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Quoted Micro 17 June 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Samarkand (SMK) has sold its probiotic brand of Probio7 for £1.3m with an initial cash payment of £1.1m. This will provide working capital for the company’s other healthcare brands. Unsecured loans made by the directors to finance the acquisition of Optimised Energetics will be repaid.
Skin treatments developer Incanthera (INC) has moved up to the Apex segment following its recent rise in valuation. The appointment of John Howes as an additional independent non-executive director has also enabled the switch.
OTAQ (OTAQ) has won a contract with Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency for two Live Plankton Analysis System (LPAS) units to be installed and generate rental income until the end of 2024. One will be deployed with a seafood producer that has encountered Harmful Algae Bloom events. The system can identify the algae.
Oberon Investment (OBE) improved revenues by more than 50% in the year to March 2024 with strong financial planning income. The capital markets division had a tougher time, but activity levels are improving. Additional teams were added to the business, and they will generate additional revenues in 2024-25. Like-for-like growth could be more than 30% this year. There could be potential to spin-off fintech software business Logic.
Metals recycling company Majestic Corporation (MCJ) increased 2023 revenues by one-quarter to $29.4m. Pre-tax profit is 149% higher at $1m. There was cash of $653,000 at the end of 2023. The company is expanding into solar and battery materials.
Global Connectivity (GCON) 15%-owned associate Rural Broadband Solutions increased its stake in Voneus from 38% to 41% following the latest capital injection of £18m. The book value of the original 25% stake had been valued at 1.8p/share, so it is much higher now.
Kasei Digital Assets (KASH) has invested $100,000 into Rule 110 Inc for its seed and strategic funding round for the launch of the RealityNet protocol. This protocol enables users to rent out unused computing resources on their devices to the rest of the network.
Phoenix Digital Assets (PNIX) says 662.5 million shares were tendered by the close of the offer, but 625 million shares were accepted at a cost of £33.7m (5.39p each).
Tunch Kashif has reduced his stake in ChallengerX (CXS) from 17.9% to 6.9%. Flash Corp Technologies sold nearly all its 6.82% shareholding. Kenneth Jolly has taken a 4.73% stake. Geoffrey Miller has reduced his stake in TruSpine Technologies (TSP) from 9.03% to 8.24%. AIM-quoted Vela Technologies (VELA) has reduced its stake from 4.3% to 3.92%. Kevin Hastings has a 3.08% stake in Marula Mining (MARU). James and Alexandra Pace have a 3.01% stake in brewer Shepherd Neame (SHEP).
AIM
Linear generator technology developer Libertine Holdings (LIB) has terminated the formal sales process because it does not believe that there will be an offer by mid-June. There is still the prospect of a £2m cash injection at 2.1p/share from two Middle East investors. One of the investments would last the company until September and the full amount of money should last until June next year. There are still conditions that need to be satisfied and if it does not happen in the next couple of weeks then the quotation may be cancelled, and the business wound down.
R&Q Insurance Holdings (RQIH) is still trying to complete the sale of its Accredited business. Costs are mounting up as talks continue with regulator and other parties and it is hampering the overall business. This has hit the financial stability of the business. There could be an alternative to the original Accredited deal, but that involves the liquidation of the holding company. Slater Investments has reduced its stake from 11.7% to 10.3%.
NWF (NWF) says that 2023-24 trading is in line with expectations. Fuels volumes improved even though there was a mild winter. Margins did fall back. Food distribution was the strongest performer even though opening costs for the new facility held back the profit contribution. Feed volumes fell. Net cash was £10m at the end of May 2024.
Insurance businesses investor BP Marsh (BPM) has launched a new share buyback programme of up to £1m following annual results. In the year to January 2024, pre-tax profit improved from £27.6m to £43.6m. This was predominantly due to disposals of stakes in Kentro Capital and Paladin Holdings. There was £40.4m in cash, plus £49.5m of assets that were sold after the year-end, at the end of January 2024. NAV increased by 102.8p/share to 629p/share.
