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Quoted Micro 29 July 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Good Life Plus (GDLF) reported its figures for the 16 months to January 2024. This includes a full contribution from the core luxury prize draw business and a few months of the shell it reversed into. Revenues were £2.39m and the loss was £3.98m, although that included costs of the reversal. The underlying business is losing money as it builds up the subscriber base. The recent £2m fundraising was after the balance sheet date, so there is plenty of cash to continue to add players. The number exceeds 30,000 and continue to rise. There are potential deals with media partners that could reduce the costs of subscriber acquisition by providing access to new people and only paying if they sign up to the Good Life Plus prize draws.
Interim figures of Arbuthnot Banking (ARBB) show a decline in interim profit as net interest rate margin was reduced from 6.1% to 5.2%. Pre-tax profit fell from £26.4m to £20.8m. Asset based lending profit did improve. Tangible NAV was 1396p/share.
Broker and investment manager Oberon Investments Group (OBE) increased revenues by 50% to £7.58m in the year to March 2024. There was still a loss of £2.88m, even after the £318,000 gain on a stake disposal. Additi9nal hires mean that overheads were much higher. NAV was £23.9m. Corporate finance income was slightly lower with the main growth coming from investment management. There has been a strong first quarter this year and signs of improving business. Like-for-like growth should be more than 30% this year.
Invinity Energy Systems (IES) has opened its manufacturing facilities in Motherwell. This will increase capacity for its energy storage technology to more than 500Mwh/year.
Rathbones has a 5.59% stake in Walls and Futures REIT (WAFR).
Stephen Bamford has reduced his stake in SulNOx Group (SNOX) to less than 3%, following a transfer of shares to his children. Gunsynd (GUN) executive director Donald Strang bought one million shares at 0.1215p each.
AIM
FRP Advisory (FRP) is benefiting from strong restructuring services demand and its corporate finance operations are trading better than many of its peers. In the year to April 2024, revenues were 23% higher at £128.2m, while pre-tax profit improved from £24.1m to £33.7m. The dividend was raised to 5p/share. Net cash is £29.7m. Since the year end, two acquisitions have been made: Southampton-based finance provider Hilton-Baird and Cardiff-based Lexington Corporate Finance. Even so, net cash could improve to m£32m by April 2025.
Order intake has weakened at scientific instruments supplier Judges Scientific (JDG) and there is no sign of this changing in the near term. There have also been delays of some projects. Organic revenues declined 3% in the first half. Demand from China has been weak. Some delayed work will come through in the second half. Even so, the full year pre-tax profit forecast has been cut by 10% to £30.3m, down from £31.7m last year.
Prospex Energy (PXEN) has secured a ten-year extension of the licence concessions for the El Romeral project in Spain. It can be extended for another ten years to 2044. Prospex Energy is trying to gain permission to drill more wells to provide gas to El Romeral so its electricity production can increase by one-third.
Shield Therapeutics (STX) chief executive Greg Madison is stepping down and non-exec Anders Lundstrom will take over on an interim basis. Iron deficiency treatment ACCRUFeR generated revenues of $6.9m in the second quarter, which was 69% higher than the previous quarter. This is a combination of more prescriptions and higher selling prices. The interim revenues are $11m. Cash is still flowing out of the business.
Energy supplier Yu Group (YU.) increased revenues by 60% in the first half and cash has increased to £86.8m. Lower prices mean that monthly average bookings have declined by 9% and that will hit operating margins. These factors mean that SP Angel is keeping its full year pre-tax profit forecast at £44.5m even though interim revenues grew much faster than expected.
Inspiration Healthcare (IHC) has finally signed the £3.3m Middle East contract it has been waiting for. The equipment should be shipped in the period to year-end in January 2025. This covers the majority of the revenues needed to be gained to achieve the full year forecast revenues of £41m. Earlier in the week, BGF Investment Management increased its stake to more than 21%.
Hydrogen and fertiliser projects developer Atome (ATOM) has signed heads of terms for a fertiliser offtake agreement with Yara. This covers the Villeta project in Paraguay. This will help to achieve full financing of the project by the end of 2024. The Villeta facility could produce 260,000tpa of fertiliser. Yara is the largest fertiliser and ammonia trader and the fertiliser produced at Villeta should be sold at a premium price.
