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Quoted Micro 10 May 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Time to ACT is planning to join the Aquis Stock Exchange later this month and it has launched a fundraising ahead of the flotation. The flotation will take place even if there is no money raised. Time to ACT plans to develop a group of engineering-based energy transition businesses. Middlesborough-based Time to ACT has two subsidiaries. Diffusion Alloys is a long-established diffusion coating business. The technology provides an intermetallic layer that protects metal components at high temperatures. GreenSpur is a much newer business that is developing direct drive generator technology for use in wind power that does not require rare earths for magnets. The Winterflood Retail Access Platform is being used to raise up to £1m. The issue price and closing date have yet to be announced. Investors have to apply for shares via a broker. The minimum subscription is £100.
Cykel AI (CYK) has agreed a bid from standard listed Mustang Energy (MUST). The offer is 1.911 Mustang Energy shares for each Cykel AI share. Both companies’ shares have been suspended since 17 January. The Mustang Energy suspension price was 30.6p, but the bid is based on a much lower share price valuing the company, which has net liabilities, at £1m. That values the bid at 9.37p/share and Cykel AI is valued at £19.2m. Cykel AI is developing artificial intelligence products.
Newbury Racecourse (NYR) increased 2023 revenues by 9% to £19m and reported pre-tax profit improved from £130,000 to £720,000. However, there was a £700,000 exceptional gain relating to the release of a provision included. Cost increases reduced underlying profit. Raceday attendances fell from 141,000 to 130,000. The nursery has increased capacity by 18%. Shaun Hinds will become chief executive on 3 June.
Silverwood Brands (SLWD) executive director acquired 100,000 shares at 20p following the restoration of trading at the beginning of May. The share price recovered by 48.5% to 24.5p, but it is still not back to its suspension price.
Marula Mining (MARU) has appointed a new mine manager at the Larisoro manganese mine in Kenya. Bernard Kiprotich has five years of mining experience in Kenya. Marula Mining is investing in the established Larisoro manganese mining operation by securing a 60% commercial interest with an option to increase it to 70%. There are three shallow open pits. The purchase price is £300,000 satisfied by the issue of 2.4 million shares. Marula Mining will provide investment of $1.5m for equipment to enable production to be increased.
Essentially Group (ESSN) has completed the acquisition of Best Latin Foodstuff Trading for £1.945m in shares at 52.5p each. Catalina Onate, who founded the food importer, has been appointed as an executive director.
Shareholders passed resolutions at the AGM of Supernova Digital Assets (SOL), including a cancelation of the share premium account and authority to buy back shares.
TruSpine Technologies (LON: TSP) chief executive Laurence Strauss has resigned. He was appointed in April 2023.
RentGuarantor Holdings (RGG) raised £35,000 at 274p/share.
AIM
Metallurgical coal company Bens Creek (BEN) says a further court hearing related to the three US operations that are in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection will be held on 6 June. The court has accepted the proposed Avanti debtor in possession financing and $2m has been drawn down. This provides enough cash until the end of May. The final terms of the facility are being negotiated.
Genedrive (GDR) has raised £2.1m in a placing at 1.5p. This follow’s yesterday evening’s announcement of a fundraising, where the point of care pharmacogenetic testing company wanted to raise £2.5m via a placing. There is also a REX retail offer for up to £3.5m, which closes on 17 May, and a one-for-one open offer that could raise up to £2.1m. If the total amount raised is not at least £6m the fundraising will not go ahead, so a further £3.9m is required. The company’s tests are being commercialised and a direct to consumer strategy pursued in the UK, while there will be distributors in other countries. There will also be investment to improve manufacturing efficiency and to fund regulatory approvals.
Plant Health Care (PHC) generated a 72% increase in revenues to $4.3m in the first four months of 2024. There is cash of $2.3m. The loss could be reduced from $3m to less than $1m this year. A profit is possible in 2025.
Third quarter driver management systems units produced by Seeing Machines (SEE) have gone into 313,662 vehicles, which is 51% higher than the previous quarter. This is more than treble the number in the same period two years and 80% higher than one year previously with more contracts set to contribute. Monitored connections of the Guardian fleet units were 5% higher on the quarter at 59,706.