Landore Resources (LND) has raised £3.68m at 2.4p/share with strategic investor Luso Global Mining, a subsidiary of Mota-Engil, subscribing £1m. Alexander Shaw, who is the boss of the new investor will become chief executive of Landore Resources. The cash will fund drilling at the BAM gold project at Junior Lake in northwestern Ontario.
Helium One Global (HE1) has raised £8m at 0.5p/share. This will finance the deepening of Itumbula West-1well and the extended well test, as well as the development of the helium project in Tanzania. The extended well test should start in the third quarter.
Deltic Energy (DELT) has been unable to find a partner for the Pensacola project in the North Sea. This means that Deltic Energy cannot finance its share of the development costs and it is withdrawing from the licence and transferring its 30% share to Shell and ONE-Dyas. Canaccord Genuity has reduced its NPV10 target price to 100p.
The latest drilling results for the Basin lithium project means that Bradda Head Lithium (BHL) is nearer to receiving a significant royalty payment from the LRC. The latest mineral resource estimate is being calculated and it should be much higher than the current figure of 1.08MT of LCE. The figure could be tripled in the next few weeks.
Kibo Energy (KIBO) is not going ahead with last week’s planned restructuring and new strategy after consultation with shareholders. Not all the board changes will be made, and Kibo Energy is likely to focus more on oil and gas.
MAIN MARKET
The current board of Tirupati Graphite (TGR) managed to see off the requisitioners at the general meeting. It won all the resolutions by gaining around 48 million votes compared with around 38 million for its opponents. Michael Lynch-Bell has been appointed as chairman. This does not change the company’s financial predicament, which will have to be addressed before the company focuses on its “long-term ambition of providing 8% of the world’s global flake graphite demand by 2030”.
Castings (CGS) will not be able to maintain the strong performance of last year. In the year to March 2024, underlying pre-tax profit improved from £16.7m to £21.3m. Demand for heavy trucks has passed its peak and that will hit volumes. There can be a cyclicality to the demand and Castings will continue to be a strong cash generator. There will be a 7p/share special dividend and the shares go ex-dividend on 20 June. The normal final dividend of 14.19p/share will be paid one month later.
Palace Capital (PCA) is launching a tender offer for shares at 250p each. It will spend up to £21.7m.
Andrew Hore
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SMALL CAP AWARDS 2024
Company of the year
IQGeo (IQG)
Aquis company of the year
Equipmake
IPO of the year
Onward Opportunities (ONWD)
ESG of the year
Eden Research (EDEN)
Transaction of the year
Journeo (JNEO) – MultiQ acquisition
Technology company of the year
Kooth (KOO)
Dividend hero/ Investor relations success
Cohort (CHRT)
Diversity, inclusivity and engagement
TPXimpact (TPX)
Executive director of the year
Chris Smith – McBride
Analyst of the year
Charles Hall – Peel Hunt
Broker of the year
Cavendish Capital Markets
Lifetime achievement
David Stirling
Quoted Micro 25 July 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
In the six months to March 2022, S-Ventures (SVEN) reported an increase in revenues from £1.5m to £4.1m, although it remains loss making. The full benefits of acquisitions and the consolidation of warehousing has yet to show through. Even so, VSA has cut its 2021-22 revenues forecast from £11m to £9.4m S-Ventures will continue to lose money.
Arbuthnot Banking Group (ARBB) improved interim underlying pre-tax profit from £6.5m to £10.7m. NAV is 1300p a share. The interim dividend is 17p a share. Customer loans increased by 5% to £2.1bn. Assets under management dipped to £1.3bn after the decline in stockmarkets. A West End long leasehold property has been sold at a value of £60m and a yield of 3.75%.
Shepherd Neame (SHEP) has acquired Bournemouth seaside bar and restaurant Urban Reef. This takes the total number of pubs owned by the Faversham-based brewer to 300.