Zephyr Energy (ZPHR) has completed the initial phase of testing of the State 36-2R LNW-CC well in the Paradox Basin, US. Peak production rates were 1,350 barrels of equivalent/day even though the well was choked back and constrained. There is a higher condensate yield than nearby wells and this will be attractive to Utah refineries. There is little water production. However, the natural fracture network may be partially obstructed. Zephyr Energy will try to remove drilling mud emulsions that could be blocking the fracture and that will cost a few hundred thousand dollars.
Healthcare services provider Totally (TLY) made a small loss in the year to March 2024, but it is expected to return to profit this year even though revenues are set to continue to decline. Annualised cost savings of £3.5m have been made. There have been delays to tender activity around the General Election, but this is changing. The investigation into the NHS should report in September and this could provide opportunities.
Aptamer (APTA) is raising £2.83m at 0.2p/share, which was a large discount to the market price. The cash is required to get the full potential from its Optimer binder technology. There are relationships with the top ten pharma companies and there is potential for licensing the technology in the next few years. The fixed cost base will be reduced from £3.5m to £2.9m.
Brighton Pier (PIER) has been hampered by poor weather. There was a 29% decline in footfall on Brighton Pier itself so this year’s revenues will be lower than expected. The other three leisure businesses are trading in line with expectations. Cavendish expects a 2024 loss after tax of £700,000.
Architectural and construction software provider Eleco (ELCO) generated organic growth of 12% in the first half. Overall interim revenues were 21% higher at £16.3m. Annualised recurring revenues are £25.8m. Cavendish is maintaining its full year pre-tax profit forecast at £4.8m. Profit has been held back by the move to SaaS-based income, but as this process matures it should accelerate.
Braveheart Investments (BRH) has increased its stake in Image Scan (IGE) from 5.21% to 7.22%,
MAIN MARKET
Thalassa Holdings (THAL) has taken a 9.94% stake in Surgical Innovations (SUN) and the share price recovered 23.1% to 0.8p, which values the surgical instruments manufacturer at £7.5m. Earlier this year, Thalassa chairman Duncan Soukup made initial restitution payments due to a loss on an investment in Tappit Technologies and he will pay up to £1.5m more. This means that Thalassa has cash to invest. Thalassa had a book value of 116p/share at the end of 2023.
Financial management software developer Aptitude Software (LON: APTD) is going through a period of transition. The current core product is AccountancyHub, but the newest product is Fynapse. The plan is to transfer one-third of the AccountancyHub customers to Fynapse by 2027, while also adding new clients. There is less need for complicated implementation processes with Fynapse and much of that work is done by partners. That is why those revenues have declined in the latest period and total interim revenues fell from £37.5m to £35.3m. Annualised recurring revenues are £46.7m. There was a cash outflow in the first half, but net cash should recover to £25m by the end of 2024. Pre-tax profit improved from £1.75m to £2.5m.
Andrew Hore
Ian Pollard – A Thousand Years Of History, plus #QLT, #DOM, #CCC and #SUN
Today may see the last dying days of a nation whose history was peppered with stirring speeches which matched the mood of the people just at the times when they were most needed, from Agincourt to Shakespeare, the singeing of some minor king of Spains beard, to Waterloo and to Churchill. All men with fire in their bellies who loved their country and would never think of profiteering from a cheap trick. Look at the disgraceful sight of those who now, to their shame and ours, stalk the corridors of power, always ready for the quick buck. Who won the war? Surely it can not have been us, now ready to roll over and make way for a new unelected dictatorship of European bureaucracy, a Europe which would not be recognisable to the people of all countries who fought and died, believing in vain that they were fighting for freedom.
Quilter plc QLT Despite increasingly challenging market conditions as the year progressed. Quilter report record profits with a rise of 11% for the year to the 31st December. Diluted earnings per share rose by 15% and the final dividend is recommended at 3.3p per share in line with the company’s dividend policy. On a like for like basis profit before tax came in at £5m. compared to the previous years loss of £5m.
Dominos Pizza Grp DOM Admits that 2018 was a mixed year. In the UK and Ireland, which account for around 90% of the business, the excellent record of growth continued Internationally, growing pains were experienced which hampered the overall financial performance. Total revenue rose by 14.5% but total profit before tax fell by over 22% and statutory basic earnings per share by 23.7%. The record of increasing dividends continues with a rise of 5.6%
Computacenter CCC Total revenues for the year to the end of December, exceeded over £4 billion for the first time, with Germany delivering yet another record performance as revenue grew by 8.3 per cent. 2018 was a record year for the group in revenue, adjusted operating profit and adjusted diluted earnings per share and the foundations have been paid for further growth in the years ahead.
