Sovereign Metals #SVML – Spiral Plant Successfully Installed
Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX: SVM; AIM: SVML; OTCQX: SVMLF) (Sovereign or the Company) is pleased to announcethat it has successfully installed and commissioned an industrial-scale spiral concentrator plant at the Company’s laboratory and testing facility in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The plant enables Sovereign to process material from the test pit mined as part of the Pilot Mining and Land Rehabilitation (Pilot Phase) at its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project (Kasiya or Project).
Highlights:
- Industrial scale spiral concentrator plant successfully installed and commissioned at Sovereign’s expanded laboratory and testing facility in Lilongwe, Malawi
- Graphite pre-concentrate from spiral plant will facilitate ongoing testwork and offtake discussions with lithium-ion battery makers and traditional graphite markets
- Spiral plant commissioning commenced with material from the Pilot Phase test pit being processed at a throughput rate of up to 3 tonnes per hour for continuous sample preparation
- The spiral installed and commissioned is the identical model selected for the Wet Concentrator Plant per the simple 2023 Kasiya pre-feasibility study (PFS) process flowsheet
- Commissioning and subsequent use of spiral plant also provides Malawian employee training in industrial scale processing prior to full-scale operations
- Sovereign is targeting a market-leading position as the world’s largest and lowest-cost producer of rutile for the titanium industry and flake graphite for the lithium-ion battery market
Managing Director Frank Eagar commented: “The new infrastructure allows Sovereign to deliver large-scale graphite pre-concentrate for qualification by its future potential customers. With a simple and conventional process flowsheet, Kasiya ore is processed at a throughput rate of up to 3 tonnes per hour for continuous sample preparation. Our PFS optimisation continues to advance as planned with oversight from the Sovereign-Rio Tinto Technical Committee.“
The spiral plant will prepare a graphite gravity concentrate from the Pilot Phase test pit’s run of mine at a bulk scale. The concentrate will then be sent to specialised laboratories where flotation, purification, spheronisation and coating testwork for the battery anode segment in line with Sovereign’s strategy to commercialise Kasiya’s graphite by-product.
This follows the Company’s recent announcement that downstream testwork performed by a leading independent consultancy had demonstrated that Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG) produced from Kasiya natural flake graphite has performance characteristics comparable to leading Chinese natural graphite anode materials manufacturers (See Company Announcement dated 4 September 2024).
Graphite concentrate will also be provided to traditional industrial graphite users, including refractories, foundries, expandable graphite, graphite foil, brake lining pads, and lubrication.
Figure 1: Installed Spiral plant at Sovereign’s Lilongwe facility
Figure 2: Commencement of spiral commissioning
Kasiya Process Flowsheet
The Kasiya process flowsheet is separated into distinct simple processing areas.
Wet Concentrator Plant (WCP)
The WCP will receive mined material pre-screened at 2mm to remove oversize. Simple gravity separation through spirals will produce a Heavy Mineral Concentrate (HMC) and a separate gravity tailings stream enriched in graphite. The spiral installed and commissioned is the identical model selected for the Wet Concentrator Plant per the 2023 Kasiya PFS process flowsheet. It will have the same throughput capacity as a spiral in the designed plant.
Mineral Separation Plant (MSP)
At the MSP, the HMC will initially undergo electrostatic separation to separate heavy minerals into electrically conductive minerals including rutile, and non-conductive minerals. Magnetic separation will then isolate rutile, which is non-magnetic, from other conductive minerals. Sovereign recently installed and is commissioning a CoronaStat Electric Separator at its facility in Lilongwe. This unit has been supplied by OreKinetics Pty Ltd which has also supplied the majority of electrostatic separators to the mineral sands industry over the last 20 years.
Figure 3: CoronaStat Electric Separator at Sovereign’s Lilongwe facility clearly showing non-conductive material on left-hand-side and conductive minerals including rutile on right-hand-side
Figure 4: Bench-scale magnetic separator at Sovereign’s Lilongwe facility separating non-magnetic rutile from other conductive minerals
Graphite Plant
The graphite tailings stream collected from the gravity spirals will be processed through froth flotation, including polishing and stirred media mills, producing a coarse-flake graphite concentrate and tailings.