Push-to-talk and workplace management technology developer Mobile Tornado (MBT) has won a contract through its regional partner to supply technology for a mobile network in the Middle East and Africa, which has more than 50 million customers. Management believes that there should be increasing sales momentum following the deal.
Healthcare services provider Totally (TLY) reassured the market with its latest trading statement. Full year EBITDA was £2.3m, down from £6.9m, and net debt was £800,000 at the end of March 2024. Revenues fell 22% to £106m because of the loss of a contract. Cost reductions and efficiency improvements have offset the tough market. Annualised cost savings of £3.5m are expected.
Bushveld Minerals (BMN) has agreed the conditional disposal of Vanchem to Southern Point Resources Fund 1 for up to $40.6m. The initial consideration is $20.6m. This requires shareholder approval. Southern Point Resources is increasing the interim working capital facility it is providing that is secured on production at Vanchem. This, and a $9m working capital facility, will be offset against the initial consideration and be used to pay creditors. This will leave a cash payment to Bushveld Minerals of $3.5m when the disposal happens. The deferred consideration is based on 25% of distributable free cash flow with a minimum of $1.25m paid for each quarter of the three-year period.
Mothercare (MTC) reported a 13% decline in global system sales last year due to poor trading in the Middle East. Destocking is a problem. There was better trading in the UK and Indonesia. The retailer will improve EBITDA, but Cavendish reduced its forecast EBIDA by 9% to £7m, compared to £6.7m in 2022-23. Refinancing talks continue and a conclusion should reduce the interest bill.
Battery technology developer Ilika (IKA) is raising up to £3.4m at 28p/share to spend on the Goliath solid-state battery. This cash should last at least 12 months. A placing and subscription raised £1.7m and a one-for-26 open offer could raise up to £1.7m more. The open offer closes on 28 May. There will be £750,000 earmarked for the development of the Goliath battery and this supplements the grant assistance obtained. A further £750,000 will be used to increase testing capacity to 0.75MWh/a and for upgrading dry room facilities. Additional cash raised will support further capital expenditure and working capital for Goliath and the Stereax miniature battery.
MAIN MARKET
Packaging manufacturer and distributor Macfarlane Group (MACF) disappointed with its AGM trading statement and lost the majority of the share price gain this year. Prices are falling, but this reflects lower costs, so margins are being maintained. First quarter sales were 9.5% lower, which does reflect a reduction in volumes. There should be improvement in the second half.
Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies (LON: OCTP) plans to cancel the standard listing. Management believes that stockmarket uncertainty is making it difficult to raise cash at an acceptable share price. The development of the drug pipeline will continue. The cancelation date is 6 June.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 6 January 2020
NEX EXCHANGE
Cannabis-related investment company Greencare Capital (GRE) joined the NEX Growth Market last Monday. Greencare raised £514,000 at 25p a share. The rest of the shares were issued at 1p each, raising £100,000. The pro forma NAV is just over 4p a share. The largest shareholder is E Value One with 66.3%, which is owned by Dominic White, who is chairman of fellow NEX-quoted company Eight Capital Partners (ECP) which has a 21.2% stake. Eight Capital acquired 1.5 million of its shares at 1p each and 1.06 million at the subscription price – just over 50% of the subscription shares. Greencare has already identified its first investment, which is a consumer-focused distribution business that has a leading position in one of the larger European markets. The distribution activities cover 30,000 points of sale and that could increase to 45,000. The plan is to acquire an initial 10% stake. Due diligence is being carried out and the investment could be made early in 2020.
European Lithium (EUR) has agreed €7.5m of debt financing that lasts two years and has an annual interest charge of 5%. This is secured on the Wolfsberg lithium project in Austria. The cash will fund the completion of the definitive feasibility study and repay the existing convertible note facility. The Wolfsberg mining and exploration licences have been extended.
BWA Group (BWAP) says that its subsidiary has been awarded an exploration licence in central Cameroon. This will enable the assessment of commercial exploitation of rutile sands, kyanite, ilmenite, zircon and other minerals. The permit lasts for three years with a financial commitment of £650,000 over the period. This has taken four years to negotiate.
