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Quoted Micro 25 May 2026

AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE

Time to ACT (TTA) says that Ruth Herbert has been appointed chief executive of EET Hydrogen and power, which is a potential client, and final investment decision for the HPP1 blue hydrogen project is due in the second half of 2026. Time to ACT has completed the acquisition of MTE Heat Treatment for £500,000.

Unigel Group (UNX) has decided it is best to leave Aquis and is asking for shareholder agreement. A general meeting is planned on 5 June.

Ian Bagnall has taken a 5.78% stake in Tomahawk Minerals (TMHK), formerly Shortwave Life Sciences. The company is concentrating on its gold and antimony, and it is planning a move to AIM.

In the first quarter of 2026, SuperSeed Capital (WWW) improved to 141p/share or 136.4p/share after notional management fee.

B HODL (HODL) has launched the Lightning Service Provider platform, which provides programmable liquidity for Bitcoin.

Quantum computing technology developer Delta Gold Technologies (LON: DGQ) pointed out a Wall Street Journal article concerning the award of up to $2bn in grants to the quantum computing sector. The company issued 28,571 shares at a warrant price of 50p each.

In the six months to February 2026, Astrid Intelligence (ASTR) had a cash outflow from operations was £612,000. There was £338,000 left in cash. Income from digital assets was £516,000, up from £20,000 in the first half of the previous year, but there was a sharp increase in operating costs. There was a £3.76m drop in the valuation of the digital assets.

Mendell Helium (MDH) has completed the acquisition of M3 Helium and Paul Mendell, who has a 9.37% stake, has been appointed technical director.

Arbuthnot Banking (ARBB) made a strong start to the year and loan balances edged up to £2.32bn by the end of April 2026. Deposits were 1% ahead to £4.26bn over the same period. Funds under management and administration were 5% higher at £2.8bn. No reductions in interest rates so far this year has been good for Arbuthnot Banking, and the income on its surplus funds.

Nomad Compute (NMD) has raised £3.124m at 0.125p/share. A capital reorganisation is required to reduce the apar value to enable the shares to be issued. The cash is for “developing and operating modular, containerised edge AI compute infrastructure for global enterprise and sovereign markets”.

IntelliAM AI (INT) has appointed Joel Crawfod as chief revenue officer. He will be based in Texas.

Energy B (NRGB) has appointed First Sentinel as corporate adviser.

Oliver O’Donnell, head of equities for VSA Capital (VSA), has been appointed to the group board.

Roundhouse Digital has changed its name to Roundhouse AI (ETHL).

AIM

Asia-focused oil and gas producer Jadestone Energy (JSE) reported a loss of $133.7m on revenues of $408m for 2025, but that figure is complicated by $126m impairment charge and the $18.5m write off for the abandonment of the SKUA-11 well. That masks the strong cash generation of the business last year. Cash generated from operating activities was $91.4m, helped by lower operating costs, and along with the $39.4m proceeds from a disposal this was more than enough to fund capital expenditure and interest charges. Net debt reduced to $89.1m. Jadestone Energy has refinanced debt through a $200m bond issue, which increases the cash available. Production in 2026 could be at the lower end of the 18,000-21,000 boe/day guidance range – last year it was 19,829 boe/day – because of a storm stopping production at the Stag field. That should generate enough cash to cover investment this year. The farm-out process for the Vietnam asset has commenced.

Medical devices developer Creo Medical (CREO) has raised £5.5m at 15p/share and the Bank of Wales is subscribing for £2m of convertible loan notes. Creo Medical plans to sell the remaining 49% interest in Creo Medical SL to 51% shareholder CME at book value. The sale of the 51% stake raised £24.7m after costs CME will continue to distribute Creo Medical products in Europe. Cash was £12.4m at the end of 2025 and there was a subsequent dividend of £1.6m from CME. Creo medical made an underlying operating loss of £13.7m on revenues of £6m in 2025 and the additional cash will help to accelerate growth in sales. First quarter revenues were 60% ahead and full year revenues could grow at a similar rate. Operating costs should be reduced by 15%.