Tailings storage and management will be further refined as part of the ongoing Kasiya PFS Optimisation Study.
ENQUIRIES
Frank Eagar (South Africa/Malawi)
CEO & Managing Director
+27 21 065 1890
Sapan Ghai (London)
CCO
+44 207 478 3900
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Nominated Adviser on AIM and Joint Broker |
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SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP |
+44 20 3470 0470 |
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Ewan Leggat Charlie Bouverat |
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Joint Brokers |
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Stifel |
+44 20 7710 7600 |
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Varun Talwar |
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Ashton Clanfield |
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Berenberg |
+44 20 3207 7800 |
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Matthew Armitt |
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Jennifer Lee |
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Buchanan |
+ 44 20 7466 5000 |
Cadence Minerals #KDNC – Amapá Iron Ore Project Licensing on Schedule. Project Financing Discussions Advancing.
Cadence Minerals (AIM: KDNC) is pleased to report the progress of the environmental licensing and the testing of the 67% ‘Green Iron’ processing flow sheet at the Amapá Iron Ore Project.
Highlights:
- Installation Licences for the Amapá mine and railway remain on schedule to be granted this year.
- The license application for the port was submitted in September and is also scheduled for a grant this year.
- The test work for sixty-seven per cent (67%) iron flow sheet is due for completion in the fourth quarter of this year.
- The Project is actively discussing the equity portion of project financing to complement the existing debt financing MOU.
Kiran Morzaria, the CEO of Cadence, commented, “It’s great to see the continued progress at Amapá. The Project has consistently delivered all the required environmental studies and applications either on time or ahead of schedule. Based on the positive feedback from the local government, we understand that all necessary permits will be granted before the year’s end. Additionally, we are actively advancing the development of a 67% “green iron” product and securing equity financing for the Project.”
Licensing
As announced in September 2023 (News Release Here), the Amapá Project has agreed with the Amapá State Environmental Agency (“SEMA”) to an expedited environmental licensing process, given the Project was previously operating and had been granted all required licenses.
The Amapá Project owns the required Mining Concessions; however, it must obtain a Mine Extraction and Processing Permit (“Mining Permit”) to begin operation. To obtain this permit, the Amapá Project must obtain an Installation License (“LI”) to begin construction and, when constructed, an Operational License (“LO”). An LI and LO are also required to construct and operate the railway and port.
In April 2023, the Amapá Project submitted the required environmental studies and applications for the Amapá mine and railway. This application was in the form of the Environmental Control Plan, “PCA” (Plano de Controle Ambiental), and an Environmental Control Report, “RCA” (Relatório de Controle Ambiental).
In early September, the Amapá Project submitted the required environmental studies and application for the LI grant for iron ore port. This application was submitted after those for the mine and railway as SEMA required an extended environmental study. Nevertheless, the application was submitted on schedule.
Our joint venture has continued engaging with SEMA and other relevant authorities, who have indicated that the LI for the rail and mine remain on schedule for the grant this year. Given the impact that the railway’s restart will make on local communities, the installation license for the railway is anticipated to have some conditions precedent. This is expected in any project of this nature. The Amapá project management team always anticipated this as part of the required licensing requirements to redevelop the Amapá Iron Ore project.
Our understanding from SEMA is that, based on the current timeline, all the LIs will be granted by the end of 2024.
67% ‘Green Iron’ Flowsheet
The testing of the 67% processing route is continuing. The Amapá Project originally produced three products: 58%, 62%, and 65% iron ore concentrate. The 2023 pre-feasibility improved this product mix, with only a 62% and 65% produce mix being envisaged. The current flowsheet aims to produce one hundred per cent 67% iron ore concentrate, which has both a premium in price and is anticipated to be a growth market in the iron ore concentrate as it represents the feedstock to DRI furnaces. These furnaces enable the decarbonising of the steel industry by replacing blast furnaces.
The main variances in the proposed 67% flow sheet involve:
- Removing the jigging circuit, with the iron being recovered via the grinding, magnetic, and flotation circuits. This will improve the iron recovery rate.
- Replacing hydrocyclone desliming with thickeners, improving classification efficiency and lowering power consumption.
