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Quoted Micro 24 August 2026
Ajax Resources (AJAX) has agreed to acquire a 74.79% stake in the Paguanta project in Chile. The initial consideration is $50,000 in cash and $350,000 in shares at 25p each. Deferred consideration is $500,000 in cash when there is a JORC proven and probal ore reserve of more than 25 million metric tonnes at a grade of 5% or greater zinc and $500,000 in cash when there are least five million tonnes of contained metric tonnes of copper as part of proven and probable reserves. The option to buy Minerva Metals has been terminated. Chief executive Ippolito Catteneo bought 473,983 shares at 6p each and director Richard Heywood acquired 163,639 shares at 6.111p each. Edison has published research.
Oberon Investments (OBE) has raised £1.4m at 2.1p/share, which was the then market price, and this will provide working capital. At the end of March 2026, there was £1.95m in the bank. Last year, revenues increased from £9.36m to £11.7m. Investment management income rose from £5.77m to £7.64m and the contributions from corporate finance and financial planning also increased. Funds under management and administration were £1.4bn. The underlying operating loss increased from £3.87m to £4.74m. New teams appointed last year will contribute in the current financial year.
Cooks Coffee Company (COOK) systemwide store sales in the UK and Ireland grew 14% in the first quarter to June 2026, compared with the first quarter of last year. UK growth was slightly faster than that figure, although like-for-like sales growth was 1.4% compared with 2.7% in Ireland. There are 84 stores in the UK and 26 in Ireland.
VSA Capital (VSA) is asking shareholders to agree to a 10,000-for-one share consolidation at the AGM on 10 September.
Bitcoin investor B HODL (HODL) has started a new tranche of share buybacks because the share price is a discount to NAV.
Asia Wealth Group (AWLP) increased full year pre-tax profit from $2,000 to $31,000. The company is seeking acquisitions. There is cash in the bank of $842,000.
Coinsilium Group (COIN) says joint broker Oak Securities has initiated research.
Castlefield Investment Partners decreased its stake in Capital for Colleagues (CFCP) from 37.4% to 34.2%. Livia Hannah Meyer’s stake in Global Connectivity (GCON) is down from 10.2% to 9.49%, and Chris Akers shareholding was reduced from 6.5% to 3.04%, while Keith Harris raised his stake from 12.4% to 22.7% and Chris New increased his stake from 9.91% to 14.9%
Lift Global Ventures (LFT) director Mark Horrocks bought 4.175 million shares at 0.45p each, taking his holding to 19.96%, and fellow director Sandy Barblett bought the same number at the same price, taking his stake to 4.37%.
JP JENKINS
H and H Group (HHG), which is a livestock auctioneer, land agency and property services provider, joined JP Jenkins private trading platform on 17 August.
AIM
Vast Resources (VAST) shares returned from suspension following the completion of the reverse takeover of Gulf International Minerals. The sellers own 80.2% of the enlarged company. This brings a 49% interest in the Aprelevka joint venture, which has four mining licences in the Tien Shan gold belt. These produce 11,000 ounces of gold and 130,000 ounces of silver each year from mining and tailings. There was £7.8m raised at 6.25p/share following a 25-for-one share consolidation.
Small business finance provider Time Finance (TIME) is recommending a bid from Ultimate Finance, which itself was taken private when it was an AIM-quoted company. The offer is 59.1p/share, which values Time Finance at £55.1m. Both companies are focused on smaller businesses, while Ultimate Finance also provides property bridging loans. The three largest Time Finance shareholders back the bid.
Biotech company TheraCryf (TCF) is raising £1.05m at 0.18p/share. This will help to finance the clinical programme for the Orexin-1 antagonist addiction asset. There are plans to seek partnerships for the company’s neuropsychiatry assets. TheraCryf wants to complete the Orexin-1 programme and then secure a partner or out-licence deal. This would provide funds for further financial trials. There is already interest from potential partners. There is an accelerated pathway to gain approvals for phase 1 clinical trials. Cash should last until the first quarter of 2027.
Recruitment firm Gattaca (GATC) reported a strong trading update with net fee income 11% ahead at £43.2m. It is on course to increase pre-tax profit from £3.3m to £6.1m.
M2G boiler optimisation technology provider Sabien Technology (SNT) says discussions continue with Haydale (HAYD) and Intelligent Resource Management about a UK distribution agreement. The previously announced investment and financing framework will not go ahead. This means that the strategic investor group will not buy the Richard Parris shareholding. His group will continue to provide financial support to the company. Non-core activities are being reviewed.