Surgical Innovations SUN has delivered the strong rebound which was expected in the second half and revenues for the year to the end of December grew strongly by 25% andadjusted profit before tax rose by 30%
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Ian Pollard – JD Sports Grows Internationally With Significant US Progress
JD Sports Fashion JD reports total sales growth of 15% for the cumulative 48-week period to 5 January as it makes further significant progress in its international development. Gross profit margins have been maintained at last year levels. In the second half the first two stores in Thailand were opened plus the first five JD stores in the United States. Group profit before tax for the year ended 2 February will be at the upper end of published market expectations.
Page Group plc PAGE The fourth quarter Group gross profit growth of 15.4% was a record. All four regions delivered growth,with 20 countries growing by over 20% each. Gross profit before tax of 15.9% for the full year was also a record.and expected to be at the upper end of published market expectations. the UK proved a laggard but still managed to deliver a second consecutive quarter of marginal growth, up 2.1% whilst Michael Page declined by 1%, compared to Brazil and Latin America with rises of 25% and 28%. In Europe, Germany managed growth of 28%.
Dechra Pharmaceuticles DPH traded strongly during the six months to the end of December, with reported net revenue up by 18% and both Europe and North America showing identical increases. The CEO confirms that the company is contining to deliver above market revenue growth in both its existing business and in its acquisitions, in line with the Board’s expectations.
Surgical Innovations SUN enjoyed significantly stronger trading in the second half of the year to 31st December and Group revenue for the full year should represents growth of approximately 25% or £11.0m.
Avingtrans AVG has continued to perform well in the first half of the financial year and is trading in line with market expectations. The prospect pipeline for the HT businesses is robust. Recent acquisitions are also integrating well. and Brexit is Brexit is not expected to have a material impact on the company’s operations operations
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Ian Pollard: JD Sports #JD – More Records
JD Sports Fashion JD delivered another record result with profit before tax for the 26 weeks ended 4 August 2018 increasing by a further 19%.and revenue up by 35% despite reports of market conditions continuing to be challenging. Like for like revenue rose by 3% and basic earnings per share by 24%.The interim dividend is to be increased by 4%.
Ashtead Group AHT delivered a strong first quarter and with the added help of weaker sterling, anticipates that full year results will be ahead of expectations. On a statutory basis revenue for the quarter to the end of July rose by 22% and profit before tax by 23%. Earnings per share were up by 44% and profit a. fter tax by 44%.
Hilton Food Group HFG achieved strong volume and profit growth during the twenty eight weeks to the 15th July and the interim dividend is to be increased by 12% to 5.6p per share.Turnover for the half year was up by 24.5% on a constant currency basis, basic earnings per share rose by 10.4% and profit before tax was up by 20.3%.
Surgical Innovations SUN delivered growth in revenue and profit in the first half of the year despite what it describes as significant headwinds in the market and regulatory environment. Revenue for the six months to the 30th June. were up by 52.4% albeit primarily due to the acquisition of Elemental Healthcare. On an adjusted basis EBITDA rose by 13.3% and operating profit by 35.5%.The Chairman concludes that the the group has now emerged from a challenging period with improved financial results and a strong balance sheet.
Team17Group plc TM17 Celebrates its maiden interim results with a record first half performance which saw revenue rise by 48%. On an adjusted basis earnings per share more than tripled from 0.56p. per share to 1.93p and EBITDA rose by 36%.Performance for the full year will as in previous years be weighted towards the second half. Revenue growth in the second half will be driven by new product launches and continued growth in the business.
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Ian Pollard – Cropper Excited About Prospects
Cropper (James) plc CRPR enjoyed double digit organic growth across its target markets in the year to 31st March . Despite a fall in pre tax profits from from £5.5m to £4.5m.as the impact of higher pulp prices added some £3.5m to material costs for the year, the Board is increasing the final dividend by getting on for nearly 20% with a rise from 11.8p to 13.5p per share and expresses itself as being excited about future prospects for the Group.