Energy efficiency technology developer Sabien Technology (SNT) is entering into an agreement for a proposed strategic commercial partnership and financing that will help to accelerate commercial deployment of the M2G technology. The partnership with Haydale (HAYD) and SaveMoneyCutCarbon (SMCC) means that SMCC will be the M2G distributor in agreed commercial, industrial and public sector markets. Haydale would also help with improving manufacturing efficiency. Non-core investments are being reviewed, and additional opportunities will be assessed. A strategic investor group could acquire the 26.7% stake held by executive chairman Richard Parris and restructure the debt owed to Parris Group. A convertible loan note could raise up to £2m. Final terms have to be agreed. This announcement follows the settlement of a historical contract for £40,000 in cash and £50,000 in shares at 5.71p each.

Building and plumbing products distributor Lords Group Trading (LORD) has reported better than expected results. Pre-tax profit still fell from £3.8m to £2.8m. There has been a rationalisation of plumbing and heating distribution sites and there was a small dip in sales. Online builders merchant CMO made an initial contribution. Market share is improving. There could be a further fall in profit this year.

FIH Group (FIH) will pay a 40p/share special dividend from the funds from the £11.6m sale of the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company. The shares go ex-dividend on 5 June. Chief executive Stuart Munro gets a £478,000 bonus and finance director Reuben Shamu £293,000 for the successful disposal.

Gold producer Metals Exploration (MTL) produced 65,287 ounces of gold in 2025, but the higher gold price meant that revenues rose by 9% to $208.4m. Free cash generated from operations was 19% higher at $115.3m. Construction of the La India project in Nicaragua is one-third complete. The first gold pour could be in December. Gold production guidance for Runruno has been revised downwards to 40,000-48,000 ounces.

Invinity Energy Systems (IES) has won a project through FlexBase to design a GWh-scale vanadium flow battery to be deployed at the Technology Centre Laufenburg, Switzerland. This datacentre and technology campus required up to 1.5GWh and it could be expanded to 2.1 GWh. There should be phased manufacturing of the batteries.

Automotive interior components manufacturer CT Automotive (CTA) reported a 4% dip in revenues to $114.8m, while pre-tax profit improved by one-fifth to £9.5m. Earnings were 11.4 cents/share. A further improvement is expected this year.

TV programmes producer Zinc Media (ZIN) has won a $6m contract to produce an entertainment series in the Middle East. The international distribution rights should add extra income. The series has already been broadcast for 17 seasons, and it follows inventors developing ideas. Zinc Media has been brought in to refresh the format, and the programme will be shot in Arabic and English. Zinc Media is acquiring William Martin Qatar for an initial £400,000. The final purchase price will be up to £1.12m. This is an agency specialising in events and film in the Middle East and it fits well with the existing business in the region. Full year revenues of £3.4m and pre-tax profit of £300,000 are forecast.

Tap Global Group (TAP) recently launched the Tap Earn app and it has reached $3.5m of assets under management. The app offers a yield of up to 7% on supported stablecoin holdings, up to 3.5% on Ethereum and up to 2.5% on Bitcoin. Tap Earn is available across all the company’s markets and will generate revenues for the company by converting passive customer balances into generating income.

Fulcrum Metals (FMET) has secured surface rights to 270 acres of the Teck Hughes tailings project. This provides access and operational flexibility. The price is C$220,000 in cash and a 1.5% net smelter royalty. The net smelter royalty can be reduced to 0.75% for C$750,000 in cash and to 0.5% with a further C$500,000 payment.

Mkango Resources (MKA) subsidiary Mkango Rare Earths has filed a registration statement in the US concerning its merger with Crown PropTech Acquisitions. This helps to progress the proposed Nasdaq listing for Mkango Rare Earths.