Walls and Futures REIT (WFR) has completed the redevelopment of its Didcot property and it has been let on a 25-year lease to a large care provider. NAV was £3.3m at the end of September 2019.
VI Mining (VIM) has secured a partnership with an established operator in Peru so that commercial operations can commence at the Cushuro mining concession in the second quarter and the Oro Pesa plant can be up and running in the third quarter. They will be owned by 50/50 joint ventures. The Minaspampa and Rosario de Belen concessions are being returned to the previous owners, although VI Mining will have a buy back option.
Healthcare professionals recruiter SG Recruitment Ltd (SGRL) grew interim revenues by 13% to £386,000, while operating costs were halved. There was still a £379,000 loss. SG has secured a contract with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust covering seven hospitals. Further mandates are expected from the NHS and in the Middle East.
Adnams (ADB) director Guy Heald has increased his B shares stake from 15.1% to 17.15%.
Alexander David Securities has resigned as corporate adviser to EcoVista (EVTP) and trading in the shares has been suspended until a replacement is appointed.
AIM
Bango (BGO) grew 2019 revenues by more than 40% even though two contracts were not closed by the end of the year. That means that 2019 revenues of the digital payments technology provider will be £2m lower than anticipated. The 2020 forecast revenues have been reduced by £2.6m to £14.2m, although a £600,000 pre-tax profit is expected.
Communications services provider Mobile Tornado (MBT) expects second half revenues to be £1.8m, taking the total for the year to £3.3m. There have been delays in deployments. The company remains loss-making.
Redx Pharma (REDX) could be subject of a bid by a syndicate headed by Samuel D Waksal. The £2.5m loan from Moulton Goodies will be swapped for shares instead of repaying it at the end of 2019. This requires shareholder agreement.
Adams (ADA) has bought 2.4 million shares in Circassia Pharmaceuticals (CIR) at an average price of 19p each. That takes the stake in Circassia to 0.82%. Adams still has £1m in cash.
Tri-Star Resources (TSTR) says that its 40%-owned antinomy and gold production facility operator SPMP is currently in technical default of its banking facility. Tri-Star had guaranteed 40% of the bank facility, but it says that this no longer holds because commercial production has commenced. This still has to be independently certified. Any additional short-term finance provided to SPMP could lead to a dilution of the Tri-Star stake. SPMP’s production facility requires up to $160m of additional investment in order to reach 100% capacity, but there have been no suitable offers of this finance as yet. There is no certainty that the financing can be achieved.
Residential property development funder Urban Exposure (UEX) says that 2019 operating costs will be lower than expected due to lower remuneration and fewer people being hired. The 2020 operating costs will be reduced to around £9.5m and that will enable the company to be profitable. There is no additional news about the proposals for the future of the company. Urban Exposure has also agreed to pay £400,000 to Jones Laing LaSalle in relation to an agreement by former companies, which are being wound down, to pay introduction fees. This settles the claim.
Trading in Attis Oil and Gas (AOGL) shares has been suspended ahead of details of a deal to acquire a North America-focused oil and gas company and the disposal of non-core assets. The acquisition will bring assets and experienced management.
Trans-Siberian Gold (TSG) has signed a new tariff for its electricity. The previous tariff was RUR4.69/kWh and the new agreement is for RUR4.75/kWh, which is still much lower than the standard tariff.
Livermore Investments Group (LIV) is paying an interim dividend of $0.0343 a share on 21 February.
MAIN MARKET
David Sefton has stepped down as chairman of social media company Iconic Labs (ICON) because of market speculation about his involvement with AIM-quoted Anglo African Oil and Gas (AAOG) where he was executive chairman until 13 September 2019. He has not been involved since then. Sefton will continue to be involved with Iconic Labs, where the share price has nearly halved in the past four months. The resolution to allow directors to allot shares without offering them to existing shareholders was not passed at the AGM. Anglo African Oil and Gas has not made the progress it wanted to with its oil and gas interests and it plans to sell its main asset in Congo to Zenith Energy (ZEN). Jub Capital is trying to put a stop to that and has present alternative proposals. This would involve stopping the sale and providing additional cash via a subscription of £100,000 and a $5m loan facility. Jub would also buy the shares owned by RiverFort and that would provide an additional £722,000 to the company.
