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Quoted Micro 26 September 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Interim results from renewable energy supplier Good Energy (GOOD) show a jump in revenues, but a fall in gross profit because of tough margin comparisons. There was a pre-tax loss, but a tax credit meant that there was a profit after tax. The supply business is hedged for the second half of the year and government measures will minimise the impact of higher prices on consumers. The interim dividend was maintained at 0.75p a share. There was £22.2m in the bank at the end of August 2022 following the sale of generation assets. Investee company Zap-Map is partnering with Nissan, which will provide a three-year Zap-Map premium subscription with each electric vehicle.
Brewer Adnams (ADB) reported a reduced loss in the six months to June 2022 as trading recovered. There was a 47% increase in revenues to £30.1m. Some rural and coastal pubs are still less busy in the evenings. Demand for the Jubilee was not as high as anticipated. There is less demand for cask beer. Retail sites are becoming a hub for online deliveries. Trading will be tough in the second half.
Newbury Racecourse (NYR) increased interim revenues from £5.37m to £7.81m as the race days and attendances recovered. A loss of £336,000 was turned into a pre-tax profit of £217,000 in the latest six-month period. The lodge returned to profit, while the profits of the nursery and property were maintained. The dividend paid in the period accounts for the decline in net assets from £48.6m to £45.7m. Management is cautious about race day revenues in the second half.
CBD products supplier Love Hemp Group (LIFE) has paid its £70,000 fine, but it has not finalised the appointment of a new corporate adviser. Robert Smyth has been appointed as finance director.
Eight Capital Partners (ECP) generated revenues of £58,000 in the first half of 2022. The interim loss means that the company has net liabilities. In the third quarter, the company earned £1m of fees from Zamaz (ZAMZ), which joined the standard list earlier in this month.
Secured Property Developments (SPD) did not have any revenues in 2021 and it is seeking properties to acquire. Net assets fell from £427,000 to £386,000, including £430,000 in cash.
Interim figures from Igraine (KING) show £766,000 in the bank at the end of June 2022. Management is in talks with potential investments but has not found a suitable company.
Metals recycler Majestic Corporation (MCJ) reported its maiden interim results as an Aquis company. Revenues fell 17% to $12.9m, but gross margins increased, and pre-tax profit improved from $766,000 to $980,000. There was $2.7m in the bank at the end of June 2022.
Gunsynd (GUN) has made a further investment in ASX-listed Charger Metals NL. Gunsynd has invested A$175,000 at 50 cents a share, as part of a larger fundraising of A$5.5m. Gunsynd will own 5.12% of Charger Metals.
Gold explorer Tectonic Gold (TTAU) says that drilling at Specimen Hill in Queensland has intersected mineralisation earlier than expected. The drilling programme should recommence in October.
Quetzal Capital (QTZ) says that investee company Tap Global Ltd has exceeded 100,000 registered users on its crypto-fiat exchange service platform. Quetzal Capital has invested £1.5m in Tap Global convertibles and has an option to acquire the company.
LED lighting and tea trading company Gowin New Energy (GWIN) did not generate any revenues in the first half of 2022, and it still has net liabilities. The chief executive is funding working capital requirements
Samarkand Group (SMK) has raised £1.98m via an open offer at 55p a share. The cash will finance further growth.
AIM
Judges Scientific (JDG) reported an 8% increase in first half revenues and pre-tax profit improved from £8.5m to £9.6m. The international spread of activities has helped the company to grow. UK sales declined, but they had held up much better in the corresponding period. The interim dividend was raised from 19p a share to 22p a share. The order book stretches out for 21 weeks. WH Ireland has upgraded its full year pre-tax profit forecast from £22.4m to £26m.
Small business finance provider Time Finance (TIME) has frustrated investors with a lack of profit growth in recent years and 2021-22 was not different. However, the new management team has been focusing on its core products and the benefits of this should start to show through this year. Ther are available bank facilities to increase the loan book. Cenkos forecasts an increase in pre-tax profit from £3m to £3.5m. The shares are trading at a discount to net assets of around 50%.
European trading exchange operator Aquis Exchange (AQX) expects to have a strong second half. Aquis Exchange, which is also quoted on AIM, reported interim revenues 21% ahead at £8.3m, although profit was lower due to investment in the technology business. The Aquis Stock Exchange is profitable. The technology division has won contracts that will boost the second half – as well as 2023 – and full year pre-tax profit is expected to rise from £3.2m to £4.2m. The second half will also benefit from the relaunch of the former UBS dark pool trading operation. This should help to rebuild the company’s market share of equity trading.
Brain health assessment technology Cambridge Cognition (COG) increased interim revenues by 31% to £5.9m and the contracted order book is worth £18.6m. The main growth in revenues came from software, but the additional gross profit was used up by increased investment so there was a smaller pre-tax profit of £16,000. There is £8.6m in the bank so there is enough cash to finance planned investment in the technology.
Delays in demand from the automotive market meant that Strip Tinning (STG) revenues declined in the first half. This meant that the company fell into loss. The longer-term outlook for connectors for batteries for electric vehicles is significant. Price rises have been implemented to cover cost increases. There are potential electric vehicle contracts with an annual value of £47.9m, although not all will be won. This should more than make up for the contract recently terminated.
Credit hire and legal services firm Anexo (ANX) continues to trade strongly with interim revenues 42% ahead at £68.6m with no contribution yet from the VW emissions case. There is a small but increasing contribution from housing disrepair claims. Pre-tax profit improved by 53% to £13.6m. This year, pre-tax profit is expected to improve from £24.1m to £26.6m – a small downgrade.
First half figures from cosmetics supplier Warpaint London (W7L) were well flagged and it had already said that revenues in the eight months to August improved from £27.1m to £37.5m. Demand for the main brands is increasing and as well as new retail clients, existing retailers are rolling out the products in more stores. Full year revenues should be more than one-fifth higher at £61m and pre-tax profit could be more than £9m.
Digital coupons and loyalty technology provider Eagle Eye (EYE) reported an improved full year pre-tax profit of £2.5m. Recurring revenues and new contracts provide a positive start to the new financial year. Eagle Eye is growing internationally with enormous prospects in North America, as well as other markets. Cash generation was higher than the capitalised development costs and cash should increase this year.
Parcel and freight delivery company DX (DX.) has completed its corporate governance investigation and says it will improve its processes. It has also published the 2020-21 accounts, but the shares remain suspended.
MAIN MARKET
Retailer Made.com (MADE) has launched a strategic review 15 months after floating on the Main Market. Consumer spending is declining and there have been supply problems. Freight costs increased from £8.2m in 2020 to £45.3m in 2021 and they remain at high levels. The company has been reducing marketing spend, stocks and capital investment. Even so, more cash is required but a share issue is not viable.
First Tin (1SN) has commenced drilling at the Taronga tin project in Australia. Two of the three holes drilled so far have intersected tin ore mineral.
Sivota (SIV) has published the prospectus for the acquisition of digital experience software developer Apester Ltd. The acquisition of the Israel-based company will be completed and Sivota shares readmitted on 26 September.
Trading in the shares of shell company More Acquisitions (TMOR) has been suspended ahead of the acquisition of Megasteel, which is a distributor of steel for concrete. The payment will be between 2.2 billion and 2.8 billion shares at 2.25p each, which is more than double the market price. Megasteel has been trading for more than three decades. Last year’s pre-tax profit was £3m.