Psych Capital (PSY) says that investee company Awakn Life Sciences has received C$2.5m of UK government funding for the phase III trial for a ketamine-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder. Awakn will finance the other C$1.25m cost of the trial.
Vulcan Industries (VULC) is selling Orca Doors for £1. That gets rid of net liabilities of £751,000 and continued cash outflows. The fire door supplier has been hit by lockdowns and requires additional investment.
Ananda Developments (ANA) subsidiary DJT Plants has successfully self-crossed the first generation of cannabis plants. This will continue for six generations. The performance of various cannabis cultivars is being assessed.
AQRU (AQRU) subsidiary Accru Finance is partnering with Quickbit, a Sweden-based fintech, which will offer the Accru yield generating products to its customers.
Black Sea Property (BSP) has completed the purchase of Star Mil EOOD for a total consideration of Euro5.15m. The company owns a Black Sea hotel complex. A loan of Euro4.2m helped to finance the purchase.
Rogue Baron (SHNJ) has made its first sales of Shinju Japanese whisky to Austria and Switzerland.
Lombard Odier has reduced its stake in Chapel Down Group (CDGP) from 9.97% to 4.99%. Mark Horrocks has increased his stake in Quetzal Capital (QTZ) from 5.3% to 6%. A company related to Marula Mining (MARU) chief executive Jason Brewer has acquired 100,000 shares at 2.75p each.
Oscillate (MUSH) has acquired 2.5 million warrants in fully listed Dev Clever (DEV) for £250,000. The warrants are exercisable at 1p each up until 21 January 2024. Dev Clever is currently undertaking a reverse takeover.
AIM
Business restructuring business Begbies Traynor (BEG) increased underlying pre-tax profit from £11.5m to £17.8m in the year to April 2022. This was a combination of acquisitions and organic growth. The dividend has been increased from 3p a share to 3.5p a share. Net cash improved from £3m to £4.7m. Insolvencies are increasing, although the higher margin administrations are still relatively low. This could change over the next year or so, making the outlook positive.
Credit provider Morses Club (MCL) says an increasing level of customer redress claims means that it is considering a scheme of arrangement. This could provide certainty about the potential total level of claims over a set period. Management is talking with the FCA. The scheme would have to be approved by the majority of claimants. There will be an additional provision of £45m in the 2021-22 accounts and underlying pre-tax profit could be below £3.5m. Tighter controls mean that sales are declining, and Morses Club won’t make a profit in 2022-23. Fewer competitors could help Morses Club recover in the following year.
Disinfection products supplier Tristel (TSTL) announced a special dividend of 3p a share on top of a final dividend of 3.93p a share. Full year revenues are 4% ahead at £28.4m and adjusted pre-tax profit is 12% higher at £4.5m. The second half was stronger as more patient procedures have been undertaken. FDA approval for the Duo ULT could be achieved next year.
Footwear supplier Unbound Group (UBG) announced a fundraising generating £3.3m at a heavily discounted 15p a share. An open offer, which closes on 8 August, could raise up to £1m more. The footwear supplier is launching an online platform to sell third party branded products to a database of 4.6 million individuals. The cash will help to finance the expansion.
Stanley Gibbons (SGI) intends to cancel its AIM quotation. Graham Shircore is stepping down as chief executive in September and he will be replaced by Tom Pickford. The largest shareholder Phoenix SG believes it is better to cancel the quotation considering the limited free float and additional costs. The 58% shareholder also says that it would reconsider its financial support if shareholders do not agree to the cancelation. Stanley Gibbons remains loss making.
In-content advertising company Mirriad Advertising (MIRI) expects flat revenues in 2022 because of weak market conditions in China. The Chinese operations will be closed next year and that will save annualised costs of £1m. That is on top of the £2.5m of annualised savings expected for the business as a whole. Interim revenues have halved, although US revenues increased. There is £17.7m in the bank and cash should be higher than previously expected at the end of 2022. Cash outflows are still significant, though.