Midlands-based property investor Real Estate Investors (RLE) continues to reduce debt. There are £15.7m of assets under offer with £10.7m exchanged or completed at 92% of 2025 book value. The existing pipeline of sale should repay debt. Timing of sales is uncertain and Panmure Liberum has halved its 2026 disposal expectations to £20m. There have been new lettings generating £400,000 of additional annual rents.
Surveillance systems supplier Synectics (SNX) reported a decline in interim revenues from £35.5m to £22.2m. This was partly due to a one-off contract in the previous period and meant that a pre-tax profit of £3m was turned into a loss of £443,000. The order book is worth £26.4m. There will be a more normal second half weighting this year, although the Middle East conflict creates uncertainty. EBITDA is expected to be between £3.7m to £4.1m.
Digital transformation services provider Made Tech Group (MTEC) has won a £40m contract with an unnamed UK government department. This contract lasts four years. The pre-tax profit forecast for the year to May 2026 has been raised from £4.6m to £4.9m following a previous trading statement and the 2026-27 figure has been increased from £5.6m to £6m due to the initial income from the new contract. Net cash is expected to be £14.5m at the end of May 2026.
Empire Metals (EEE) says the updated mineral resource estimate for the 70%-owned Pitfield titanium project shows it is the largest titanium resource in the world. The figure has increased to 8.16Bt at 4.3% TiO2 for 349 million tonnes of contained TiO2. The initial measured resource is 21.6 million tonnes of contained titanium. This is enough to move to the mine planning stage. Zeus has increased its fair value share price estimate from 84p to 144p, just based on the near-surface zone which has 194.5 million tonnes of TiO2.
Pageant Investments has taken a 7.24% stake in Everyman Media (EMAN), which is expected to make an announcement about its proposal to leave AIM following talks with shareholders.
Energy as a service provider eEnergy (EAAS) has been hit by delays to payments of £3.2m relating to completed work on the Mace project. Paperwork is still being completed. The company has agreed to an extension to the repayment of the £500,000 owed to Harwood Holdco to February 2027. An additional £500,000 loan is being provided by former director Nigel Burton.
Great Western Mining Corporation (GWMO) has commenced drilling at the Defender tungsten project in Nevada. This should deliver a maiden mineral resource estimate by the end of 2026. The initial results will be available in September and October.
Talisman Metals (TLM) has raised £501,800 at 7p/share. the cash will finance exploration at the Tirzzit copper project and the Fougnar copper project in Morocco.
MAIN MARKET
Motor dealer software provider Pinewood Technologies (PINE) has recommended a 448p/share cash offer from Ridgeview Partners. This values the company at £545m. An alternative is an unlisted limited liability company in interest in Rollover Holdco for each share.
Mila Resources (MILA) says geophysical results from the Monal copper gold project in Queensland were highly positive. A clear target has been identified at the Basilica prospect. There are veins at surface that could reflect a deeper anomaly. Drilling is underway at the Yarrol gold project.
First Tin (1SN) has updated its definitive feasibility study for the Taronga tin project in Australia. This has increased the project value. Using $40,000/t for the tin price, which is well below the current price, and including the phase 2 extension the post-tax NPV8 is A$246m, up from A$98m.
Cadmium-free quantum dots developer Nanoco (NANO) is on track to complete the joint development agreement with its first Asian chemical customer. The second Asian customer is in talks concerning the next step to the existing programme. The shareholder consultation is continuing.
Rockpool Acquisitions (ROC) says the potential reverse takeover of European Lingerie has been delayed as the target seeks to refinance its debt. There is uncertainty whether Rockpool Acquisitions will be able to recover money owed by European Lingerie.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore Quoted Micro 29 July 2019
Inqo Investments Ltd (INQO) is investing in the South Lake Medical centre in Kenya. Other investors include Johnson and Johnson’s social impact fund. The total investment is $950,000, but Inqo’s contribution is not quantified. The medical centre was previously owned by a flower growing business and it caters for its workers.
Clean Invest Africa (CIA) has issued £130,000 worth of 8% convertible loan notes. They expire on 24 July 2020. The conversion price is 2.75p a share. Creditors have also agreed to accept payments of £54,000 in shares.
Sport Capital Group (SCG) had nearly £22,000 in the bank at the end of June 2019. There is also a 15% stake in Mighty Oak Exploration, which has exploration licences for cobalt and lithium in Uganda, and 2.4% in KKME, which has nickel and platinum prospecting licences in Botswana. A freehold property is in the books for £204,000.