Icon Labs (ICON) creditors have agreed a CVA, and shareholders passed the relevant resolutions at a general meeting.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 13 June 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Psych Capital (PSY) floated on Aquis so that it can take advantage of the opportunities in the fast-growing psychedelic medicines sector. Management is seeking to invest in early-stage companies, where it can obtain a significant minority stake. Psych Capital raised £810,000 at 5p a share. Pro forma net assets are £2m. Psych Capital has cash of £872,000 following the flotation. There is an investment in Awakn Life Sciences Corp that was valued at £584,563 at the end of June 2021. The share price is declining, and it has reached C$0.96, valuing the stake at around £260,000 at the current exchange rate. The share price fell to 4p on 9 June before recovering to 4.75p (3.5p/6p). There is limited liquidity in the shares with a free float of around 11%. Fellow Aquis company Oscillate (MUSH) holds a 16.15% shareholding in Psych Capital. Chris Akers has increased his stake in Oscillate from 9.02% to 11.4%. He also has a 4.96% stake in Psych Capital.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) improved interim revenues from £198,000 to £216,000, while recognised fair value gains declined from £1.04m to £297,000. There were 14 investments at the end of the period and net assets were 68.38p a share at the end of February 2022.
Rural Broadband Solutions (RBBS) had 2,851 monthly fee-paying clients by mid-May. There was net cash of £1.2m at the end of 2021 and infrastructure funding is being negotiated.
Newbury Racecourse (NYR) reopened its hotel in January and more than 105,000 racegoers have visited the racecourse so far this year. There have benefits from the catering deal with Compass and new media rights arrangement start at the beginning of 2024, which will benefit that financial year. More will be spent on prize money. Newbury is debt free, and a special dividend has been paid out of proceeds from the sale of land for housebuilding. Annual dividends may recommence next year.
Quantum technology investment company Quantum Exponential (QBIT) has made three investments at a total cost of £1.16m since it floated. There are discussions with more potential investments. There has been further progress towards setting up a fund. Anthony Lyall has been appointed as investment manager and Anna Spandl as investment analyst.
Altona Rare Earths (ANR) says that it is on track for a maiden JORC resource statement for the Monte Muambe rare earths project in Mozambique. Four new drilling targets have been identified.
Ananda Developments (ANA) had net liabilities of £288,000 at the end of January 2022. There should be further news concerning the purchase of the other 50% of DJT Plants.
Tectonic Gold (TTAU) expects to deploy drill rigs in Queensland in the next few weeks following the rainy season.
RentGuarantor Holdings (RGG) has raised £1m from a 6% unsecured loan note issue, with chief executive Paul Foy subscribing for 50% of the issue. The cash will be spent on hiring staff and marketing.
Wishbone Gold (WSBN) has commenced drilling at the Wishbone II gold copper project in Northern Queensland.
Chapel Down Group (CDGP) non-exec Jamie Brooke has bought 327,000 shares at 30.48p each. Jonathan Neame has sold 2,000 shares in Shepherd Neame (SHEP) at 806p each.
Oberon Investments has increased its stake in TruSpine Technologies (TSP) from 7.93% to 10.9%.
EPE Special Opportunities (ESO) had a NAV of 307.13p a share at the end of May 2022.
Former Aquis-quoted proton beam therapy provider Rutherford Health is being placed in liquidation. There are Rutherford Cancer Centres in Newport, Reading, Liverpool and Northumberland, plus a community diagnostics centre in Somerset. It is unclear whether there will be any buyers interested in these assets. Schroder UK Public Private Trust (SUPP) bought the remaining Woodford stake at the end of 2019. It was valued in the books at £22.8m, which will be written off. That will reduce NAV by 2p a share.
AIM
Like-for-like sales growth at City Pub Group (CPC) was 5% in May and 20% ahead over the Jubilee Bank Holiday. Management took a decision to minimise price rises so that food and drink is still relatively affordable. Two new sites have been opened with two more opening over the next few weeks.
Learning and development products and services provider Mind Gym (MIND) fell into loss in the year to March 2022. Revenues were 24% ahead at £48.7m with US revenues growing even faster. Repeat revenues from customers that have bought products and services in the past three years were 86% of the total. Overheads are higher as management anticipates future growth in demand. There were also £500,000 of non-recuring costs. The investment in digital products and services will pay off in future years when profit is expected to grow sharply.
Greater demand for foreign exchange helped Ramsdens (RFX) to move back into profit in the first half. Jewellery retail and precious metals buying also grew revenues significantly. There was modest growth in pawnbroking revenues although the growth in the loan book means that there will be a higher rate of increase in the second half. Overall revenues were £29.3m, up from £19.3m, and there was a pre-tax profit of £2.2m.
Nexus Infrastructure (NEXS) improved interim revenues from £63.7m to £80.3m and the order book is 7% higher at £306.7m. Civil engineer Tamdown’s revenues were more than one-quarter higher while utilities connections business TriConnect reported a small increase in revenues. The biggest increase came from the eSmart Networks business, but that is still less than 11% of group revenues. Nexus is on course to improve full year pre-tax profit from £2.5m to £5.7m.
Open Orphan (ORPH) has an order book worth £64.25m at the end of May 2022. Open Orphan secured a £14.7m contract for an influenza characterisation study and a follow-on human challenge study. The second half is expected to be stronger than the first and the clinical trials services provider should move into profit this year.
Electrical goods retailer Marks Electrical (MRK) reported its first full year results since flotation last November. In the year to March 2022, revenues increased 44% to £80.5m. Underlying earnings were 5.01p a share and the maiden final dividend is 0.67p a share. The company is gaining market share in the domestic appliance and televisions markets and revenues have grown by one-fifth in the first couple of months of this financial year. Brand recognition is improving, but the overall market is likely to be tough. Expanding the product range is helping growth.
Interims from Hercules Site Services (HERC) reflect a period of consolidation for the staffing business. In the six months to March 2022, revenues improved from £14m to £20m, while pre-tax profit slumped from £954,000 to £31,000. Overheads were £2m higher in anticipation of growth in the coming years. The large staff supply contract for HS2 started later in the reporting period and demand will continue to grow. More suction excavators are being delivered and utilisation rates are high.
Greenland-focused AEX Gold Inc (AEXG) has signed non-binding terms for the creation of a joint venture with ACAM that will hold the group’s strategic mineral assets. ACAM will invest £18m for a 49% stake and AEX Gold will inject the non-gold assets and cover site support, logistics and overhead costs. There is an agreement to inject a further £10m on a pro rata basis as long as certain milestones are achieved. AEX Gold’s core asset is the 100% interest in the Nalunaq project, which includes a former producing gold mine.
Plant-based polymers developer Itaconix (LSE: ITX) had already warned that due to destocking 2021 revenues would fall from $3.29m to $2.6m, which is still double the 2019 figure. Itaconix remains lossmaking, but revenues should be much higher in 2022 due to the increased number of products using its ingredients. Revenues are expected to jump back to $4.7m and the loss could halve to $1m.
Rockwood Strategic (RKW) has acquired a 8.75% stake in window ventilators and parts manufacturer Titon Holdings (TON).
Northbridge Industrial Services (NBI), which is set to change its name to Crestchic, says that trading at the core power reliability business is better than the recently upgraded expectations. Previously full year earnings of 12.1p a share were forecast and this was raised to 13.4p a share.
STM (STM) pre-tax profit halved to £1.2m in 2021 and it is expected to recover to £2.9m this year. This will be helped by the completion of investment in IT that brings the personal pension businesses onto one platform. A flow of new SIPP business is anticipated.
Coral Products (CRU) has announced a final dividend of 0.2p a share, taking the total for the year to 1.1p a share. At 17.5p, the yield is 6.3%.
Eve Sleep (EVE) is outperforming a market that has fallen by 29% in the UK in the first four months of 2022 and by 37% in France. More funding is required even though Eve Sleep and a US-based investor was interested in bidding for the mattress supplier. Talks have ended but management is considering its options.
MAIN MARKET
Citius Resources (CRES) has an initial agreement for the potential acquisition of AUC Mining, which has the Kamalenge gold project in Uganda. The proposed £2m cost would be paid in shares at 4.625p each. More cash would have to be raised at the same time. Trading in the shares was suspended at 3p.
Standard list shell GS Chain (GSC) shares have reached a new high of 6.55p, having risen steadily since flotation on 13 May via an introduction at 1p a share. Net assets were less than 0.18p a share, so the share price is at a substantial premium.