Window fittings supplier Titon (TON) says that supply problems with raw materials and components exacerbated by cost inflation have led to a reduction in margins. There have also been problems with IT, so this year’s figures will be lower than expectations. South Korea sales are disappointing but there should be a small profit contribution.
Restructuring services provider FRP Advisory (FRP) increased revenues from £79m to £95.2m in the year to April 2022, with 11% organic growth. Pre-tax profit improved from £21.2m to £23.1m. There are signs that administrations are starting to increase and that will boost demand for services.
Cambridge Cognition (COG) directors are buying shares following yesterday’s trading update. Chief executive Matthew Stork and finance chief Stephen Symonds each bought 22.950 shares at 113p each. The latter did not previously own shares. The digital brain health products developer increased interim revenues by 31% to £5.9m. The order book is worth £18.6m. There was a small profit and £8.6m in the bank at the end of June 2022.
The merger between Tern (TERN) and Pires Investments (PIRI) is not going ahead because not enough of the latter’s shareholders voted for it. Tern wants to generate cash from exiting one or more of its investments as soon as it is feasible. There will not be any new investments until there is a realisation of an investment, although there are likely to be commitments to existing investments that may mean a fundraising will be required.
An independent decision means that Newcrest Mining can pay $60m to Greatland Gold (GGP) to take up an option to acquire a further 5% stake in the Havieron project. Given the progress that has been made on the project over the past year this is an attractive price, and it is likely to take up the option. The cash will pay off the $50m loan facility from Newcrest and leave money for further investment. Greatland Gold will still own 25% of Havieron.
MAIN MARKET
Palace Capital (PCA) is changing its strategy. It was originally going to reinvest the cash from the sale of its industrial property assets into new regional office investments. Shareholder feedback means that the potential £46.5m raised from the disposal of the industrial portfolio and other non-core assets, after repayment of related debt, will be distributed in dividends or paid back via a tender offer. Three non-exec directors have resigned.
Kin + Carta (KCT) says revenues grew 48% in the year to July 2022. Peel Hunt has upped its 2021-22 pre-tax profit forecast from £16.6m to £16.9m. Net debt is estimated at £2.5m. Kelly Manthey will be taking over as chief executive.
Andrew Hore
Quoted Micro 20 June 2022
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
A fall in market capitalisation to below £10m means that Coinsilium Group Ltd (COIN) will move from the Apex segment to the Access segment on 20 June.
Visum Technologies, which operates an on-ride photo camera system used by theme parks and other leisure operators, plans to join Aquis on 30 June.
Revenues recovered from £32.2m to £96m at brewer Daniel Thwaites (THW) and it also returned to profit. A loss of £12.4m was turned into a pre-tax profit of £12.7m. The pension deficit has become a pension asset worth £10.1m. A final dividend of 2.2p a share is recommended. Staffing pubs remains a problem. Prices have been increased and are set to be raised again because of rising costs. There has been a disjointed recovery this year. but sales are growing year-on-year.
Valereum (VLRM) intends to launch a global open marketplace platform for Non-Fungible tokens (NFTs). It has also appointed Z/Yen Group Ltd as strategic adviser to review the business plans for the Gibraltar Stock Exchange and help prepare a prospectus for a listing for Valereum on a major stock exchange.
All Star Minerals (ASMO) is proceeding with investments in advanced battery metals projects. Due diligence has been completed on the Blesberg lithium and tantalum project in South Africa and the Nkombwa Hill tantalum, rare earths and phosphate project in Zambia. An initial 30% stake in Blesberg can be acquired by the issue of £337,500 of shares and £237,500 in cash. An initial 25% stake in Nkombwa Hill can be purchase for a staged cash investment of $150,000. A general meeting will be held to approve a name change to Marula Mining and a proposed 100-for-one share consolidation.
Silverwood Brands (SLWD) has been readmitted to Aquis following the acquisition of Balmonds Skincare.
Gunsynd (GUN) says ASX-listed investee company Pacific Nickel Mines Ltd has secured an offtake agreement for all the production of Kolosori, as well as a $22m pre-export finance facility, with Glencore.