Ariana Resources (AAU) is selling a 13.6% stake in the Zenit gold mining joint venture in Turkey to the majority shareholding for $19.5m – $17.2m after tax. Ariana Resources retains a 9.9% stake in Zenit, which could generate dividends, and has $29m in cash. The cash will be invested in the Dokwe project in Zimbabwe and the cash will fund the project up to the definitive feasibility study.

First quarter results from gold miner Thor Explorations (THX) show year-on-year revenues increasing from $64m to $74.3m and lower operating costs per ounce of gold. Net income rose from $34.4m to $46.7m. Net cash was $177.9m at the end of March 2026. A dividend of C$0.0275/share was announced. Full year production guidance is 75,000-85,000 ounces of gold with average costs likely to edge up.

Gene therapy technology developer 4basebio (4BB) increased 2025 revenues from £900,000 to £1.7m and it is forecast to rise to £2.5m. The loss was £17.9m. There should still be £8.5m in the bank at the end of 2025. The company has secured a clinical supply deal with a biotech company for supply of synthetic DNA to a phase II immunotherapy programme.

MAIN MARKET

Vehicle rental and claims management company Zigup (ZIG) traded strongly in the second half with profit at the upper end of expectations. Full year pre-tax profit is set to be around £160m. Cash generation has improved. The results will be released on 8 July.

Ground engineering and piling business Keller (KLR) reported stronger trading in the first four months of the year despite the global background. North America has done well. Higher costs are being passed on in new contracts. The order book is worth £1.7bn. The interim results will be published on 4 August.

New Frontier Minerals (NFM) has visited the NWQ Copper project with partner Austral Resources to inspect the Big One Deposit and Big One North prospect. The historical copper stockpile was assessed. Mt Storm was identified as an under explored near surface target.

Andrew Hore

Quoted Micro 9 December 2024

AQUIS STOCK EXCHANGE

Invinity Energy Systems (IES) has launched its next generation flow battery ENDURIUM. This has higher efficiency and is designed to be manufactured in Scotland in high volumes. This new product is likely to be the main source of orders from now on. There are already orders for ENDURIUM. Invinity Energy Systems is expected to move into profit in 2026.

Equipmake (EQIP) has launched a strategic review that could lead to the sale of the company. The company is still waiting for the final agreement for a $6m licence with a commercial vehicles manufacturer. It is running short of cash with £1.9m currently in the bank. That should last until March. A further share issue or a strategic partner will be required if Equipmake is to remain independent. VSA has been appointed as corporate adviser.

Vinanz Ltd (BTC) intends to move to the Main Market. This depends on the FCA approving the prospectus. Shares will be issued to all option and warrant holders.

Cooks Coffee (COOK) has entered an agreement with Dairygold Agri Business in Ireland to operate four Esquires cafes within Co-Op Superstores owned by Dairygold. The initial period is for 10 years and there are 24 other stores owned by Dairygold.

Ormonde Mining (ORM) investee company TRU Precious Metals has announced positive results of exploration in the Golden Rose project. Some of the samples showed high grades.

CRUSHMETRIC Group (CUSH) has raised £100,000 at 12.5p/share. China-based subsidiary Star Collaboration has reached a settlement with a distributor and it will pay £166,000.

Marula Mining (MARU) says contract mining should begin at the Blesberg lithium and tantalum mine in South Africa during February 2025. There is a planned leasing agreement for support vehicles.

Coinsilium (COIN) has appointed Oberon Capital as its joint broker. The company has entered a strategic advisory services agreement with TAND3M.io.

Cannabis-based medicines developer Ananda Developments (ANA) says its MRX1 drug candidate has passed through drug stability timepoints ahead of a phase 1 and two phase 2 studies.

Kondor AI (KNDR) had a cash outflow of just over £1m during the 12 months to September 2024. There is £611,000 in cash left in the balance sheet.

Fuel additives developer SulNOx Group (SNOX) has raised £1.875m via subscription at 46.6p/share and an exercise of warrants at 29p/share. A subsidiary of McQuilling has invested in the subscription and it is the preferred partner in the US market. Ora Technology (ORA) raised £255,000 at 8p each. Marallo Holdings has acquired a 27.6% stake.