Premium listed Ross Group (RGP) shares jumped from 1.45p to 1.7p following a placing raising £163,000 at 1.79p a share, which is still a premium to the higher market price. The previous placing in October was at 2.8p a share. Ross Group is effectively a shell that has an investment in an aquaculture business and is trying to develop its supply chain management business.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 9 May 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
In 2021, Newbury Racecourse (NYR) is paying a special dividend of 89.6p a share. The £3m payment comes after the receipt of the final £10.7m from the sale of housing development land. Newbury Racecourse increased turnover by 75% to £14.8m as racing returned to the course. There is still potential for further recovery this year. Attendances increased from 12,000 to 105,000. The hotel reopened in January 2022. There was a swing from £2.17m loss to an underlying pre-tax profit of £333,000.
Quantum Exponential (QBIT) is investing £406,000 in Aegiq Ltd, a photonics company using quantum technologies in the cybersecurity market. That gives it a 4.06% stake. Helium Special Situations has reduced its stake from 4.57% to 1.52%.
Goodbody Health Inc (GDBY) reported better than expected revenues for 2021. The CBD products and testing company made an underlying loss of £900,000 on revenues of £17.1m. Arden forecasts a £5.1m profit this year.
VSA Capital (VSA) has received a settlement of outstanding fees of £153,000 from client Anglo African Agriculture in the form of 3.82 million shares. This gives VSA a 15.3% stake plus warrants and convertible loan notes.
Gunsynd (GUN) has terminated the disposal of Oyster Oil and Gas to Sajawin.
Clarify Pharma (PSYC) had net cash of £1.3m at the end of April 2022. Investment opportunities in the psychedelics market are being assessed.
Apollon Formularies (APOL) has acquired intellectual property and patents from Aion Therapeutic for £96,000 and 4.35 million shares. It will also pay a royalty fee of 4% on net revenues from products based on these patents. The patents cover potential cancer treatments.
ChallengerX (CXS) has appointed Olivia Edwards as chief executive and Nicholas Lyth as finance director.
Phase 1 assay results from the Monte Muambe project held by Altona Rare Earths (ANR) show significant levels of rare earths.
Coinsilium (COIN) has been appointed as adviser to Silta Finance and entered into an agreement to purchase $75,000 of future SILTA tokens. Silta is building a technology to connect decentralised finance to infrastructure project developers.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) has sold its remaining stake in builder’s merchant Merkko Group for £378,000.
Rogue Baron (SHNJ) has received the first UK order for Shinju and Shinju 8-year old whisky.
S-Ventures (SVEN) chairman David Mitchell bought 57,959 shares at 32p each. Chris Akers has increased its stake in Quetzal Capital (QTZ) from 19.1% to 20.1%. John Mahtani reduced his stake from 5.71% to 3.83%.
AIM
Online retailer of building materials CMO Group (CMO) continues to grow on the back of a buoyant market as well as gaining market share. The online share of the sector remains relatively low. The second half growth was not as fast as in the first half. In 2021, revenues grew 46% to £76.3m. There is organic growth supplemented by acquisitions. CMO moved from loss to an underlying pre-tax profit of £1.4m. Net cash was £6m. Following the acquisition of JTM Plumbing Plumbingsuperstore.co.uk is being launched later this year. First quarter trading has continued to be strong with like-for-like growth of 3%.
Neonatal intensive care medical devices supplier Inspiration Healthcare (IHC) increased full year revenues from £37m to £41.1m. Acquisition contributions offset the one-off Covid ventilator revenues in the previous year. Pre-tax profit improved from £3.13m to £3.96m, although earnings fell 12% to 6.1p a share because of the additional shares issued for acquisitions. The company’s order book is strong.
In 2021, targeted digital advertising services provider Dianomi (DNM) revenues grew from £28.4m to £35.8m, even though Asia Pacific revenues fell from £1.72m to £1.18m due to the ASX website stopping having advertising content. Underlying pre-tax profit moved from £2m to £2.9m – share based payment charges and float costs led to a loss being reported – and it is expected to increase to £3.6m this year. The average spend of the top 100 advertisers increased 27% to £280,000 each. Net cash was £10.3m at the end of 2021.
In 2021, Intelligent Ultrasound (IUG) reported revenues 47% higher at £7.6m, mainly from ultrasound simulation products, while the cash outflow from operations was £2.3m. AI revenues remain modest, and it will take time for them to build up. Cenkos upgraded its 2022 revenues forecast from £9m to £10m, but the cash outflow will be similar.
Plastics and packaging supplier Coral Products (CRU) is using some of its cash pile to acquire Film & Foil Solutions, a supplier of flexible packaging film used for food, books, carpets and for cable tapes. The initial payment is £1.35m in cash, plus £750,000 in shares at 15.5p each. There is just over £900,000 that could be payable based on the settlement of a contract dispute and an insurance payment. The acquired business made an underlying profit of £541,000 in 2021.
Energy efficiency as a service provider eEnergy Group (EAAS) has been hit by contract delays. That means that 2021-22 EBITDA could be £3m and not £4.4m as previously expected. A new finance director is being appointed.
Green hydrogen production developer ATOME Energy (ATOM), which was spun out of President Energy (PPC) at the end of 2021, has secured a major 60MW power purchase agreement with ANDE, the national power supplier in Paraguay. Hydrogen production could commence in Paraguay in the first quarter of 2023.
MAIN MARKET
LED lighting and wiring accessories supplier Luceco (LUCE) will report revenues around £15m lower than expected due to overstocking. This will knock £10m off operating profit. Price rises are offsetting the effect of inflation.
Castings (CGS) 2021-22 results will be slightly ahead of expectations. Demand for commercial vehicles remains strong, but there is still uncertainty about the ability produce heavy trucks.
Kendrick Resources (KEN) was formerly AIM-quoted BMR Group, which left AIM in August 2018 after problems with the progress of the Kabwe project in Zambia. Kendrick still has a 11% royalty interest in Kabwe. Kendrick Resources has acquired Northern X Finland and Northern X Scandinavian. In Finland, there is an exploration licence at the Koitelainen project and two licences at the Karhujupukka project. There are two projects in Sweden: the Airijoki project and the Central Sweden project. There is also an option over three projects in Norway.
Gresham Technologies (GHT) has secured a contract with an existing bank customer worth up to £6.3m over a period of five years. The company’s Clareti software will be used across the whole UK business of the bank.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 7 March 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Field Systems Designs Holdings (FSD) reported a sharply increased loss in the six months to November 2021. There were unpaid debts of £300,000 due to the financial failure of NMCN. The overall loss increased from £267,000 to £1.52m on revenues that fell from £5.75m to £2.64m. The pandemic hit trading and the AMP7 spending by water companies has yet to ramp up. This is required to be done by 2025. The order book is worth £7m.
A general meeting has been requisitioned at CBD products supplier Love Hemp (LIFE) by a shareholder owning more than 5% of the company and it will be held on 1 April. The requisitioner wants Andrew Male to be removed as chairman and the directors’ salaries slashed by 75%. They also want a strategic review of the company and a review of the financials, pus a halt to marketing spending.
Quantum Exponential (QBIT) has made its first investment. It has invested £300,000 out of a £470,000 fundraising by Siloton, a company that uses quantum techniques and photonic integrated circuits in sub-surface optical scanning devices used in healthcare and testing. The initial use is to monitor age-related macular degeneration. Quantum Exponential holds a 12.8% stake.
Gunsynd (GUN) is changing its investing policy. The sports sector has been added to the resources, life sciences and alcoholic beverages sectors. The rest of the policy is unchanged. The shareholders will vote on this change at the AGM.