Triad Endeavour Sports and Entertainment has signed up with the platform run by ChallengerX (CXS). Triad is an event promoter and talent manager involved in the Ultimate Fight League.
Lekoil Ltd (LEK) has successfully challenged the jurisdiction of the New Jersey court in litigation undertaken by its former chief executive. The Otakikpo field oil production was 4,230 bopd during May.
MiLOC Group (ML.P) is restructuring its business and focusing on the distribution of designer products with partner, CRUSHMETRIC Ltd.
Wishbone Gold (WSBN) says initial tests confirm copper is present in the drilling at the Halo copper gold project in northern Queensland. Drilling is underway at the Red Setter project in Western Australia.
The Care Quality Commission has granted registration to the diagnostic and screening services offered by Goodbody Health Inc (GDBY).
ProBiotix Health (PBX) has appointed Steen Andersen as chief executive. He has more than three decades of experience in the probiotics sector.
S-Ventures (SVEN) has capped future consideration for plant-based products supplier Pulsin at £400,000 and effectively lowered the total cost from £6.7m to £5.5m.
Chris Akers took a 4.96% stake in Recent Aquis admission Psych Capital (PSY). He has also increased his stake in Quetzal Capital (QTZ) from 20.1% to 21%.
Ananda Developments (ANA) has raised £38,000 from the exercise of warrants at 0.45p each.
AIM
IDOX (IDOX) increased revenues by 7% to £33.2m in the six months to April 2022 and recurring revenues account for three-fifths of the total. Public sector software sales were 10% ahead, while engineering information management revenues declined although they should recover in the second half. Net debt was reduced by 54% to £3.8m, which leaves plenty of funds to make acquisitions.
Tatton Asset Management (TAM) is growing assets under management at more than £100m a month and they reached £11.3bn at the end of March 2022. In the year to March 2022, group revenues improved from £23.4m to £29.4m, while pre-tax profit grew from £11.2m to £14.5m. The dividend is 13% higher at 12.5p a share. Higher mortgage activity meant that there was growth in the Paradigm division and, although new mortgage activity is lower, management believes that revenues can be maintained this year. Weaker financial markets could affect this year’s group performance, but the inflow of funds should offset that.
Xeros Technology Group (XSG) was the best AIM performer last week with a 46.2% gain to 47.5p. Germany-based washing machine pumps and drives manufacturer Hanning has signed a ten-year global licence to manufacture and sell the XFilter washing machine filter technology developed by Xeros. XFilter enables microfibres and microplastics released during washing to be captured and safely disposed of. Hanning is estimated to supply components for 8.5 million washing machines each year – around one-third of those made in Europe. The royalty is undisclosed, but it could be around £1 per filter.
Subsea cable protection services provider Tekmar Group (TGP) lost more than three-quarters of its value last week after it announced that it was seeking a strategic partner or bidder. Interim revenues fell from £13.9m to £13m and Tekmar remains loss making. The order book has improved from £9.7m to £20.1m over the six months to March 2022.
Shares in US-based video game publisher Devolver Digital Inc (LON: DEVO) more than halved after it lowered its revenues and profit guidance for this year. Revenues are expected to between $130m and $140m. Zeus has cut its earnings forecast from 7.2 cents a share to 6 cents a share.
The M&C Saatchi (SAA) board has withdrawn its recommendation of the bid by the marketing services company Next Fifteen Communications (NFC), the value of which has fallen due to the slump in the share price of the bidder.
Revolution Bars Group (RBG) trading is strong and a trading statement sparked a forecast upgrade by finnCap for the vodka bars operator. Refurbished bars have done particularly well, and two new bars should open by the end of June. Forecast pre-tax profit for 2021-22 has been raised from £500,000 to £2.7m.
Oil and gas explorer Rockhopper Exploration (RKH) announced a £5.75m placing and subscription at 7p a unit (one share and of a warrant exercisable at 9p a share). The Sea Lion project in the Falkland Islands is the main focus of Rockhopper.