Surgical Innovations SUN Despite challenging market conditions, total group revenue for the six months to the end of June is expected to exceed £5m.with gross margins and profitability, slightly ahead of last year. The second half is expected to produce much stronger results as NHS hospitals start to show signs of a return to normalised activity levels and the government beings to make promises of a long term funding increase for the NHS
HML Holdings plc HML has concentrated on maximising synergies and efficiency during the twelve month to 31st March with the result that revenue rose by 24% and profit before tax by 12%. adjusted basic earnings per share rose from 3.9p to 4.2p per share and the dividend is to be increased from 0.37p. to 0.42p.
Morses Club plc MCL Trading in the first four months of the current financial year has been strong. High quality customer numbers are well ahead of last year.
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Galliford Try Blames Caution On Impact Of Politicians !!
Galliford Try GFRD When the best that a company can find to say about its annual results is that they show a strong underlying performance, then you know that something went wrong. Otherwise it would be claiming a strong financial performance, and that is something which Galliford can not claim. Profit before tax for the year to 30th June fell by 57% and earnings per share by 55%, even though it had the benefit of robust market conditions. The financial performance for the year was impacted by legacy costs in Construction – so that’s alright then ? Can’t be laid at the door of management, that sort of thing, can it ? The shareholders are kept happy with a 17% rise in fully year dividends. To cover itself for the future it is even reduced to blaming the politicians and a board of directors can not sink much lower than that. It is cautious about the future it says, because of the impact of current political uncertainty. That does not seem to be a worry or even a concern for other house builders and in any event politicians and the uncertainty they create have been with us since the dawn of time.
Dunelm Group DULM went ex growth in the year to 1st July with a fall of 0.5% in like for like revenue and profit before tax down by 28.3%, as it tried to cope with a challenging and subdued Homeware and Furniture Market. EBITDA fell by 7.8% and earnings per share by 28% from 50.3p to 36.1p. The ordinary dividend is to be raised by 3.6%. Things improved with the start of the new financial year and sales growth in the first two months is described as being good. What exactly “good’ means in round figures is for some reason being kept a closely guarded secret.
Adv. Medical Solutions AMS continues to go from strength to strength as profit before tax for the six months to 30th June rose by 27% and the interim dividend is increased by 17%. Group revenues grew by 8% at constant currency rates with US revenue rising by 52% and sales of Liquiband strong in all its markets. the company is optimistic about future organic growth.
Surgical Innovations SUN produced strong growth in both revenue and profits in the half year to the 30th June. Revenue rose by 14.1% and last years first half loss of £0.6m was turned into a profit of £0.3m. both sets of figures being at the upper end of the board’s expectations. The acquisition of Elemental Healthcare on the 1st August is regarded as being transformational for the company.
Alliance Pharma APH is increasing its interim dividend by 10% following strong growth from its international brands and an 8% rise in revenue. The integration of Sinclair Pharma has now been completed and “bolt on” acquisitions are now being pursued.
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Quoted Micro 5 September 2016
ISDX
Guild Acquisitions (GAQO) has invested £30,000 in NOMAN Ventures Ltd, which is seeking investments in areas such as block chain, artificial intelligence, drones and virtual reality. The cash is being invested in convertible loan notes that will either be convertible at a 40% discount to the share price of the next fundraising of at least £250,000 or after 12 months. Guild plans to ask its shareholders to vote to change its name to Kryptonite 1.
St Marks Homes (SMAP) increased its NAV to 137p a share by the end of June 2016. A Richmond development was completed in March and three sales have been completed since June. Sutton and St Margarets sites will be completed this month, with all of the Sutton residential units already sold and the commercial space under offer. The merger with St Marks Contracts Ltd happened after the period end. Carbury Property Holdings has increased its stake in St Marks to 19.1%.
Via Developments (VIA1) says that it expects to start generating revenues in the final quarter of 2016. Cash raised from debenture issues has been used to buy three development sites – two in Manchester and one in Luton – costing £4.1m and with a development value of £18.3m within 18 months. The marketing of the first development in Manchester has begun. The company says that it is seeing more interest from foreign investors since the EU referendum. Via Developments has issued more ordinary shares but Pyramid Court Investments Ltd, which is owned by John Kahn, still holds 100% of these unquoted shares.
Secured Property Developments (SPD) has agreed to lend £600,000 for development finance to Space Property, which is 29.15% owned by Secure Property Developments director R Shane. This means that shareholders have to agree to the deal. The cash will lent for 12 months at 10.2% a year and it will be secured on a freehold commercial property in York. Secured Property Developments had £760,000 in the bank following the sale of its property asset.