Apollon Formularies (APOL) has signed a joint venture agreement with South Africa-based medical cannabis company Tri-Media Canna. Apollon will own 49% and receive a gross royalty on sales of its products in South Africa. There will also be opportunities for clinical trials for cancer treatments in South Africa. Tri-Media Canna is investing £150,000 in Apollon at 2.5p a share and will invest a further £150,000 in the future when the agreement is finalised.
Newbury Racecourse (NYR) has received the final payment of £10.7m for the land sold to David Wilson Homes. The cash will be used to pay down borrowings.
In the year to August 2021, Wheelsure Holdings (WHLP) reported a reduction in revenues from £233,000 to £144,000. The loss increased from £203,000 to £224,000.
KR1 (KR1) has invested $7m in Zee Prime II as part of a $35m fundraising.
Tectonic Gold (TTAU) has received a A$289,000 cash rebate from the Australian tax authorities. There will be a further claim for work in the second half of 2021.
Vulcan Industries (VULC) has raised £256,500 from a placing.
Trading in Early Equity (EEQP) shares has been suspended.
AIM
Battery metals producer Neometals already had an ASX listing prior to joining AIM, which management hopes will raise the company’s profile in UK and Europe. This was an introduction, so no new money was raised, although the expenses were £1.53m. The introduction price was 70p and it has risen to 85.5p. Perth-based Neometals has 13 subsidiaries, two joint ventures and one associate business. There is a lithium-ion battery recycling joint venture with SMS Group called Primobius. This will use the company’s own lithium-ion battery recycling technology. There are also two potential opportunities in Finland and Sweden for vanadium recovery projects. Neometals has a 70% stake in Reed Advanced Materials, which has developed the ELi lithium process. This reduces the requirement for reagents and is at semi-pilot testing stage.
The core software products sold by GetBusy (GETB) continue to grow sales and have excellent retention rates. Newer products, such as Certified Vault and Workiro are still at the early stages of building their customer bases, but they provide cross-selling opportunities to existing clients. GetBusy continues to lose money even though revenues grew from £14.2m to £15.4m. Annual recurring revenues are £15.8m. Net cash was £2.67m at the end of 2021.
Cloud-based secure payment technology provider PCI-Pal (PCIP) continues to win business even though the patent infringement dispute with Semafone continues. Total annual contract value is £11.4m. The company remains loss making, although the loss is falling, but the cash raised last year means that this is not a concern. Offices have been opened in Canada ad Australia.
Following FCA approval, Fletcher King (FLK) has completed the placing £547,000 at 52.5p a share. Elliott Bernard has a 29.99% stake and David Gibbs and Matthew Wise have been appointed to the board on his behalf.
MAIN MARKET
BATM (BVC) grew strongly last year, and both the biomedical and network and cyber divisions have much further to go. The biomedical division benefited from continued demand for Covid-19 testing, but other diagnostic tests also increased sales. There are new products that will enhance that growth. BATM is starting to win contracts for its Edgility edge computing and network function visualisation product. Group revenues were $140m in 2021 and they could rise to $157.9m this year. Pre-tax profit was boosted by one-off gains in 2021. A 2022 pre-tax profit of $12.7m is forecast with a jump to $20.1m anticipated in 2023 when the significant investment made by BATM really starts to pay off.
Hamak Gold (HAMA) is a Liberia-focused gold explorer with two gold prospects. Liberia is apparently an underexplored and underdeveloped area in sub-Saharan Africa. There are already two significant gold projects in Liberia that are near to the company’s prospects. Hamak raised £955,000 at 10p a share. The £706,000 raised after expenses will finance the initial exploration.
More Acquisitions (TMOR) is a new cash shell that intends to make acquisitions in the energy transition sector. The placing raised £1.25m at 1p each. More Acquisitions has issued all shares at the same price and there was a cap on expenses. This means that the underlying NAV is 0.96p a share. The share price ended the first day at 1.15p (1p/1.3p). The cash could be supplemented by up to £3.8m if all the warrants in issue are exercised.
URA Holdings (URAH) has returned to the London market after more than three years but this time it is the standard list and not AIM. The cash shell has secured the acquisition of Malaika Developments, which has exploration interests in Zambia. URA issued 60 million shares to acquire the company and raised £1.05m at 2p a share. The share price opened at 2.5p and closed at the end of the week at 2.25p.
Alkemy Capital Investments (ALK) has been readmitted to the standard list after it set up a new subsidiary to potentially supply lithium hydroxide monohydrate to battery manufacturers. The new plant could be set up at Teesside in the freeport. The board is assessing the prospects for the project and a feasibility study should be delivered at the end of March. The shares were readmitted at 100p, but the bid/offer spread is 75p/125p.
In the year to September 2021, telecoms services provider Toople (TOOP) reported a reduction in revenues from £3.44m to £3.01m, although gross profit increased. That was still not enough to cover overheads. There was a £835,000 cash outflow from operating opportunities. There was £282,000 in cash, offset by debt of £1.69m. However, £380,000 was raised at 0.045p a share after the year end.
Pineapple Power Corporation (PNPL) is not going ahead with the proposed acquisition of cleantech investment company BVP Investments because they could not agree on the valuation.
Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies (OCTP) says it has the support of 46.5% of shareholders but the requisitioner of the general meeting wants it to go ahead. The meeting is likely to be held on 6 April.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 26 July 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Ecotricity has launched a 340p a share cash bid for Good Energy (GOOD). Ecotricity believes the combined group would be better placed to compete in the energy supply business. The Good Energy board rejects the bid.
Arbuthnot Banking (ARBB) reported a bounce back in interim pre-tax profit from £200,000 to £3m. the main profit improvement was at Arbuthnot Latham. NAV was 1292p a share at the end of June 2021. Assets under management reached £1.22bn. A second interim dividend of 16p a share was announced, and it will be paid on 24 September.
NQ Minerals (NQMI) says its Hellyer gold mine generated revenues of A$19.8m in the second quarter, while net income was A$5.7m. The major capital investment in the mine cost A$16.4m and was finished during the quarter. NQ Minerals is still seeking to move to a full listing on the London Stock Market.
Sativa Wellness Inc (SWEL) generated record revenues in the first half of 2021, and it is generating cash from operations. CBD products supplier Goodbody Botanicals is profitable. There have been 47 clinics opened to offer Covid-19 testing.
Apollon Formularies (APOL) says that medicinal cannabis formulations developed by its subsidiary have been able to kill prostrate cancer cells.
Watchstone Group (WTG) management recommends that shareholders reject the mandatory 34p a share bid.
Ervin Kovac has resigned as director of Freyherr International (FRYR) and the shares remain suspended as the company’s financial position remains uncertain. Trading was suspended more than nine months ago.
Harry Hyman has taken a 3.08% stake in Oberon Investments (OBE).
Newbury Racecourse (NYR) is moving from the Access segment to the Apex segment.
AIM
Digital payments business Boku (BOKU) increased interim revenues by 37% to $34m – organic growth was 21%. Investment is increasing in order to take advantage of growth prospects, but cash is also increasing.
Trading is improving at employee benefits services and insurance products provider Personal Group (PGH) and interim revenues were 12% ahead at £34m even though weak insurance sales last year mean that premium income fell. SaaS-based revenues increasing by 50% – helped by the partnership with Sage. Sales of consumer electronics products through PG Let’s Connect has improved by one-fifth.
Insolvency levels remain relatively low, but Begbies Traynor (BEG) still grew strongly last year. In the year to April 2021, underlying pre-tax profit improved from £9.2m to £11.5m – a combination of organic and acquisitive growth. There is more to come this year from recent acquisitions.
Lawyer Gateley (GTLY) managed to increase its pre-tax profit from £18.1m to £19.3m despite the tough trading conditions in the year to April 2021. The property and corporate finance divisions did particularly well last year. This kept utilisation levels high. A final dividend of 5p a share was announced. Gateley is paying £815,000 for Tozer Gallagher, which is a quantity surveyor and construction consultant.