Wynnstay Properties (WSP) is planning to obtain shareholder approval for buying back shares. NAV increased by 19% to 1090p a share in 2021-22. The total dividend was raised from 21p a share to 22.5p a share.
Actual Experience (ACT) says that due to a change in requirements a channel partner has terminated a contract that generated £200,000 out of group revenues of £1.74m in 2020-21.
Competitions organiser Best of the Best (BOTB) reported better than forecast figures and a 66.7p a share return of capital via a tender offer. Net cash was £10.8m at the end of April 2022 and there is a 6p a share final dividend on top of the tender offer. The total cash cost of these payments is £6.84m.
In the year to April 2022, the pre-tax profit fell from £14.1m, for what was an unusually strong year due to Covid restrictions, to £5.1m.
Hong Kong-based CCTV technology company UniVision Engineering Ltd (UVEL) has received notice of the termination of a contract with MTR Corporation for the replacement of CCTV systems on Hong Kong railway lines.
MAIN MARKET
Castings (CGS) generated a 29.5% increase in full year revenues to £148.6m. Profit and margins are still improving and there is more to go for as business levels get back to the pre-Covid position. Zeus forecasts a further improvement in underlying pre-tax profit from £12.1m to £15.5m in 2022-23.
Structural steel supplier Severfield (SFR) continues to win new business and higher steel prices are being passed onto clients. In the year to March 2022, revenues increased from £363.3m to £403.6m, while pre-tax profit improved £24.3m to £27.1m. The final dividend is increased from 1.8p a share to 1.9p a share, taking the total to the year to 3.1p a share. Severfield has a record order book worth £486m.
Palace Capital (PCA) has increased its NAV to 390p a share and the loan-to-value declined from 42% to 28% following property sales at a premium to book value. The total dividend is 13.3p a share.
Graft Polymer (UK) (GPL) says that MGC Pharmaceuticals (MXC) is using its IP for the nano delivery system in the pre-clinical research study for the use of cannabinoids to treat Glioblastoma multiforme cells (a form of brain cancer).
Contango Holdings (CGO) has agreed to acquire 10,000 tonnes of washed coking coal from Lubu each month. The current market price is $120/tonne. Up to $10m of earnings could be generated from this deal each year.
Funeral directors Dignity (DTY) says FCA has confirmed it is intending to authorise Dignity Funerals LTD as a regulated entity under the new regulations for pre-paid funeral plans.
Andrew Hore
Ian Pollard – National Express Gearing Up For A Strong Christmas
National Express NEX has continued to see a good trading performance across all its divisions in October and November. In both the US and Spain early Christmas trading has been strong and advanced sales are higher then last year. Two small acqisitions have been completed, one in he states with 204 buses and the second in Madrid with 73 buses, each of which is expected to provide a return of 15 – 20% in line with company policy.
Elegant Hotels ELG had received an approach from Melia Hotels regarding a possible all cash offer for shares in Elegant but discussions have now been terminated and Melia will not be making any offer.
Alliance Pharma APH has agreed to acquire from Tyra Tech for an initial consideration of £13m, the worldwide rights to Vamousse which is an innovative consumer healthcare brand. The acquisition will be immediately earnings enhancing.
My Sale Group MYSL will announce at today’s AGM that the current year has started well, revenue growth has accelerated compared to last year, gross margins are increasing and costs are being kept under control. Plans fr the year are ambitious but underlying profitability is growing in line with management expectations.
Palace Capital PCA is increasing its interim dividend for the 6 months to the 30th September, by 5.6%. The end September portfolio valuation showed a rise of 10.7%, profit before tax increased by 25.6% and adjusted earnings per share by 18.5%. Palace claims it has built a high quality portfolio, due to careful stock selection and is showing increasing growth both in income and in capital value.
Cora Gold Limited CORA has commenced a six month drill pogramme at its Sanankora Gold discovery in southern Mali. The pogramme is expected to be completed during he second quarter of 2018.