- The 67% flow sheet will remove the 62% product stream, eliminating the spiral circuit. This will shorten the process flow and reduce power consumption.
- Adding a flowsheet to improve iron concentrates from 65.4% to 67% via regrinding the material from the magnetic separator, meaning finer particles can be further liberated, improving iron concentrate grade to 67%.
- Replacement of all slurry, water, and reagent pumps involved in the beneficiation process.
- A concentrate slurry pipeline and filtrate water return pipeline system will be built to replace truck transportation.
- The particle size of the concentrate after the tower mills is too fine to be filtered by the existing vacuum disc filters. Therefore, horizontal press filters are required to ensure the moisture content of the filter cake is no larger than 8%.
- A train loading system will be built in the train loading area.
A summary of the new flow sheet is available here.
The main metallurgical test work being carried out includes raw ore liberation testing, desliming testing, magnetic separation testing, floatation testing, grinding work index testing, concentrate tailings thickening testing and tailings filtration testing. We expect this work to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.
Project Financing
In October 2023 (News Release Here), our joint venture company and DEV Mineração S.A. (“DEV”) entered into a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”). The MOU is in place to secure the required project debt financing for the construction and re-development of the Amapá Project.
To complement the project debt financing, our joint venture is actively engaging with several potential financing partners to provide the equity portion of the funding at the project level.
About the Amapá Project and Cadence Ownership
The Amapá Project is a brownfield integrated iron ore project in the Amapá State of Brazil. It has Mineral Resources of 276 million tonnes (Mt) at 38.33% Iron (Fe) and Ore Reserves of 196 Mt at 39.34%. The Project consists of the mine, processing plant, wholly owned port and a 194km railway, all operated by PBA.
As of August 31st, 2024, Cadence’s total investment in the Amapá million was approximately US$14.2 million, and its equity stake in the project stands at 34.5%, an increase of approximately US$0.57 million since 30 June 2024.
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| Cadence Minerals plc | +44 (0) 20 3582 6636 |
| Andrew Suckling | |
| Kiran Morzaria | |
| Zeus Capital Limited (NOMAD & Broker) | +44 (0) 20 3829 5000 |
| James Joyce | |
| Darshan Patel
Isaac Hooper |
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| Fortified Securities – Joint Broker | +44 (0) 20 3411 7773 |
| Guy Wheatley | |
| Brand Communications | +44 (0) 7976 431608 |
| Public & Investor Relations | |
| Alan Green |
Qualified Person
Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.
Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are or may be considered forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “believe”, “could”, “should”, “envisage”, “estimate”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the company’s future growth results of operations performance, future capital, and other expenditures (including the amount, nature, and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions, competition, environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities, the availability of capital markets reliance on crucial personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The company cannot assure investors that results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.
The company deems the information contained within this announcement to constitute Inside Information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (E.U.) No. 596/2014, as it forms part of U.K. domestic law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended. Upon the publication of this announcement via a regulatory information service, this information is considered to be in the public domain.
ECR Minerals #ECR – Issue of Equity and Total Voting Rights
ECR Minerals plc (LON: ECR), the exploration and development company focused on gold in Australia, is pleased to confirm that the new ordinary shares awarded to Nick Tulloch, Chairman, and Mike Whitlow, Managing Director, pursuant to their remuneration arrangements announced by ECR on 19 September 2023, have been issued and allotted.
Accordingly, each of Nick Tulloch and Mike Whitlow have received 9,375,000 new ordinary shares of 0.001 pence each in ECR (“Ordinary Shares”) as payment in lieu of £22,500 of accrued remuneration for the period 15 June 2024 to 14 September 2024, at an issue price of 0.24 pence per new Ordinary Share, being in this instance a price equal to the volume weighted average price of Ordinary Shares calculated over the previous 14 days, (together the “Fee Shares”).
Additional Issue of Equity
At the same time, the Company has agreed to issue and allot 2,500,000 new Ordinary Shares as payment in lieu of £6,000 of accrued fees owed by the Company in order to assist the Company in conserving its cash resources. These new Ordinary Shares have also been issued at an issue price of 0.24 pence per new Ordinary Share, which was the volume weighted average price for Ordinary Shares over the 14 trading days prior to the date of the invoice.