Online womenswear retailer Sosandar (SOS) increased its full year revenues by 35% to £12.2m. It remains loss-making and that is likely to continue this year even though revenues continue to grow rapidly. First quarter revenues jumped by 256% to £5.7m, although the comparatives were weak. Active customers increased by 23% compared with the previous quarter. Singer forecasts double full year revenues to £24.4m.
Parcel and freight delivery company DX (DX.) is still growing its freight business faster than expected and analysts have upgraded their forecasts for 2020-21 and the current year. The additional business is also more profitable than in the past. DX Express revenues are flat due to lower office mail delivery revenues.
Judges Scientific (JDG) had a much better order book at the end of June 2021. It was 49% higher than June last year. Organic sales growth was 5% compared with full year forecasts of 1.5%.
Open Orphan (ORPH) spin out Poolbeg Pharma (POLB) has started trading on AIM. The shares are trading at 10.875p, which is equivalent to 3.63p a share to Open Orphan shareholders. The Open Orphan shareholders cannot sell yet.
Vela Technologies (VELA) has invested £750,000 in Northcoders Group, which joins AIM on 27 July. Manchester -based Northcoders provides software coding training.
International payments business Cornerstone FS (CSFS) is pursuing potential acquisitions, but it has not secured any since it floated earlier this year. The mix of business remains consistent, although more of it is direct which improves margins, and trading has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels.
MAIN MARKET
New shell Acceler8 Ventures (AC8) has soared from its placing price of 100p to 215p on limited volumes. After expenses, the cash in the company is equivalent to 60p a share. The sector of the potential target has been kept vague.
Sivota (SIV) is a shell that wants to acquire Israel-based technology businesses. The company has just under 78p a share of cash. The share price has risen from the placing price of 100p to 112.5p.
NMCN (NMCN) is making progress with the refinancing and related documentation. The 2020 accounts are expected to show a pre-tax loss of much more than the £24m previously indicated.
Aquaculture technology developer OTAQ (OTAQ) increased full year revenues by 18% to £4.05m, while the underlying loss was reduced from £1.05m to £726,000. Restrictions have held back the progress of the business.
Town Centre Securities (TOWN) has collected 88% of the billed rent of £4.9m for the quarter to June 2021 with a further 8% that was agreed to be deferred.
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
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 28 June 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Good Energy (GOOD) says it is perming better this year than in the same period last year which included the start of the lockdown. Forward buying has improved margins. The smart meter rollout is accelerating.
Dispersion Holdings (DEFI) has invested C$200,000 at 18 cents a share in Defi Yield Technologies Inc. This gives it a 3.5% shareholding in the company that is developing a platform for decentralised financial services.
Altona Rare Earths (ANR) has raised £178,000 at 12p a share, which was a premium to the market price. Altona subsequently acquired up to 70% of the Monte Muambe rare earths project. It will take a 1% stake on signing the deal and increase it to 20% in phase 1 when £40,000 in cash is paid and one million shares are issued. In order to take a 70% stake a total of £240,000 in cash will be paid and three million Altona shares have to be issued. On top of this there are minimum expenditure commitments over three phases of the project.
Rogue Baron (SHNJ) says its bar in Washington DC increased sales by 38% to $225,000 in the three months to May 2021 even though capacity has halved. Trading in the shares has started on OTCQB.
Tectonic Gold (TTAU) is preparing to drill the Specimen Hill project in Queensland. There have been positive results from sampling and the structural modelling of the site has been completed.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) had net assets of 64.06p a share at the end of May 2021. It sold his investment in Anthesis Consulting for £1.15m during the period. There was cash of £2.65m at the end of May 2021.
DiscovOre (ORE) is changing its name to Oscillate. and it will focus on the medical psychedelic industry. This includes treatments for drug-resistant depression, anxiety, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Ananda Developments (ANA) expects to begin construction of a research facility in July. Strains of medicinal cannabis have been selected for research. Liberty Herbal Technologies has received a US patent for its vaping device.
CBD products supplier Sativa Wellness Group Inc (SWEL) has opened its 40th testing clinic for travellers and has introduced blood testing for Covid-19 immune response through some clinics. The clinics will be listed on the NHS Patient Access service.
Valereum Blockchain (VLRM) has raised £1m at 70p a share.
Virgata Services has extended its offer for Walls & Futures REIT (WAFR).
Tim and Charlotte Syder have increased their stake in Newbury Racecourse (NYR) from 4.5% to 8.7% and they appear to have been bought from Andy and Judith Stewart.
AIM
Printed circuit technology developer and supplier Trackwise Designs (TWD) has disappointed the market due to electric vehicle contract delays. Interim revenues more than doubled from £2.91m to £6.07m thanks to the initial contribution from Stevenage Circuits. A pre-tax profit of £200,000 in 2019 was turned into a loss of £400,000. There is currently net cash of £2.87m. The new factory should open later in the year.
Demand for Accoya wood continues to be strong, but Accsys Technologies (AXS) will not be able to increase production capacity until a new reactor is installed in the Netherlands later in the year to March 2022. In 2020-21, Accsys moved into profit and cash generation improved. A decision is awaited about how Accsys will make progress with the Hull Tricoya plant, where the contractor has resigned. Cash was raised in May to finance the US joint venture, but more cash may be required.
First Property (FPO) had to reduce the valuations of its owned Polish properties last year and that hit net assets. Management says that some of that valuation reduction should be reversed following a restructuring of the finance lease on one of the properties. NAV fell 22% to 42.8p a share at the end of March 2021 and it could improve to 48.8p next March. Loan to value is 45.3%. There is no final dividend.
In 2020, Dekel Agri-Vision (DKL) reported revenues of €22.5m and a reduced loss. The palm oil supplier will benefit from the higher palm oil price this year, enabling it to move into profit. The cashew plant will also make a contribution.
Musical instruments retailer Gear4Music (G4M) performed strongly last year, and revenues improved from £120.3m to £157.5m, while pre-tax profit jumped from £3.1m to £14.6m. This year will be tough, though. Pre-tax profit is forecast to fall back to £7.5m even though current trading is better than expected. The company has started buying existing brands. Premier is a drums brand and Eden is a bass amp supplier. Further acquisitions are likely.
Packaging manufacturer Robinson (RBN) says that revenues in the first five months of 2021 are 17% ahead of the same time last year. This is mainly due to an initial contribution from the Schela acquisition and passing on raw material costs – volumes are 1% ahead.
Jade Road Investments (JADE) had a net asset value of 67p a share at the end of 2020. There was an improved valuation of quarry company Future Metal Holdings. The three-year mining licence has been renewed and an independent assessment of the business will be published later this year.
Tristel (TSTL) has gained approval for foam-based surface disinfectant Jet from the EPA in the US. This will enable approvals to be sought with individual states. Tristel Duo, the disinfectant for ultrasound devices, has been approved in Canada and South Korea.
Vector Capital (VCAP) has raised £1.5m at 47p a share and this will be used for marketing and increasing the loan book. The cash raised at the end of 2020 has been deployed.
Location Sciences (LSAI) has given 12 months notice to its chief executive and finance director. They are continuing to work in the business.
MAIN MARKET
Nottinghamshire-based construction and infrastructure services provider NMCN (NMCN) has secured a highly dilutive rescue fundraising after falling into financial difficulties The company continues to lose money and the terms reflect the dire financial position. A £14m subscription is proposed, with a up to £5m more to come from an open offer. There is also a £10m convertible bridging loan – convertible at 20p a share and with fees and interest it equates to 62.4 million shares. Svella, which is run by former Stobart boss Andrew Tinkler, will subscribe for up to £7.4m of the subscription shares and provide the loan.
Fasteners supplier Trifast (TRI) reported slightly better than expected 2020-21 figures. Industrial activity is recovering. This year pre-tax profit is expected to improve from £11m to £12.9m.
Tirupati Graphite (TGR) has increased sales of its graphite products CarboflameX and GrafEN 45545 with trial and sample orders received. Land has been secured for a dedicated product development facility.