EPE Special Opportunities (EO.P) is commencing a share buy back programme.

Silverwood Brands (SLWD) executive director Andrew Gerrie bought 26,572 shares at 22.556p each.

AIM

Warpaint London (W7L) is bidding 48p/share in cash for Brand Architekts (BAR), valuing the company at £13.9m. There is a share alternative. Warpaint London believes that its relationships with retailers will help to boost sales of the health and beauty brands, such as Skinny Tan and Super Facialist, owned by Brand Architekts, which has high overheads compared with its revenues. The acquisition should be earnings enhancing in 2025. Warpaint London is raising £14m at 510p/share with up to £1m more to come from a retail offer.

K3 Business Technology (KBT) is selling its UK SYSPRO business NexSys to SYSPRO owner Advent for £36m. This business generated 109% of group EBITDA and 28% of group revenues. K3 Business Technology intends to return cash to shareholders. The company’s remaining operations are K3 Fashion and Pebblestone, the IKEA software business and other retail software.

SDX Energy (SDX) plans to leave AIM because of the costs of the quotation and the greater flexibility as a private company. Potential investors would prefer to invest in an unquoted company. It is the intention to put in place a matched bargains facility. The strategy continues to be to become a vertically integrated gas and renewable energy producer in Morocco. If shareholders agree, then the quotation will be cancelled on 9 January. SDX Energy joined AIM in May 2016 at 18p/share.

Photonics company Gooch & Housego (GHH) had a better second half, but full year profit was still lower. In the year to September 2024, revenues were 1% ahead at £136m. A decline in industrial revenues, due to weak product sales for semiconductor manufacturing and other industrial uses, was offset by higher aerospace and defence and life sciences revenues. Underlying pre-tax profit slipped 22% to £8.1m. The total dividend was raised 1.5% to 13.2p, which is 1.9 times covered by earnings.

Technology company adviser and investor EMV Capital (EMVC) raised £1.5m at 50p/share, which was a 15% premium to the previous day’s closing price. The cash will fund investment in reporting infrastructure and hiring of additional staff. It will also provide money for additional investments. Management is targeting recurring annual fund management fees of more than £1m so that it can reach breakeven. In the ten months to October 2024, core income was £2m, up from £1.2m, including £500,000 of recurring fund management fees. This excludes subsidiary portfolio companies.

Condor Gold (CNR), which is developing the La India gold project in Nicaragua, says that Metals Exploration (MTL) and Calibre Mining Corp have made bid approaches and negotiations are at an advanced stage with Metals Exploration. Calibre Mining Corp says it will not make an offer. Metals Exploration has entered into a £5.5m bridging loan facility with Drachs Investments No. 3, which has a 18.4% shareholding. This is repayable at the end of January or when talks end. Galloway is lending £475,000 to Condor Gold. Metals Exploration owns the Runruno gold project in the northern Philippines.

Bigblu Broadband (BBB) is selling Australian broadband business to SKM Telecommunications for up to £25.7m, which values the business at more than double the total cost of investment. The initial cash payment is £15.4m and £6.8m in shares in SKM, with a further £3.5m in cash due in one year. This requires shareholder approval at a general meeting on 20 December. The company will still have operations in New Zealand and a subsidiary involved in the distribution of Starlink, plus a 2.8% stake in Quickline. Revenues are forecast to be £1m in 2024-25.

Bars and leisure operator XP Factory (XPF) continues to grow both of its brands. Escape Hunt interim revenues were 7% ahead at £6.5m and management believes that this part of the business could be bigger than originally anticipated. Boom Battle Bars revenues were 56% higher and more of the franchise outlets are being acquired. Group like-for-like revenues were 4% higher. There was a small underlying pre-tax profit before contract termination and other exceptional costs. Net debt was £1.3m at the end of September 2024. Medium-term targets have been set. The plan is to increase sales by 50% and double underlying EBITDA by March 2028. That means a revenue target of £90m with a March 2028 run-rate of £100m and EBITDA margins of 15%.