Anglo African Agriculture (AAAP) has postponed the reverse takeover of Kenya-based port and marine logistics group Camarco. The long stop date for the deal is being extended. A version of the deal is likely to go ahead, but there could be private equity investment in one or more of the subsidiaries.
OTHER MARKETS
Former standard list company Cleantech Building Materials has entered into a three-year offtake agreement with a customer in Thailand. Nasdaq First North Copenhagen-quoted Cleantech Building Materials has the exclusive rights to manufacture Accoya wood (AIM-quoted Accsys Technologies (AXS) owns the technology) in China.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 1 May 2017
NEX EXCHANGE
Cyber security technology developer and consultancy Crossword Cybersecurity (CCS) continues to scale up its business and there is a product launch planned for this summer. In 2016, revenues jumped from £21,000 to £345,000 but the loss increased from £755,000 to £950,000 – even after £78,000 of R&D tax credits. There was £1.55m in the bank at the end of 2016. AIM-quoted Iomart is cooperating with Crossword on launching the Nixer machine learning DDoS platform on the market.
Brewer Adnams (ADB) says sales of beers and spirits continue to grow and its pubs are trading well, although the sale of smaller pubs will reduce the profitability of this part of the group. Currency movements, the sale of the UK distribution rights for Lagunitas beers and the renovation of the Swan Hotel will hamper overall progress in the first half. The £7m investment in the brewery is almost complete.
Sandal (SAND) has signed an agreement with Spanish smart home technology business Momit, which will redesign its smart thermostat so that it is compatible with the Energenie MiHome platform. This is part of Momit’s strategy to enter the UK market. The redesigned product should be launched in September and, along with related radiator valve sales, could add £500,000 to the annual revenues of Sandal.
Healthcare staff provider Healthperm Resourcing Ltd (HPR) has revised its strategy and candidates need to have passed the International English Language Testing System, which is required for a visa anyway. Healthperm has opened its own IELTS training facility in the UAE and this is focused on nurses. Healthperm has won two new mandates and there are three other potential mandates on the cards. Chief executive David Sumner has agreed to increase the maximum amount of loan notes he will subscribe for from £1m to £1.8m. The loan notes have a 10% interest charge.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) has raised £1.44m at 42p a share from its open offer and a further £980,000 in a placing at the same price. Coinsilium Group (COIN) has raised £118,000 at 2p a share and it will use £60,000 to finance the development of a blockchain-based management system. Goldcrest Resources (GCRP) is raising £380,000 at 0.5p a share. The cash will help to finance the competent persons report on the Norio block, which the company is in the process of acquiring.
NQ Minerals (NQMI) has entered into a A$6.5m loan facility to help finance the acquisition of the Hellyer gold mine in Tasmania. This means that NQ has A$15m of the A$20m in cash it requires to make the purchase.
Indigo Holdings (INGO) is investing £200,000 in Iranian Fast Moving Consumer Goods Ltd, an online retail delivery business associated with a convenience store chain.
Ashley House (ASH) has secured a £500,000 loan facility from its non-executive deputy chairman Stephen Minion. The secured facility lasts for 12 months.
Housebuilder St Mark Homes (SMAP) has appointed Alfred Henry Corporate Finance as its corporate broker. Merchant Place had performed this role for 18 years.
AIM
Mortice (MORT) has made a second UK acquisition. The facilities management services provider is paying up to £4.5m for Elite Cleaning and Environmental Services – £3.5m in cash and shares plus a 12-month earn-out of up to £1m in cash and shares. Elite provides cleaning services and clients include ITV and BMW. Elite made EBITDA of £1m on revenues of £12.3m. finnCap has increased its earnings forecast by 5% to 7.8 cents a share.