Black Sea Property (BSP) has joined ISDX and 50,000 shares were traded at 0.01p each on the first day of trading (31 August). The former AIM company has a new strategy, which is to build up a portfolio of Bulgarian property assets. This could be residential, commercial or hotel properties, or it could be investments in distressed companies that need to be restructured.
Diversified Oil & Gas (DOIL) has raised a further £715,000, taking the value of bonds in issue to more than £10.6m. That is after buying back £197,000 worth of 8.5% unsecured bonds from a bondholder fund.
Crossword Cybersecurity (CCS) has appointed former chief of the secret intelligence service Sir Richard Dearlove as non-executive chairman.
AIM
EMIS (EMIS) reported flat interim revenues but profit improved. The GP and pharmacy software operations grew their profit but the specialist operations produced disappointing results due to the extra costs for taking on additional contracts. There were cost savings in the first half and the benefits will start to come through in the second half. Full year profit is expected to improve from £36.1m to £39.3m even though revenue forecasts have been shaved.
Facilities management and security services provider Mortice (MORT) grew its revenues by 51% to $133.5m in the year to March 2016 and even if acquisitions are stripped out underlying growth is still 13%. There were initial contributions from the UK and Singapore businesses acquired during the year but they will make a much bigger contribution this year – particularly as the UK facilities management business has won a major contract. India remains the main revenue generator but further acquisitions are likely. There should be a large increase in pre-tax profit in 2016-17 – house broker finnCap forecasts $4.2m.
Surgical instruments developer and supplier Surgical Innovations (SUN) has returned to profit at the operating level and there is still scope to improve gross margin. A small pre-tax profit is expected for the full year as new product launches boost second half sales. A sharp fall in inventories and debtors has helped to cut net debt to around £700,000. The underlying business is back on a firmer footing and management can turn its attention to building up the group via acquisition.
Bond International Software (BDI) says that it has received a bid approach from ESW Capital but no figure has been put on the potential offer. The Bond board has advised shareholders not to accept the Constellation Software bid of 105p a share. The offer document has been sent to shareholders.
MAIN MARKET
Investment in new products is starting to pay off for BATM (BVC) but the real benefits are unlikely to show through until next year’s figures. BATM reduced its interim loss and it is on course to move back into profit this year. Revenues declined in the first half because of reducing sales of legacy products, particularly in the networking sector, but newer products will boost second half revenues. The diagnostics business grew its revenues and it has secured a partner in China. A pre-tax profit of $2.7m is forecast for 2016 and that profit should double in 2017 as the newer products build up sales.
Cathay International Holdings (CTI) has investments in China-based healthcare businesses and a hotel. Revenues dipped slightly to $61.1m but higher gross margins meant that the company swung from loss to profit in the six months to June 2016. The main improvement came from 50.5%-owned Lansen. Trading would have been even stronger but for the decline in the RMB.
Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has launched an open offer to raise £19.1m at 0.8314p a share as part of its restructuring. The open offer closes on 15 September.
Punch Plays Cards Close To Its Chest
Punch Taverns PUB Todays trading statement for the year to 20th August omits virtually any mention of its trading statistics It says it has produced a solid set of results following completion of its strategic disposal programme but fails to back that up with any meaningful figures, save to say that average profit per pub has risen by 4% and like for like net income from the core estate is up by 1% and the retail divisions 97 pubs are operating ahead of expectations. No doubt all will be revealed in the fullness of time.
Churchill China CHH produced yet another strong performance with profit before tax up by 29% for the half year to 30th June. Group revenue rose by 12% and basic earnings per share by 30%. The interim dividend is to be increased by 12%.
Fisher (James) FSJ is definitely ex growth for the time being , although that has not stopped it raising the interim dividend by 10% and it does expect to see growth resume in the second half, with new contracts and good demand for ship to ship services. Group revenue for the half year to the 30th June was down by some 2% and statutory profit before tax declined slightly from £17.9 to £17.4m. Strong growth was experienced in Marine Support, Tankships and Specialist Technical but this was offset, perhaps not surprisingly, by poor results from Offshore Oil.
HSS Hire Group HSS produced revenue growth of 13.5% in the half year to 2nd July and adjusted EBITDA rose by 11.1% which all helped to bring down the loss before tax from £14.1m to £9.8m and most of that, says the company, was due to what it euphemistically calls “strategy execution”. The interim dividend remains unchanged and the third quarter has started off ahead of last year.
