupancy will recover by the end of the year as the space is rented out. NAV is expected to decline from 55.2p a share to 54.7p a share by the end of 2021.
Kinovo (KINO) is the new name for electrical and buildings services provider Bilby. In the year to March 2022, revenues declined from £65.4m to £60.2m and underlying pre-tax profit fell from £3.69m to £2.36m. The balance sheet is certainly stronger thanks to cash generated from operations. Net debt is down to £2.7m and combined with a recovering share price there may be chances to make acquisitions. There is a 0.5p a share dividend.
MAIN MARKET
Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies (OCTP) has signed an agreement with Evotec that should increase the development speed for the OCT461201. It will help to prove the tolerability and safety of the compound.
Tirupati Graphite (TGR) has signed a marketing agreement with Japan-based Hanwa, which will expand markets for flake and speciality graphite products to south east Asia. Hanwa is already a joint venture partner with Bacanora Lithium.
GC Hevron has proposed a reorganisation of Plaza Centres (PLAZ) and the board has decided to allow GC Hevron to conduct due diligence. The proposal will be put to bondholders on 13 July.
finnCap has downgraded its forecast for InnovaDerma (IDP). The forecast 2020-21 revenues have been cut by £700,000 to £10.2m, although better gross margins should mean that the loss will be similar to previously forecast. A small profit is still forecast for 2021-22.
Andrew Hore