In total 21,250,000 new Ordinary Shares have been issued by the Company. Following this issuance the total Ordinary Shares currently held by Nick Tulloch and Mike Whitlow, as Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibility (“PDMRs”) of the Company, are as follows:
| Name | Fee Shares issued | Total Ordinary Shares now held in the Company | As a percentage of the Company’s enlarged issued ordinary share capital |
| Nick Tulloch | 9,375,000 | 39,430,417 | 2.08% |
| Mike Whitlow | 9,375,000 | 39,430,417 | 2.08% |
| Total | 18,750,000 |
The FCA notification in respect of these PDMR dealings, made in accordance with the requirements of the UK Market Abuse Regulation, is appended further below.
Admission and Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules
Application has been made for 21,250,000 new Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM (“Admission“) and it is expected that Admission will become effective on or around 23 September 2024. The new Ordinary Shares will rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares. Upon Admission, ECR’s issued ordinary share capital will comprise 1,892,760,911 Ordinary Shares. This number will represent the total voting rights in the Company, and, following Admission may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculation by which they can determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
| ECR Minerals plc | Tel: +44 (0) 1738 317 693 | |
| Nick Tulloch, Chairman
Andrew Scott, Director |
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| Website: www.ecrminerals.com | ||
| Allenby Capital Limited | Tel: +44 (0) 3328 5656 | |
| Nominated Adviser
Nick Naylor / Alex Brearley / Vivek Bhardwaj
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info@allenbycapital.com
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| Axis Capital Markets Limited | Tel: +44 (0) 203 026 0320 | |
| Broker | ||
| Ben Tadd/Lewis Jones | ||
| SI Capital Ltd | Tel: +44 (0) 1483 413500 | |
| Broker | ||
| Nick Emerson | ||
| Brand Communications | Tel: +44 (0) 7976 431608 | |
| Public & Investor Relations | ||
| Alan Green | ||
ABOUT ECR MINERALS PLC
ECR Minerals is a mineral exploration and development company. ECR’s wholly owned Australian subsidiary Mercator Gold Australia Pty Ltd (“MGA”) has 100% ownership of the Bailieston and Creswick gold projects in central Victoria, Australia, has six licence applications outstanding which includes one licence application lodged in eastern Victoria (Tambo gold project).
ECR also owns 100% of an Australian subsidiary LUX Exploration Pty Ltd (“LUX”) which has three approved exploration permits covering 946 km2 over a relatively unexplored area in Lolworth Range, Queensland, Australia. The Company has also submitted a license application at Kondaparinga which is approximately 120km2 in area and located within the Hodgkinson Gold Province, 80km NW of Mareeba, North Queensland.
Following the sale of the Avoca, Moormbool and Timor gold projects in Victoria, Australia to Fosterville South Exploration Ltd (TSX-V: FSX) and the subsequent spin-out of the Avoca and Timor projects to Leviathan Gold Ltd (TSX-V: LVX), MGA has the right to receive up to A$2 million in payments subject to future resource estimation or production from projects sold to Fosterville South Exploration Limited. ECR holds a royalty on the SLM gold project in La Rioja Province, Argentina which could potentially receive up to US$2.7 million in aggregate across all licences.
MGA also has approximately A$75 million of unutilised tax losses incurred during previous operations
Cadence Minerals #KDNC – Notice of AGM
Cadence Minerals (AIM: KDNC) is pleased to confirm that it has posted the notice of the 2024 AGM and forms of proxy to registered shareholders. The AGM will be held at 10 am 18 October 2024 at the offices of Hill Dickinson LLP, The Broadgate Tower, 8th Floor, 20 Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2EW.
Shareholders are therefore strongly encouraged to exercise their AGM voting rights by submitting the proxy form attached with the AGM notice. The deadline for submission of proxies to the Company is 10 a.m. on 16 October 2024 or 48 hours before any adjourned meeting. You are strongly advised to appoint the chairman of the meeting as your proxy to ensure your vote is counted.
The Circular and notice of AGM is available at: https://www.cadenceminerals.com/investors/general-meetings/.