Chemring Group plc CHG Revenue in the three months to the 31st July rose by 20% and the order book was up by 12.6% but £50m of this was due to the collapse of sterling which defintely did not help the company’s US dollar debt.
Surgical Innovations SUN Revenue for the six months to 30th June was robust rising by 16%, led by exports and a particularly strong performance in the US. Increased productivity helped margins rise by 26.6% and the company returned to profitability at the operating level. By the end of the half year net bank borrowings had been eliminated.
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Quoted Micro 4 July 2016
ISDX
Employee-owned businesses funder Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) has invested £500,000 in Anthesis Consulting, a sustainability services consultancy with operations in Europe, North America and Asia. The investment includes £350,000 of shares, which is part of a £1.3m share issue, giving Capital for Colleagues a 3% stake with employees owning 80%. The other £150,000 is in the form of a loan repayable in five years. Anthesis will use the cash to make international acquisitions. Capital for Colleagues had an NAV of 53.66p a share at the end of May.
Ganapati (GANP) says that it failed to achieve its revenue forecasts in the year to January 2016 because of increasing competition. Revenues were £3.45m, while the loss was £7.82m after a £4.56m write down of intangible assets. Ganapati develops software for social media and consumer games but it has decided to move into offering online gambling software. The company continues to try to gain a licence from the UK Gambling Commission but there are issues that need to be sorted out and there is no guarantee that the application will be successful.
Equatorial Mining & Exploration (EM.P) continues to seek additional funding but it is confident enough to spend money on further surveying of its exploration licences in Nigeria. The interim figures will be published in September.
Blockchain technology investor Coinsilium (COIN) has appointed Mrs Pier Thomas as finance director. She has been awarded options over 2 million shares at a cost of 10p a share – a premium of 156% to the market price at the time of appointment. The options last until 28 June 2019.
Investment company Globe Capital Ltd (GCAP) has refocused its investment policy on the retail and menswear sectors. A 25% stake has been acquired in Sterling Craig, an online retailer of men’s fashion. The investment cost £12,500. The company was incorporated on 11 December 2015 and Sterling Craig’s only director is Terry Burnett. Earlier this year £100,500 was raised and Globe intends to raise more cash in the near future to fund additional investments. There was £19,000 in the bank at the end of March 2016.
A director has acquired a £400,000 convertible loan to Gowin New Energy Group Ltd (GWIN). Chen Chih Lung paid face vale for the loan which is convertible at 0.2p a share.
Energy efficient products supplier Sandal (SAND) has cancelled 130,000 shares that were issued at the time of its flotation because the buyer did not come up with the cash.
AIM
Omega Diagnostics (ODX) says that its Allersys diagnostic instrument is nearing commercial launch with 41 allergens available. The current operations put in a mixed performance in the year to March 2016. Food intolerance sales grew and helped group revenues improve from £12.1m to £12.7m. Pre-tax profit dipped from £1.4m to £1.3m and there is likely to be a further fall to £800,000 this year as the cost base is increased for product launches. Management believes that it has enough cash in the bank for its requirements but it will have to choose what opportunities it focuses on.
Surgical Innovations (SUN) says that sales are growing and it is manufacturing more of the equipment sold. Interim revenues should be at least 10% ahead, suggesting they will be around £2.9m. Growth is coming from the US. That is helping to improve gross margins to more than 25% – they were 8.4% in the first half of 2015 but they had reached 47.3% at the interim stage in 2014. New product ranges will be launched in the second half. At the same time inventory levels are likely to reduce by £500,000 in the first half. Net debt was £2.26m at the end of 2015 and this will reduce further.
Servoca (SVCA) is paying up to £3.1m for Classic Education in a deal that should be earnings enhancing. The initial payment for the Gravesend-based education recruitment business is £1.2m and Servoca believes that the sustainable level of pre-tax profit is more than £400,000. In the year to September 2016, pre-tax profit is forecast to improve from £3m to £3.5m.
Fishing Republic (FISH) has raised an additional £3.75m at more than double the share price at which it floated just over one year ago. Fishing Republic floated at 15p a share and subsequently raised more cash at 16p a share but the latest fundraising was at 35p a share. The cash will help to expand the retail chain and fund further development of the online operation. The share issue does initially dilute earnings but this should change when the cash is invested. The subscribers to the share issue include former Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy and associates, who will have a combined stake of 15.9% in the company.