Internet domain registry company Minds + Machines (MMX) moved into profit in 2016. Revenues grew from $5.5m to $13.5m, while a loss was turned into an underlying pre-tax profit of $3.5m. This follows a restructuring of the business and the sale of non-core operations. Sales of the .vip domain in China were the major factor in the growth in revenues and .boston should be launched later this year. Cash conversion was poor due to restructuring costs and increased working capital.
Directa Plus (DCTA) had technological problems which held back the progress of the graphene producer last year. In 2016, revenues fell from €1.7m to €0.8m and the loss more than doubled to €4.1m. The reason behind the fall in revenues was the lack of sales of mobile decontamination units with sales of G+ graphene nearly doubling. The focus is textiles and environmental uses of the company’s graphene. Directa Plus has net cash of €6.8m and this will be enough to absorb the expected cash outflows for the next couple of years.
Diagnostic tests supplier Omega Diagnostics (ODX) says that its underlying pre-tax profit will fall from £1.3m to £1.1m in 2016-17. All divisions increased their revenues, helped by currency movements. Field trials are planned for the VISITECT CD4 test and the CE mark could be obtained by the end of the year.
TLA Worldwide (TLA) continues to embarrass itself with disastrous trading statements. Having issued a trading statement at 6.26pm on 23 December 2016, it has released its latest profit warning at 4pm – management probably thinks that is a big improvement because it was before the market closed. It turns out that four months after the end of the financial year TLA’s 2016 figures will be even worse than expected. Changes to revenue recognition and provisions for money that TLA thought it was owed but has not been paid are the reason. There is also money that TLA believed it was owed in financial periods prior to 2016 but has not been paid. That will lead to write-downs and the current estimate is between $1.5m and $2.5m. The 2016 figures may eventually be released in late May, according to the company.
Imaginatik (IMTK) says its revenues for the year to March 2017 will be flat at £3.9m but the loss should still be reduced. Bookings for the innovation software were lower at £3.5m but new clients were won in the second half. Imaginatik could be on course to breakeven in the current financial year.
AstraZeneca has returned the rights to AZD9412 to Synairgen (SNG) following a phase IIa study. The inhaled interferon beta did have a beneficial impact on lung function but the positives were not enough to continue with trials. The data will be returned to Synairgen for it to analyse. Synairgen has £4m in the bank.
Avacta (AVCT) has signed its first non-therapeutics licence for its affimers. The licensee is a major global diagnostics companies. The upfront payment is probably small but this is a significant deal.
Radiation detection technology company Kromek (KMK) is trading in line with expectations and it expects to continue to win new contracts.
Property management services provider HML Holdings (HML) has confirmed that its 2016-17 profit will be in line with expectations of £1.8m. There were six acquisitions during the year. A 2017-18 profit of £2.2m is forecast.
Instant communication mobile services provider Mobile Tornado (MBT) has raised £1.1m at 5p a share and the cash will be used for further development of its technology and support the launch of the Dispatch Console service. Last year, revenues fell 10% to £2.02m but recurring revenues increased to more than 90% of the total. The loss increased from £2.03m to £3.73m. Net debt was £9.06m at the end of 2016.
MAIN MARKET
Sealand Capital Galaxy Ltd (SCGL) has completed the acquisition of social media business SecureCom and Sealand hopes that a share split/bonus issue will improve liquidity. Existing shareholders will receive nine bonus shares for each one they own, leaving them with ten times the number of shares and the share price would be adjusted from 25p to 2.5p. The November 2015 flotation price was 10p and earlier this year a further £1.4m was raised at 20p a share. Pro forma cash was £3.26m at the time of the acquisition.
A number of standard list shells have reported their annual figures so that they beat the deadline of the end of April. Financial services-focused shell Vertu Capital Ltd (VCBC) is still discussing the potential acquisition of VCB Malaysia but there is still some way to go before a deal is secured. There was £553,000 in the bank at the end of 2016. Auctus Growth (AUCT) still had £1m in the bank at the end of 2016 and it continues to assess potential acquisitions.
Papillon Holdings (PPHP) is still proceeding with the long drawn out acquisition of Myclubbetting.com and it is near to lodging a readmission document with the UKLA. The publishing of the accounts of Papillon has been delayed because of difficulties concerning quantifying the costs of the acquisition.
Andrew Hore