The result of the AGM will be announced shortly after its conclusion and published on the Company’s website.
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Cadence Minerals plc |
+44 (0) 20 3582 6636 |
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Andrew Suckling |
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Kiran Morzaria |
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Zeus Capital Limited (NOMAD & Broker) |
+44 (0) 20 3829 5000 |
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James Joyce |
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Darshan Patel |
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Isaac Hooper |
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Fortified Securities – Joint Broker |
+44 (0) 20 3411 7773 |
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Guy Wheatley |
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Brand Communications |
+44 (0) 7976 431608 |
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Public & Investor Relations |
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Alan Green |
Qualified Person
Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.
Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “believe”, “could”, “should”, “envisage”, “estimate”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding the company’s future growth results of operations performance, future capital, and other expenditures (including the amount, nature, and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors’ current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions, competition, environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities, the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.
Quoted Micro 16 September 2024
AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE
Exchange services provider Aquis Exchange (AQX), which is also quoted on the Aquis Stock Exchange, has already warned that the loss of a software contract will hit revenues this year. Net interim revenues were still 4% ahead at £10m. Pre-tax profit was 8% lower at £1.1m. There was a small dip in revenues of the core exchange division. Net cash was £14.5m at the end of June 2024. There are plans to increase investment in technology to increase the addressable market, so year-end cash will be slightly lower than expected at £15.1m.
SulNOx Group (SNOX) increased revenues from £203,000 to £544,000, but the loss was still around £1.9m. Cash was £2.15m at the end of June 2024. A generator-based study for the SulNOxEco fuel additive shows fuel savings of 15%.
Ananda Developments (ANA) has raised up to £2.1m via a placing and offer at 0.3p/share and more than £2m has come from Charles Morgan, the company chairman. Charles Morgan and Melissa Sturgess have agreed to capitalised debt owed to them. The cash will fund the manufacture of MRX1 for CIPN and Endometriosis phase II studies, as well as a pharmacokinetic study for MRX1 in Australia.
Newbury Racecourse (NYR) improved interim revenues 16% to £9.28m, while the cost base rose 11%. The loss was reduced from £649,000 to £352,000. The remainder of the year is expected to be difficult.
The increase in the value of the 15% stake held by Global Connectivity (GCON) lead to the July 2024 rising from £7.8m to £17.2m in a six-month period. That is 4.25p/share.
Walls and Futures REIT (WAFR) reported a 4.5% decrease in NAV to 85p/share, although investment property value rose 2.4%. The was reduced to £44,000. The company is finding it difficult to raise additional funds.
Ace Liberty and Stone (ALSP) maintained revenues at £5.6m. There is 96% occupancy of the group properties. NAV fell from £34.4m to £31.7m at the end of April 2024.
Voyager Life (VOY) says that M3 Helium’s preparations for bringing the Rost1-26 well into production are advanced. Voyager Life has an option to acquire M3 Helium.
Cooks Coffee Company (COOK) increased sales by 23% to £13.8m in the 22 weeks to 1 September. The main growth was in the UK stores. Ten further outlets ae expected to open by the end of the financial year.
Investment company EPE Special Opportunities Ltd (EO.P) reported a reduced loss because there was a gain on fair value movements on investments compared with a loss last time. There was cash of £18.4m at the end of July 2024. NAV was 319p/share at the end of July, and it fell back to 314p/share by the end of August.
Warrants held by lupus treatment developer ImmuPharma (IMM) to subscribe for shares in Incanthera (INC) at 9.5p each have been extended to the end of March 2025 in return for a £75,0000 payment by ImmuPharma.
BWA Group (BWAP) chairman Jonathan Wearing has subscribed for 50 million shares at 0.5p each.
Jonathan Adnams has stepped down as chairman of Adnams (ADB) because of ill health. Simon Townsend will be interim chairman.
AIM
Greatland Gold (GGP) shares returned from suspension after announcing the purchase of Newmont Corporation’s 70% stake in the Havieron gold-copper project, as well as 100% ownership of the Telfer gold-copper mine and other assets in the Paterson region. The total cost is $475m in cash and shares. A placing raised £248.6m ($325m) at 4.8p each, which is a 30% discount to the market price. Wyloo is subscribing up to $100m and Newmont Corporation will own more than 20% of the gold explorer. A retail offer raised £6.7m.