Panther Metals (PALM) has raised £130,000 at 0.3p a share and the cash will help to finance the development of the company.
AIM
Parcel delivery business DX (DX.) says that figures for the year to June 2019 will be in line with expectations. That means that there will still be a small, but much reduced, loss. Revenues were 8% ahead at £322.5m. The loss of the passport delivery contract will hit this year but that will be offset by growth in the courier market. Net debt was £1.3m at the end of June 2019.
Cyber security services provider GRC International (GRC) has postponed its full year results because it is calculating deferred consideration payable for DQM Holdings. The expected deferred payment is £3.7m, which is higher than the original range. The deferred consideration should be 60% cash and 40% shares at 116.5p each. The share price has fallen to 49p. GRC wants to change the terms. GRC is loss-making and it wants to spread the cash payments. It may need to raise more cash.
Good news from Shield Therapeutics (STX) which has gained FDA approval for Feraccru in the US. The approval covers the treatment of iron deficiency, with or without anaemia, thanks to its high tolerability. This doubles the potential market for the treatment. Shield is in discussions with potential commercial partners. finnCap increased its target share price from 200p to 350p.
Safe credit card payments technology provider PCI Pal (PCIP) says that its full year loss will be in line with expectations of £4.6m. Total contract value in the US is £1.4m, which indicates that progress is being made in that important market. Net cash was £1.5m at the end of June 2019, although PCI Pal is awaiting a tax credit and some additional contract payments in the first quarter of this year. There could be scope to raise funds on the back of recurring revenues.
Document management software provider GetBusy (GETB) is growing its revenues internationally and its eponymous new software product GetBusy is reaching the point of a commercial launch. Net cash is £1.95m, which is plenty for the immediate requirements of the group.
Polarean Imaging (POLX) is raising £2.1m at 18p a share. Last December’s placing was at 14p a share. The medical imaging technology developer will use the cash to finance the phase III clinical trial for its technology, where patient enrolment should be complete in the third quarter of 2019, and preparations for a product launch. There will also be working capital to build polarisers for future orders.
Judges Scientific (JDG) says that order intake was 4% higher in the first half of 2019. Delivery times have also been reduced so the order book has fallen from 14 weeks to 132 weeks.
Tristel (TSTL) has acquired 80% of its Italian distributor for an initial £600,000. This should be earnings neutral this year. The disinfection products supplier generated revenues of £26m in the year to June 2019, which were 17% higher than last year. Underlying pre-tax profit will be £5.5m. Management is waiting for a response from the FDA in the US for the usability and human factors pilot.
Tri-Star Resources’ (TSTR) 40%-owned SPMP has produced the first antimony metal from its plant in Oman. There is expected to be a slow ramp up of production until full production is reached in 2020. The gold recovery circuit has yet to produce commercial levels of gold. SPMP needs to raise additional debt in order to cover the upcoming months prior to antimony production reaching breakeven levels. There are negotiations concerning the conversion of mezzanine debt into interest-free shareholder loans or shares. Tri-Star is expected to lose £500,000 this year. Although SPMP is not being consolidated, there will be a share of profit. That could eventually be as much as £10m a year.
CCTV technology provider Synectics (SNX) says that results will be second half weighted this year. Interim profit fell from £1.5m to £1.2m, but Shore still forecasts a rise in full year pre-tax profit from £2.9m to £4m. Net cash was £5.3m at the end of May 2019. The interim dividend was increased by 8% to 1.3p a share.
Trading in United Oil and Gas (UOG) shares has been suspended ahead of the conditional acquisition of the Egyptian oil and gas business of Rockhopper Exploration (RKH) for $16m, with an initial cash payment of $11m. The main asset is a 22% working interest Abu Sennan and share of production was 813 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2018. Net book value was $13.8m at the end of 2018. United needs to raise cash for the deal and it is not expected to complete until the end of this year.
MAIN MARKET
At the AGM of Trifast (TRI) the chairman said that the industrial fasteners supplier was growing strongly in the US, particularly in the electronics and automotive sectors. Debt facilities have been increased and management is seeking acquisitions. The uncertain economic environment in Europe has led to some delays in the production schedules of clients.
Pembridge Resources (PERE) says that its subsidiary Minto Explorations is getting a working capital facility from Sumitomo Corporation as part of an offtake agreement for 55,000 tonnes of copper concentrate. That lasts until the 55,000 tonnes is delivered or the end of 2020. There will be an advanced payment for 90% of the value of concentrate each month. There is an interest charge.