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Quoted Micro 28 August 2017
NEX EXCHANGE
Good Energy (GOOD) and Ecotricity have come to an agreement that means the latter has withdrawn its requisition of a general meeting. No details were released about the reasons behind the withdrawal.
Cadence Minerals (KDNC) is in talks to sell part of its 16.1% stake in AIM-quoted Bacanora Minerals (BCN) to a strategic investor group. Bacanora’s main interest is in the Sonora lithium project in Mexico.
Blockchain investment company Coinsilium Group Ltd (COIN) has formed a Gibraltar-based subsidiary called Terrastream Ltd, which plans to develop blockchain platform for a token-based alternative funding system. Gibraltar is expected to be the first jurisdiction to develop a regulatory framework for distributed ledger technology and the blockchain. A token sale will help to finance the development work. The initial focus is likely to be the resources sector.
MetalNRG (MNRG) has added additional ground to its licence in Australia. The new area will be called Palomino North.
All Star Minerals (ASMO) has extended the terms of the convertible loan note issued to Valiant Investments have been extended so it matures in May 2018. The annual interest charge is 20% and the conversion price is 0.1p a share. The maturity dates of other loan notes totalling £110,000 have been extended to January 2018. The interest rate and conversion price are the same. Shares have been issued to satisfy past liabilities on these loan notes.
AIM
Warehouse REIT has issued the AIM prospectus for its placing, offer for subscription and intermediaries offer to raise up to £150m. An existing portfolio of warehouse assets will be acquired for £108.9m, based on a 7% net initial yield, and there are other potential assets being assessed. A dividend of 5.5p a share is being targeted for the year to March 2019.
Utilitywise (UTW) has confirmed that trading last year was in line with expectations so pre-tax profit is likely to decline from £8.2m to £4.7m.
Palace Capital (PCA) has sold a Bristol property for £2.25m, which is its net asset value, following the loss of one of its tenants, Blafour Beatty. The property was acquired as part of a portfolio from Quintain in 2013.
Scientific Digital Imaging (SDI) is acquiring Applied Thermal Control, a manufacturer of chillers, coolers and heat exchangers, for up to £1.2m.
Management Resource Solutions (MRS) says that its chief executive Joe Clayton has left the company. He was appointed chief executive at the end of 2016. In the year to June 2017, MRS generated revenues of A$52.2m and the loss for the year will be higher than expected. Exceptional costs will also be higher than thought initially. MRS had cash of A$2m.
Gatemore Capital has increased its stake in DX (DX.) from 21.3% to 23.8% following the resumption of trading in the shares.
Redx Pharma (REDX) will be paying unsecured creditors in full. The process has begun but it will take some time. This brings the reintroduction of trading in the shares nearer.
Home improvements products provider entu (UK) (ENTU) is appointing an administrator because it has not agreed a refinancing with a potential financial backer. The trading businesses will be sold. Trading in the shares was suspended on 24 August. entu raised £32.8m when it joined AIM in October 2014.
Kin Group (KIN) has been unable to secure the funding it requires and an administrator has been appointed to the main subsidiary. Kin Group will not get anything from a sale of the subsidiary and it will become a shell. There will still be a requirement for a fundraising for the shell to be viable.
365 Agile (365) has left AIM because it has been unable to secure a reverse takeover. Potential acquisitions are still being assessed.
Mercantile Ports and Logistics Ltd (MPL) has signed up the first customer for its Mumbai port facility. This should generate £4.7m for each one million tonnes handled, with the payment raised by 7% a year. Two million tonnes of cargo have been contracted for the first year, with a guaranteed minimum of 750,000 tonnes, and the figure will rise for each of the next two years reaching three million tonnes in the third year, with a minimum of two million tonnes. Operations should commence in December. The share price rose by two-thirds to 8.13p.