Construction disputes and property services provider Diales (DIAL), formerly Driver Group, has completed its rebranding and the benefits of cost cutting will show through in the current year. Interim revenues edged up from £42.6m to £43m. A decline in European and North American revenues was offset by growth in the other markets. The Middle East returned to profit and the Asia Pacific loss was lower. Overall pre-tax profit improved from £1.1m to £1.2m. The total dividend is maintained at 1.5p/share, although it is still not covered by earnings. The net cash of £4.3m (7.9p/share) enables Diales to add more fee earners, which might come from small acquisitions that may add to the range of services and sectors that can be addressed.

SRT Marine (SRT) reported revenues of £14.8m in the 15 months to June 2024. The loss was £13.8m. Transceivers generated most of the revenues with the major systems contracts with international coastguards potentially starting in the next few months, hopefully at last one of them by the end of 2024. New finance has been obtained since the end of the period.

Floorcoverings distributor Likewise (LIKE) in contrast with some companies had a strong October and November when sales were 11% ahead. Year-to-date growth is 7.5%, which represents an increase in market share. Margins are also improving. Zeus has maintained its 2024 pre-tax profit forecast at £2m, although sales are ahead of expectations.

Investment company Seed Innovations (SEED) says MAV was £10.6m at the end of September 2024, including £3.52m in cash. That is 5.5p/share. This NAV is after the £2m cash distribution to shareholders. The main quoted investment was Alaska-focused oil and gas company Pantheon Resources (PANR) and the share price subsequently rose from 16p to 22.91p. The company sold the shares, adding £101,000 to NAV.

Semiconductor designer EnSilica (ENSI) has won another long-term design and supply contract. The total contract value for the deal with an industrial test equipment provider will be more than $30m over ten years. This comes with an upfront payment to help the cash position.

Interim figures from telematics supplier Trakm8 (TRAK) show reduced revenues from £8.54m to £8.31m, following a reduction in recurring revenues from £5.23m to £4.51m. The pre-tax profit slumped from £119,000 to £15,000. Net debt was £6.66m at the end of September 2024. Full year expectations have been reduced. The insurance market remains tough. There could be some improvement next year, but the outlook is uncertain.

Fashion retailer Quiz (QUIZ) has been hit by falls in online and stores revenues, although there was an improvement in international revenues, in the four months to the end of November. There was a sharp decline in November. Overall revenues fell 6% to £24.9m. Annual costs will be increased by £1.7m as a consequence of the Budget. Net debt is £2.8m and the £4m of bank facilities could be fully utilised by early 2025 and additional funds will be required. The company’s founder has offered a £1m loan.

Rockwood Strategic has increased its stake in film vehicles and services provider Facilities by ADF (ADF) to 4.4% stake and related investment entities still have a further 7.6%, Chief executive Marsden Proctor has bought 79,947 shares at 31.6p each.

Cannabis-based medicines developer Celadon Pharmaceuticals (CEL) has finally received the balance of £150,000 from the May 2024 subscription at 105p/share.

MAIN MARKET

Compliance technology developer RegTech Open Project (RTOP) plans to leave the transition category of the Main Market. Trading should end on 31 December. A new chief executive is being sought and there are plans to raise cash. The company has also promised to find an exit opportunity for existing shareholders.

Tissue engineering company BSF Enterprise (BSFA) has raised £500,000 via an oversubscribed placing at 2.5p/share and each new share comes with a warrant exercisable at 5p. There should be enough cash for more than 12 months.

Publisher National World (NWOR) says it would be minded to recommend the enhanced 23p/share bid from Media Concierge. The offer is subject to due diligence.

R8 Capital Investments (MODE) is not going ahead with the acquisition of Redwood Partners. A fundraising is planned.

Andrew Hore

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