Cizzle Biotechnology (CIZ) has signed a deal to develop a companion diagnostic with St George Street Capital for certain of its potential autoimmune treatment assets that it has licensed. This deal takes Cizzle into a new area, but lung cancer remains the focus.
Zegona Communications (ZEG) is paying an interim divided of 2.6p a share. That is based on the dividend from Euskaltel and does not reflect the proceeds from the telecoms company’s takeover.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 7 June 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Chapel Down Group (CDGP) is raising up to £6.88m at 59.5p a share via a placing and crowdfunding offer. The directors and Michael Spencer have invested £1.43m in the placing. The rest of the cash will come via the crowdfunding with Seedrs. The financing will only go ahead if a minimum of £3m is raised. The wine maker wants to increase the scale of its winery so it can process more fruit and complete the planting of new acreage. Management also wants to improve the e-commerce capabilities. A new asset-based financing facility of up to £15m has been secured and it will refinance the HSBC debt. Chapel Down increased its revenues from continuing operations from £10.1m to £13.3m in 2020. The underlying pre-tax profit was trebled from £308,000 to £955,000.
TECC Capital (TEC) is a new shell that is seeking to buy technology or cannabis businesses. There is a wide list of potential sub-sectors that will be considered, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, telematics, life sciences, including cannabis products, cyber security and e-commerce, which includes the Internet of Things. TECC raised £1.1m, after expenses at 5p a share. There is pro forma cash of £1.15m, which is equivalent to just over 3.8p a share. Even so, the share price ended the week at 10p. Chris Akers owns 9.9%.
Pioneer Media Holdings Inc (PNER) is a Canada-based investment company with investments in eSports and mobile gaming businesses. It already has a portfolio of ten companies and a Canadian Stock Exchange listing. The shares floated at 45p each and they closed the week at 48p each.
Gledhow Investments (GDH) is raising £850,000 at 1.75p a share. That is at a 12.5% discount to the market price. Gledhow had net assets of £2.35m at the end of March 2021, including £374,000 in cash. That means it is a significant discount to net assets of nearly 4.8p a share. That figure will be significantly diluted by the new share issue. Gledhow does need to become bigger to warrant the quotation, though. Although it has a portfolio of investments, Gledhow would make a good shell for a business. Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi has taken a 3.26% stake in Gledhow.
Non-executive director Dominic Burke has bought 10,000 shares in Newbury Racecourse (NYR) at 582.5p each. The racecourse will be able to have spectators at its 10 June meeting and if there is further easing of lockdown then the hotel and events businesses can reopen. Newbury Racecourse will continue to be loss making in the first half of this year. A joint venture has been set up with a subsidiary of Compass to provide catering for the racecourse and other businesses.
KR1 (KR1) has invested a further $200,000 in Automata, as part of a $2.4m financing. KR1 will receive five million ATA tokens and it already owned ten million tokens.
Startup Giants (SUG) increased revenues from £45,000 to £87,000 in 2020. Higher costs meant that the loss increased. However, there was a £9,000 cash inflow from operating activities. There was net cash of £651,000 at the end of 2020.
Wishbone Gold (WSBN) says that initial drilling of the Cottesloe silver project, which is close to the Red Setter project.
MiLOC Group Ltd (ML.P) has raised nearly £80,000 at 28.5p a share.
Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) directors Alistair Currie and Ed Jenkins have each bought 18,400 shares at 43.25p each. Currie owns 3.67% and Jenkins holds 0.75%. Chairman Jonathan Bixby has bought 1,000 shares in NFT Investments (NFT) at 2.9p each. Iain Livingston, the father of S-Ventures (SVEN) chief executive Scott Livingston, has sold 150,000 shares at an average price of 23p a share. Scott Livingston owns 49.1% and his family a further 3.5%.
AIM
Arecor Therapeutics (AREC) takes existing pharma products and reformulates them for new uses or to make them more effective. A placing raised £18.3m, after expenses, at 226p a share. The main focus is diabetes. Arecor’s insulin program AT247 is an ultra-rapid acting meal-time insulin product, while AT278 is an ultra-concentrated rapid acting insulin development, which could be used with miniaturised insulin pump delivery devices. AT299 is a co-formulation of pramlintide and insulin. These fast-acting insulins have an addressable market worth $6.4bn. There have been positive clinical studies for AT247. A phase II study should provide results in 24 months and that would be the point when a partner would be secured.
Artisanal Spirits Company (ART) owns the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SWMS) and it raised £13.2m after expenses at 112p a share, which was at the bottom of the 112p a share to 121p a share price range. First quarter sales in 2021 improved from £2.9m to £3.4m, even though venues and events revenues continued to be well down during the period. There was cask whisky and bottled stock of £21.7m at the end of 2020. That is the main asset in the balance sheet and an independent valuation believes that this stock is worth £9m more than book value – based on an orderly liquidation.
Franchised lettings agency Belvoir (BLV) has acquired The Nottingham Building Society’s mortgage and protection services business for £600,000. This year’s operating profit is expected to be £175,000. The deal could add 1% to earnings in a full year.
Coral Products (CRU) had £3.8m in the bank at the end of April 2021. That should be boosted by the Haydock freehold sale, which should be completed in the second half. In the year to April 2021, revenues from continuing operations increased from £8.7m to £10.7m. Even excluding the profit on disposals of £2.3m, the pre-tax profit was £700,000. There will be a final dividend of 0.5p a share.
CyanConnode (CYAN) has raised £3.15m at 9.5p, taking advantage of the strength of its share price. This was a small premium to the market price. CyanConnode could have made progress in the smart meter market without the additional cash, but this will help to accelerate its growth.
Cleantech company Verditek (VDTK) is raising up to £500,000 through a bond offering 7% interest, secured against the assets of the company. The offer is via Crowd for Angels, which is underwriting the first £225,000 of the two-year bond. Verditek wants to expand its Italian facility so that it can satisfy international contracts for its lightweight, flexible solar panels. The focus is the solar operations, but there are also minority stakes in BBR Filtration and Industrial Climate Solutions Inc.
Housebuilder Springfield Properties (SPR) says that its 2020-21 revenues and profit will be better than pre-Covid-19 levels. This was helped by two land sales. N+1 Singer forecasts an improvement in pre-tax profit from £10.2m to £18m.
Internet domain name registry and services provider CentralNic (CNIC) generated organic growth of 16% in the first quarter of 2021. Total revenues jumped from $56.9m to $84.4m, helped by acquisitions. Net debt is $79m.
MAIN MARKET
Sportech (SPO) and CML Microsystems (CML) both intend to switch to AIM. Sportech believes that the junior market is more suitable for its size and it will make it easier to complete transactions. CML also believes that AIM is more suitable following the sale of one of its divisions and it also expects its shareholders to benefit from the tax breaks.
Tarek Taksch has reduced its stake in Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies (OCTP) from 7.75% to 5.43%. The company has entered a consultancy agreement with Voisin Consulting, which will help with regulation and development plans for OCT461201, a treatment for ailments associated with IBS.
Shefa Gems (SEFA) is demerging its gems business, because it will take longer than expected to exploit the assets, and turning itself into a shell. Existing shareholders will receive shares in the gems business. There will be a 100-for-one share consolidation and then the company will raise $1.05m (£756,000) at 3.53p a share. The name will be changed to Alef Bet Advanced Technologies and seek an acquisition in web technology and software.
Imperial X (CDL) has raised £2m at 3p a share as part of its move from Aquis to the standard list. The resources company is changing its name to Cloudbreak Discoveries.
Motor dealer Caffyns (CFYN) manged to improve its underlying profit from £251,000 to £1.88m last year, even though revenues fell from £195.8m to £165.1m. Net debt was £10.3m at the end of March 2021. There has been a property valuation that shows the portfolio is worth £12.3m more than book value. Excluding that surplus, NAV is £27.6m.