Marlowe (MRL) is demerging the occupational health division as an independent AIM company called Optima Health by the end of September. Shareholders will receive one share for each Marlowe share held. Marlowe will focus on testing, inspection and certification operations. So far, £41m of the £75m share buy back has been spent. Marlowe continuing revenues are forecast to be £306m and pre-tax profit £13m.
Energy optimisation services provider Inspired (INSE) interim revenues edged up from £44.6m to £45m and pre-tax profit dipped from £6.2m to £5.7m. That was lower than forecast. Optimisation revenues declined, but product mix meant that margins were better. Cross-selling is helping to grow the ESG division and other parts of the business. Net debt is £57.6m. There is only £2.2m of contingent consideration due to be paid. Debt should start to decline over the next few years.
Chain and transmission equipment Renold (RNO) has made another earnings enhancing acquisition. Canada-based MAC Chain Company is being bought for $31.4m. This fits well with the CVC business and enables expansion into the forestry market. Last year’s pre-tax profit was $3.5m.
Optimisation software provider Checkit (CKT) reported a flat loss of £2.3m on the back of a 16% increase in interim revenues to £6.7m. However, the full year figure is set to fall from £4.2m to £3.9m. Annualised recurring revenues are £13.8m and that underpins the full year revenues forecast of £14.2m. Net cash was £7m at the end of July 2024 and higher R&D spending means that year-end cash is likely to be slightly lower than previously expected at around £5m. Chairman Keith Daley bought 135,000 shares at 21p each.
Cross-border currency payments services provider Finseta (FIN) reported a sharp increase in first half profit, although investment in growing the business will hold back profit in the short-term. There was a £100,000 contribution from the final payment relating to the licencing agreement with Avila House. The loss of that income, a higher depreciation charge and additional overheads for new operations such as a corporate Mastercard and a Canadian office means that full year pre-tax profit could dip from £1.4m to £1.3m. The benefits of the investment will be seen next year with an expected jump in pre-tax profit to £2.5m.
Contract research and infectious disease study services provider hVIVO (HVO) reported 2024 revenues 31% ahead at £35.6m, while pre-tax profit improved from £4.18m to £7.15m. The new Canary Wharf site has opened and provides additional capacity. Cash was slightly lower than anticipated at £37.1m.
Gaming machines hardware and displays supplier Nexteq (NXQ) was hit by destocking in both of its divisions. Interim revenues and profit were expected to fall. Interim revenues were 14% lower at $48.2m. Net cash reached $36.9m. The full year revenues forecast is being maintained at $93.9m to £114.3m.
Packaging equipment and automation provider Mpac Group (MPAC) reports a strong improvement in first half figures, although the comparatives were weak. Revenues improved from £52.8m to £60m, while pre-tax profit rebounded from £1.9m to £4m. The closing order book is £71.4m. Net debt is £4.9m and should be lower at the year end.
Trading in Eurasia Mining (EUA) shares has resumed following the publication of 2023 accounts late on Friday. Net cash was £1.1m at the end of 2023. The company has also agreed a one year working capital facility for up to £2.5m. The loan lasts until next August and is convertible at 2.7p/share. There are five tranches with around £1m of the loan dependent on a term sheet to sell the Russian asset. The lender will receive a payment of 12.5% of the facility, plus 5% of any draw downs, in shares at 2.3p each.
Shore Capital upgraded animal feed additives supplier Anpario (ANP) after it reported an 11% increase in interim revenues of £17m on the back of a much greater rise in volumes and slightly lower pricing. Raw material costs have stabilised. Full year revenues expectations have been raised from £33m to £34m, while the pre-tax profit estimate is increased from £3.9m to £4.4m, up from £3.5m in 2023.
Fulcrum Metals (FMET) is raising £643,500 at 8p/share and directors will subscribe for an additional £114,500 once the interims are published. The cash will be invested in the Teck-Hughes and Sylvanite gold tailings projects in Canada. This should enable nearer-term revenues Management will also review opportunities for exploration drilling on the Tully and Big Bear prospects and a potential technology testing facility in Ontario.