Corporation tax software provider Tax Computer Systems is reversing into Eco City Vehicles (ECV) in a deal that places an enterprise value of £73m on the transaction. A placing will raise £45m at 67p a share – after a 50-for-one share consolidation – and MXC Capital is subscribing £8.7m for 20% of the enlarged group, which will be renamed Tax Systems. There are plans for international expansion and a broadening of the product range.
DJI Holdings (DJI) is raising £29m at 95p a share in order to pursue new revenue opportunities. DJI has struck a deal with Xinhuatong, which provides content to the Xinhua News App owned by China’s national news agency, and this provides exposure to mobile. DJI sees itself as an internet technology provider having originally positioned itself as a developer of online lottery products. The share price has strengthened in the past three months but it has only just gone back above the July 2014 flotation price of 100p a share.
Mariana Resources (MARL) should have an updated mineral resource estimate for its 30%-owned Hot Maden gold copper project in Turkey. The current estimate is 3 million ounces of gold equivalent at a grade of 11.2g/t. The preliminary economic assessment should be completed before the end of the year.
Constellation Software has launched its 105p a share bid for recruitment software provider Bond International Software (BDI) but the target’s board has not recommended the bid. The deal vales Bond at £44.2m and Constellation already has a 29.6% stake and 100% of the convertible non-voting shares. In 2015, Bond reported a loss of £2m on revenues of £39.7m, while net assets were £34m. Bank debt has subsequently been repaid from the proceeds of the Strictly Education disposal. The other parts of the business are also up for sale.
Medical devices company Tissue Regenix (TRX) has secured a deal with a national US group purchasing organisation for hospitals and physician offices for the supply of wound care product DermaPure, the company‘s first commercial product. The three year contract covers 43 states.
Nostra Terra Oil & Gas (NTOG) is selling its 20% stake in assets operated by Ward Petroleum in the Chisholm Trail prospect in Oklahoma for $2.1m. The book value was $1.7m. These assets generated the majority of 2015 group revenues of £594,000. The cash can be used to acquire other oil and gas assets.
MAIN MARKET
Trading in shares of shell company Flying Brands Ltd (FBDU) has been suspended ahead of the potential purchase of medical technology business Stone Checker Software. The deal is still dependent on due diligence. The share price had halved to 3.25p since the beginning of June.
Global Resources Investment Trust (GRIT) is hoping to raise up to £2.5m through a subscription and open offer at 5p a share. RDP Fund Management is subscribing for £2m worth of shares while the terms and dates for the open offer have yet to be announced. The cash will be used to reduce gearing.
ANDREW HORE
Advanced Medical Solutions – Strong Year of Growth
Preliminary results for Paysafe (PAYS) for the year to 31st December are slightly ahead of expectations and the CEO and President is bubbling over with excitement and self praise. he is “incredibly pleased” with what was a tremendous year and is very excited about prospects for the future. Revenue rose by 68%, adjusted EBITDA by 77% and profit after tax by 60%. Statutory profit after tax however collapsed by 87% following acquisition costs and net debt surged nearly twenty fold from £22.9m.to £431.3m. although this figure is said to be not meaningful. The positive momentum which so excites the President has continued into 2016.
Advanced Medical Solutions (AMS) continues to make up for all those years of waiting whilst its new products were developed and eventually licenced. The final dividend for 2015 is to be increased by 14% after a rise of 9% in revenue, 12% in profit before tax and 10% in diluted earnings per share. Net cash increased by 98% to £34.2m. AMS made good sales progress on all business fronts, with a strong year of growth, especially in the US where market share is being increased by the success of Liquiband tissue adhesives.
Finsbury Foods (FIF) is increasing its interim dividend by 12% to 0.93p for the 26 weeks to 26th December after a strong first half performance saw like for like profit before tax rise by 22% and like for like revenue by 7.4%. Total revenue, including revenue from acquisitions was up by 84%. FIF expects to flourish in what it sees as the new era of increasing consumer confidence.
Surgical Innovations (SUN) produced significantly improved results for 2015 and with its new board and management in place, both manufacturing and operational costs were reduced and the inventory was slashed by nearly 60%. Margins also improved and revenue for the year rose by 36%. An EBITDA loss from 2014 of 0.05m was turned into a positive 0.24m in 2015 and net debt fell by 30% to £2.26m. The improvement in performance has continued into 2016.
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