Sula Iron & Gold (SULA) has raised £900,000 at 0.146p a share but £500,000 of this figure will be part of an equity sharing agreement. Sula is gambling that it will receive £500,000 or more as part of the equity sharing agreement and this will paid on a monthly basis until September 2018. The benchmark price is 0.161p a share so each month the share price has to be at least that level for Sula to at least receive that amount owed. The board members have agreed to halve their salaries.
Verditek (VDTK) has secured a deal that will mean that 51%-owned Greenflex Energy will provide its solar technology to power digital advertising boards in bus shelters in Italy. This is a trial contract won via competitive tender and starting with one bus shelter and then rolling out to a further 20. The customer is Media One, which operates more than 5,000 digital advertising boards.
Finsbury Food (FIF) is closing the loss-making pastry products maker Grain D’Or,which has failed to improve despite cost controls. Grain D’Or was acquired as part of the £56m Fletchers acquisition in 2014 and last year generated revenues of £28.5m.
Church & Dwight has terminated its CSD500 condom licensing deal with Futura Medical (FUM) after just over four years. The licence covered North America and part of Europe. The rights will be returned to Futura by November. New partners will be sought.
Green & Smart Holdings (GSH) says that biogas project development is on track and the company could pay a maiden dividend for the 2017-18 financial year.
Investment in the business has held back first half progress at packaging manufacturer Robinson (RBN) and underlying pre-tax profit fell from £580,000 to £364,000. It was also difficult to pass on plastic resin cost increases. Full year profit is forecast to fall from £2.2m to £1.2m.
Bushveld Minerals Ltd (BMN) has retired its $3m prepayment facility, which was used to buy part of its 78.8% stake in Strategic Minerals Corporation, with Wogen Resources. Vametco Alloys has increased its facility from $6m to $11m. Vametco’s Nitrovan vanadium will be marketed by Wogen around the world outside of Japan and Taiwan.
Filta Group Holdings (FLTA) is acquire drain services provider Grease Management for up to £1.11m. Annual revenues are £1.28m and three-quarters are recurring. Post-acquisition cost savings of around £100,000 could nearly double the profit contribution.
Cancer drug developer Sareum (SAR) says that its full year profit will be better than expected. The cash pile will also be higher than forecast.
Sphere Medical Holdings (SPHR) is ditching its AIM quotation as part of a funding deal with Woodford Investment Management and the Wales Life Sciences Investment Fund, which will invest £5m in convertible preferred shares. Other investors will invest up to £3m. The convertibles will be issued at 2.82p each and can be swapped for one ordinary share. Sphere will be re-registered as a private limited company, which makes it possible for Woodford to invest more.
MAIN MARKET
Nanoco Group (NANO) is attracting interest in its cadmium-free quantum dots following the EU’s plans to ban cadmium in displays from October 2019. However, revenues are slower in coming through than hoped.
Photovoltaic silicon wafers supplier PV Crystalox Solar (PVCS) still had net cash of €27.9m at the end of June 2017. Running down inventories has offset the loss of €5.4m. A decision should be made by the arbitration tribunal concerning a customer that did not purchase the wafers it was contracted to buy by the end of September.
Packaging company Macfarlane Group (MACF) increased its revenues from £81.5m to £89.8m, while pre-tax profit jumped from £2m to £2.54m with the improvement coming from the distribution business. Net debt was £14.6m at the end of June 2017, while the pension fund deficit was cut from £14.5m to £13.4m. The interim dividend was increased from 0.55p a share to 0.6p a share.
Following the ending of bid talks for Quarto (QRT), Liontrust has cut its stake from 12.65% to 7.54%. Cavendish Asset Management has taken its stake to 5.18%, while two directors have also made small purchases.
Shares in standard list hostels operator Myanmar Strategic (SHWE) started trading on 22 August. The placing price was $10 and the shares are trading at $9.5m – a bid/offer price of $7/$12.
Standard list shell Boston International (BIH) is in talks to acquire Cornhill FX Holdings. This is part of the strategy to acquire operations in the foreign exchange sector. Legal and financial due diligence is being undertaken. Cornhill Capital is Boston’s broker.
Andrew Hore