National Word (NWOR) has already secured annualised savings of £4m from the JPI Media acquisition and is on course to secure savings of at least £5m. The online audience is increasing, and monthly content revenues are being generated from Google and Facebook. Overall revenues increased by 18% in April and May. The fastest growth is from digital.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 10 May 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Virgata has published its offer document for the 50p a share bid for Walls & Futures REIT (WAFR) and the first acceptance date is 27 May. Walls & Future REIT management are still arguing that the bid is too low because it is at less than 50% of NAV. Virgata points out that shareholders would not be able to sell their shares in the market for anywhere near NAV and that costs, including director pay, exceed income. Liquidity is certainly and that means that it has been difficult to raise cash to scale up the business.
Samarkand (SMK) is making its first acquisition following its admission to the Aquis Apex segment. The cross-border trading group is paying £2.41m in cash and shares (at 139.67p each) for Zita West Products and 51% of Babawest, where a further £400,000 will be loaned. Zita West Products supplies nutritional supplements for fertility and pregnancy, and it has worked with Samarkand for more than three years. Babawest supplies nutritional products for mothers and babies. In the year to September 2020, Zita West Products made an adjusted pre-tax profit of £241,000 on revenues of £854,000. Interim revenues were 60% ahead at £636,000. Samarkand can use its ecommerce technology and contacts in China to grow sales.
Third quarter revenues dipped at National Milk Records (NMRP), but like-for-like revenues were 1% greater at £5.42m. That excludes the former heat detection operations. The growth has come from newer areas, such as Johne’s and surveillance testing. There was a small decline in milk recording revenues, but they are recovering and the next quarter comparisons will not be as strong.
British Virgin Islands-based technology-focused shell Boanerges Ltd plans to float on 17 May. It appears that the share issue will be relatively small because Richard Griffiths will have his stake diluted from 75% to 71.7%. Internet of Things, big data and telematics are some of the areas where the directors are seeking acquisitions.
Rutherford Health (RUTH) is drawing down £15m from its infrastructure investment facility, which means that all £40m will have been drawn down. This will be invested in the company’s cancer treatment facilities.
Sativa Wellness (SWEL) increased 2020 revenues by 38% to £1.99m. Transaction costs increased the loss from £3.8m to £4.8m. There are 30 wellness clinics in operation, and they are adding to the range of tests on top of the Covid-19 tests. The benefits of CBD products launched last year should show through in 2021.
URA Holdings has distributed its shares in Ananda Developments (ANA) to its own shareholders. This has increased the stakes of directors Charles Morgan (to 8.65%), Melissa Sturgess (to 13.2%) and Peter Redmond (to 1.47%).
Western Selection (WESP) has increased its stake in electrical and gas services provider Bilby (BILB) from 11.93% to 12.18%. This was before the trading statement that revealed that Bilby generated 2020-21 revenues of £60m and EBITDA of £3m. Net debt was £2.7m at the end of March 2021, prior to commencing paying £1m of VAT liabilities. The full yar results will be published in early July.
Christopher Potts has taken a 5.94% stake in DiscovOre (ORE).
Newbury Racecourse (NYR) non-executive director Bryan Burrough has acquired 8,600 shares at 737.5p each.
S-Ventures (SVEN) has raised £3m at 15p a share and every two shares will be issued a warrant exercisable at 25p. Chief executive Scott Livingston invested £500,000 in the placing and his stake is 49.1%. Vulcan Industries (VULC) has raised nearly £75,000 at 3.2p a share.
AIM
Virgin Wines (VINO) says that sales and profit are ahead of expectations in the year to June 2021. Liberum had forecast revenues of £70.3m, up from £56.5m last year, and the outcome is expected to be at least £73m. The easing of lockdowns could hamper growth, but the expanded customer base will help Virgin to continue to grow.
Bars operator Nightcap (NGHT) is making its first acquisition since joining AIM. Nightcap is paying £2.5m for Adventure Bars Group with £1m in shares being paid initially and up to £1.5m (at the same share price) dependent on performance in the two years from 1 July 2021. The cost is much higher than that because the acquisition comes with around £4.3m of borrowings, of which between £1.28m and £1.78m will be repaid and a £110,000 convertible (at 21p a share) issued to the lender. Nightcap is trying to raise a further £4m.
IPTV technology developer Mirada (MIRA) says trading was in line with expectations in the year to March 2020. That means that revenues were around £12m and the loss was around £3m. Trading improved during the second half and revenues were higher than in the first half. New opportunities mean that Mirada should improve its performance this year. Demand is building up in Asia.
A positive trading statement by concrete levelling equipment supplier Somero Enterprises (SOM) has led to a 15% upgrade in forecasts earnings to 39.9 cents a share. That has led to an increase in the expected dividend to 27.9 cents a share. Trading has been strong in the US, while Europe and Australia are recovering.
Coral Products (CRU) is paying an interim dividend 0.5p a share and the ex-dividend date is 13 May. Coral is selling the Haydock facility for £3.5m, but has to spend £650,000 on the roof before the sale is completed. Book value is £2.5m. Coral will lose the £300,000 a year of rental income.
Appreciate Group (APP) says 2020-21 figures are in line with expectations. Even so, the underlying pre-tax profit of the financial services and savings business has been slightly upgraded by Edison. The pre-tax profit is still likely to slump from £11.4m to £4.5m, before recovering to £7.2m in 2021-22. Digital sales are becoming increasingly important.
Trinity Exploration and Production (TRIN) has acquired a 100% interest in the PS-4 lease block, onshore Trinidad, for $3.5m. Average daily production was 83 barrels during 2020.
Software company WANdisco (WAND) increased its loss in 2020-21, but it is expected to fall sharply this year. That is because revenues are forecast to jump from $10.5m to $37m. WANdisco could even move into profit next year. The LIVEdata software is thought to be the only credible petabyte data analysis product capable of migrating data to the cloud on the market.
One Media IP Group (OMIP) has acquired the writer’s share of producer royalties, which covers more than 250 tracks by Kid Creole and the Coconuts. This deal has been done through Harmony IP, which gives artists the chance to access future income by selling a portion of their rights. This high profile deal could attract other artists to the Harmony IP proposition.
Initial drilling results from the Hamersley iron project owned by Alien Metals (UFO) shows new iron ore zone targets in the Hancock area of the project. The interpretation work outlines much larger target areas. Results from 36 more drill holes are due later this month.
Bacanora Lithium (BCN) says that there has been a 67.5p a share cash bid approach from Ganfeng International Trading. The bid is near to the share price high at the beginning of the year, which was the highest it has been for nearly three years. Ganfeng owns 50% of the Sonora lithium project and already holds 28.9% of Bacanora.
Anglo African Oil & Gas (AAOG) has lost its AIM quotation because it has failed to acquire a new business. It has entered into an option to acquire a 25% interest in the Saltfleetby gas field in east Lincolnshire for £8m in shares. The deal is dependent on at least £1m being raised and the shares becoming quoted on a recognised market.
Nu-Oil and Gas (NUOG) has left AIM, but it continues to make progress with the acquisition of Guardian Maritime. The cash generative business sells a retro-fitted system for ships that stops pirates boarding vessels. This deal should enable the shares to be admitted to the standard list by the end of June.
MAIN MARKET
Standard list shell East Star Resources (EST) commenced trading on 4 May, and it is seeking resources opportunities. The shell raised £1.73m net of expenses at 5p a share. The existing shares were previously issued at 1p each. The share price ended the week at 6.25p.
Tirupati Graphite (TGR) has developed a graphene-aluminium composite. This has conductivity properties comparable to copper. Tirupati is talking with potential customers who would want to replace copper because of the composite’s lower weight. Power and propulsion systems are one area where there is interest.