MAIN MARKET
LED lighting and wiring accessories supplier Luceco (LUCE) interim revenues improved 8% to £109.6m and underlying pre-tax profit rebounded from £9.4m to £11.2m. Like-for-like growth was 3.6%. The interim dividend was improved from 1.6p/share to 1.7p/share. LED lighting revenues declined, while portable power and wiring accessories revenues improved. Panmure Liberum forecasts a full year pre-tax profit improvement from £21.2m to £23m.
Hostmore (MORE) has terminated the proposed acquisition of the TGI Friday’s master franchise owner. The sale of corporate stores has reached an advanced stage. However, the proceeds may be lower than the value of related borrowings so there will be no return for the company. Once the sale is complete the holding company will be wound up.
Critical Metals (CRTM) has raised £50,000 from NIU Invest and has entered into a term sheet for a cash injection of up to £2.5m. NIU has already invested £1.1m in convertible loan notes as is the latest investment. The conversion price is 2p/share. NIU is also receiving warrants exercisable at 0.5p/share.
Shell company Ikigai Ventures (IKIV) has been moved to the new, temporary shell category. This provides one year to comply with additional requirements and a further two years to make an acquisition.
Andrew Hore
Alan Green covers Cooks Coffee #COOK, Corcel #CRCL & Katoro #KAT on this week’s Stockbox Research Talks
Alan Green covers Cooks Coffee #COOK, Corcel #CRCL & Katoro #KAT on this week’s Stockbox Research Talks
#SVML Sovereign Metals LTD – Rio Tinto Shareholding and Issue of Shares
ISSUE OF SHARES
Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX: SVM, AIM: SVML, OTCQX: SVMLF) (Sovereign or the Company) advises that it has issued 2,326,880 fully paid ordinary shares (Shares) in the capital of the Company, comprising of 1,290,392 Shares issued to Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration Limited (Rio Tinto) and 1,036,488 Shares issued to SCP Resource Finance, as an advisory fee of 3% on the amount of Rio Tinto’s option investment in July 2024 (refer to Company announcement on 3 July 2024).
An application will be made for the Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM (Admission) and it is expected that Admission will become effective on or around 19 September 2024.
RIO TINTO INCREASES ITS SHAREHOLDING TO 19.9%
Following the exercise of its unlisted options on 3 July 2024, Rio Tinto has made an additional investment of A$690,360 in Sovereign through the issue of 1,290,392 Shares (Additional Shares) pursuant to Rio Tinto’s first right of refusal on equity issues. This is in accordance with the Investment Agreement between Rio Tinto and the Company dated 16 July 2023. Following the issue of Additional Shares today, Rio Tinto has increased its shareholding in Sovereign to 19.9%.
Total Voting Rights
For the purposes of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTRs), following Admission of the Shares, Sovereign will have 599,879,879 Ordinary Shares in issue with voting rights attached. The figure of 599,879,879 may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company, under the ASX Listing Rules or the DTRs.
Following the issue of Shares, Sovereign has the following securities on issue:
· 599,879,879 fully paid ordinary shares;
· 9,460,000 unlisted performance rights subject to the “Definitive Feasibility Study Milestone” expiring on or before 31 October 2025;
· 3,600,000 unlisted performance rights subject to the “Grant of a Mining Licence Milestone” expiring on or before 31 March 2026; and
· 4,800,000 unlisted performance rights subject to the “Final Investment Decision Milestone” expiring on or before 30 June 2026.
Classification: 2.5 Total number of voting rights and capital
ENQUIRIES
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Dylan Browne +61(8) 9322 6322 |
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Nominated Adviser on AIM and Joint Broker |
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SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP |
+44 20 3470 0470 |
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Ewan Leggat Charlie Bouverat |
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Joint Brokers |
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Stifel |
+44 20 7710 7600 |
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Varun Talwar |
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Ashton Clanfield |
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Berenberg |
+44 20 3207 7800 |
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Matthew Armitt |
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Jennifer Lee |
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Buchanan |
+ 44 20 7466 5000 |
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✅ MST Access currently values SVML at £0.72 (A$1.41) – currently £0.30