Cardiff Property (CDFF) has increased the interim dividend from 4.8p a share to 5p a share. There was a dip in pre-tax profit from £387.000 to £365,000, but there was a lower tax charge. The Thames Valley property markets has shown signs of slowing down and rental income will be lower this year. The current share price is 1850p, compared with a NAV of 2445p a share – although there is a potential tax liability on any disposal of the investment in Campmoss of 265p a share.
MGC Pharmaceuticals (MXC) says pre-clinical and clinical results for ArtemiC Rescue, which targets viral infections with inflammatory complications, has demonstrated an ability to decrease the markers of inflammation. Phase II clinical trials showed that the treatment could hasten recovery in Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate illness, which should offset the problem of long Covid.
CBD products supplier Zoetic International (ZOE) is raising £6m at 60p each and this will be used to terminate the financing agreement with LDA Capital. That will cost £1.2m and the rest will go on the US rollout of Chill products and launching new products.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 3 May 2021
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Decentralised finance (DeFi) focused investment company Dispersion Holdings (DEFI) raised £9m at 3p a share. The share price closed at 4.15p (3.8p/4.5p) and there were just over one million shares traded on the first day. The market capitalisation is £25.4m. Shares were originally issued at below the placing price and the underlying NAV is 1.8p a share. Dispersion has already made two investments, although one of those is a £210,000 investment in NFT Investments, which has management in common, at the equivalent of 7p a share. NFT’s placing was at 5p a share and the investment was made after the shares commenced trading. Since then, the share price has fallen to 3.85p (3.7p/4p).
Semper Fortis Esports (SEMP) has the management experience to exploit the fast-growing esports sector. The board includes football adviser Keith Harris. Chief executive Kevin Soltani was a co-owner of an esports franchise in MENA and co-founded the GIMA Esports Agency with chief operating officer Jassem Osseiran. The Semper Fortis Esports shareholder register includes the likes of Chris Akers. Semper Fortis Esports raised £2.5m, after expenses, at 1p a share. Pro forma net assets are £2.13m, with £2.15m cash in the bank. The pro forma NAV is just over 0.5p a share. The share price ended the week at 3.95p (3.8p/4.1p).
Greencare Capital (GRE) has invested £100,000 in Voyager Life, as part of a £671,000 before an Aquis flotation. Voyager Life supplies CBD and hemp seed oil products. This follows the £100,000 investment in CBD products supplier Clearly Supplements in the form of a 5% convertible loan. The Covid-19 pandemic and legislation changes hampered the planned reverse takeover, and it did not go ahead. There should still be more than £1m in cash in the balance sheet after the investments.
Revenues fell 59% to £8.49m at Newbury Racecourse (NYR) and there was a loss of £2.27m. Only four race meetings had people attending last year. There were 20 race days last year and there will be ten by 17 May this year. There was £1.5m raised from the sale of surplus land. There was £5.53m in the bank at the end of 2020. Net assets were £48.9m, down from £51.4m.
Spirits maker British Honey (BHC) says that first quarter revenues, excluding hand sanitisers, increased by one-quarter to £1.33m. The integration of Union Distillers is nearly complete. A new bottling line will increase capacity to four million bottles a year by the end of 2021. A new bottling line for miniatures is also being installed.
Gunsynd (GUN) has made a £200,000 in DiscovOre (ORE) at 2p a share. DiscovOre is changing its investing strategy to focus on the medical psychedelic sector.
Supported housing provider Walls and Futures REIT (WAFR) says that NAV has fallen by 5% to 102p a share. John D Wood values the company’s properties at £3.2m. The company collected 100% of rents last year. Virgata Services has to publish an offer document by 6 May.
Primorus Investments (PRIM) has invested $2.5m in convertible loan notes in standard listed Mustang Energy (MUST) as part of a fundraising to pay for a 22.1% stake in VFFB-H, which owns 50% of Enerox, an Austria-based vanadium redox flow battery manufacturer. AIM-quoted Bushveld Minerals (BMN) is the majority shareholder in VFFB-H. Enerox plans to raise £30m. Trading has been suspended in Mustang Energy shares.
Altona Rare Earths (ANR) is proceeding with the acquisition of the Monte Muambe rare earths project. The contract is being finalised and then Altona will start the earn-in to progress towards a 70% stake in the project. Altona is still assessing other projects. An application has been filed for a standard listing.
Angelfish Investments (ANGP) has raised £42,000 at 0.00258065 a share, plus £90,000 via a convertible loan facility at the same conversion price as the placing. Simon Grant-Rennick has been appointed executive chairman and Burns Singh Tennent Bhohi, who has taken a 14.8% stake, as an executive director.
Two locations have shown strong gold intersection at surfaces at NQ Minerals (NQMI) 100%-owned Beaconsfield gold mine in Tasmania. The surface potential could add significant resources to Beaconsfield.
Positive results have been reported by BWA Group (BWAP) from the sampling at the Nkoteng rutile sands project in Cameroon. There are elevated intervals of rutile-ilmenite, zircon and kyanite over continuous zones.
SulNOx Group (SNOX) has signed an Africa-focused distribution agreement with Rigworld Solutions. This formalises and earlier agreement.
Watchstone Group (WTG) has made the switch from AIM to Aquis.
Coinsilium (COIN) has raised £18,500 from the sale of treasury shares at 18.5p each.
AIM
Hurricane Energy (HUR), which at one time was a constituent of the AIM 50, is restructuring its balance sheet. This would involve swapping $50m of the principal of the company’s convertible bonds into 95% of the enlarged share capital. The terms of the remaining $180m of bonds will be amended. The business will focus on extending the oil production case for the Lancaster 205/21a-6 well.
Construction services consultancy Driver (DRV) says that its latest underlying interim profit will be slightly lower than for the same period last year, which was £1.25m. That is a strong comparative period. Lockdowns have varied in the different operational countries. Driver also lost a team in Asia Pacific to a rival. The focus is higher margin work and activity levels are improving. Net cash was £7.2m at the end of March 2021. The interims will be published on 8 June.
Pennant International (PEN) fell into loss in 2020 and it should manage to return to profit this year. Forecast revenues of £16m are 90% covered by the order book. Pennant wants to win more business in the rail sector.
Pollen Street Capital is bidding 75p a share for spend control software supplier Proactis (PHD) and the board is recommending the offer, which values the company at £71.6m. Pollen Street has the finance to accelerate growth. The bid is at 24 times prospective 2020-21 earnings, falling to 19 next year.
Building software supplier Eleco (ELCO) says that first quarter revenues were 9% ahead at £7m, while year-on-year pre-tax profit was one-fifth higher. Net cash was £7.9m at the end of March 2021. A general meeting has been requisitioned so that shareholders can vote on the re-election of executive chairman Serena Lang and non-executive director Kevin Craig, a resolution to make it compulsory for all directors to come up for re-election at every AGM and a vote on the remuneration report in the 2020 accounts.
Cosmetics supplier Warpaint London (W7L) had an improved second half and momentum is continuing into next year. In 2020, revenues fell from £49.3m to £40.3m, but earnings halved from 6.3p a share to 3.1p a share.
President Energy (PPC) expects to bring the EV-1001 well on the Estancia Vieja gas field into production during May. The drill rig will be moved to the next location. President is expected to return to profit in 2020.
Amiad Water Systems (AFS) plans to transfer its quotation to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
MAIN MARKET
In 2020, Argo Blockchain (ARB) increased revenues from £8.6m to £19m, but it made a small loss. Cash inflow from operating activities was £12.3m, according to finnCap. This year a pre-tax profit of £30m is forecast, although working capital will consume most of the cash generated even before significant capital expenditure.
Moulded plastic parts manufacturer Carclo (CAR) says that it has maintained its full year revenues for plastics, but there was a decline in aerospace revenues, and made a profit. Net debt has been reduced from £22.1m to £20m.
InnovaDerma (IDP) raised an additional £500,000 in an open offer and that took the total raised to £4.5m. This will fund ecommerce investment.
Andrew Hore