Zen Global has decided not to make a bid for World Trade Systems (WTS) because it could not come to an agreement with major shareholder Suzhou Weibao about buying its shares and convertibles in return for coins issued by ultimate holding company Zen Ltd. Zen wanted to use WTS to use as a shell in which to reverse its blockchain operations.
Spinnaker Opportunities (SOP) had cash of £880,000 at the end of June 2019. The company subsequently received a commitment to invest up to £1.4m from a single investor conditional on the deal to acquire medicinal cannabis company Kanabo Research. The deal documentation is being prepared.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 25 March 2019
Good Energy (GOOD) increased full year revenues from continuing operations from £104.5m to £116.9m, helped by last winter’s cold weather and a price increase, and pre-tax profit recovered from £700,000 to £1.7m. The renewable electricity supplier and generator has increased its dividend from 3.3p a share to 3.5p a share. Net debt was £40.1m at the end of 2018. Energy supply volumes increased by 3%, but domestic volumes were 1.2% lower in an increasingly competitive market. The growth came in the business side, which increased volumes by 23%. Good Energy generates energy from six solar sites and two wind farms. The company expects to continue to grow business volumes and invest in digital technology. Non-executive director Nemone Wynn-Evans has bought 9,500 shares at 105p each.
Trading in PCG Entertainment (PCGE) shares has been suspended because it is in talks to acquire VOX Markets and Align Research.
Karoo Energy (KEP) has been told by its potential nominated adviser does not believe its is suitable for an AIM quotation. This also means that the planned fundraising cannot go ahead. A refinancing is required. There are trade creditors of around £300,000. Trading in the shares has been suspended.
Primorus Investments (PRIM) has maintained its 3.4% stake in Fresho by participating in its latest fundraising, which was at a 76% premium to the price paid for the initial investment. The investment is worth A$673,000.
Dana Group International Investments Ltd (DANA) reported swing from loss of $129,000 to a profit of $95,000 in the six months to December 2018, due to other income of $276,000.
Tectonic Gold (TAU) says that roc chip samples from the Clermont project in Queensland show up to 8.01g/t gold, 140g/t silver and 6.32% copper.
Panther Metals (PALM) has completed the acquisition of Parthian Resources and its former shareholders own 16.1% of Panther.
Inqo Investments Ltd (INQO) has raised a further £225,000 at 90p a share.
Imperial X (IMPP) has changed its focus to medicinal cannabis. There was a small cash outflow in the six months to the end of December 2018. There was nearly £70,000 in the bank with net cash of £19,000. There are net liabilities and more cash will be required later this year.
Steve Howson is stepping down as chief executive of SG Recruitment Ltd (SGRL) and he will become a non-executive director. Majority shareholder David Sumner will be interim chief executive.
AIM
Footasylum (FOOT) has recommended a 82.5p a share bid from JD Sports Fashion (SPD) which values the footwear retailer at £90.1m. JD Sports was buying shares between 50p and 75p and built up a 18.7% stake. The bidder promises to maintain the separate commercial identity. Footasylum floated in November 2017 at 164p a share.
Diaceutics (DXRX) ended the week at 97.5p, having floated at 72p. The company provides data analysis and advisory services to pharma companies seeking to develop and commercialise diagnostic tests. There were £15.2m of placing proceeds net of expenses and £5.5m will be spent on the acquisition of data, while the rest will be used to pay off debt and develop AI analysis technology. There is limited liquidity in the shares because they are tightly held.
Wynnstay Group (WYN) warns that trading in the second quarter is weak because of the warmer winter weather. There has also been a weakening in farmgate prices. Interim figures will be well below the first half of last year and the full year will be below forecast. Peel Hunt argues that it has already factored these elements into its forecast for rival feed supplier NWF (NWF) and it is not changing its forecasts.
Pelatro (PTRO) has launched a data monetisation platform with a revenue share contract with an existing client, which is worth $500,000 in the first year. This is a product that can be sold to other customers.
Financial trading platform Aquis Exchange (AQX) reported 2018 revenues ahead of expectations and it doubled its market share during the year. The subscription-based model means that higher trading levels by a trader lead to subscription income levels going up. Aquis will continue to be loss-making this year, but the relatively fixed cost base means that once this is covered the profit should grow significantly as revenues grow.
Scientific instruments supplier Judges Scientific (JDG) increased is cash generation from operations from £10.9m to £15.7m in 2018. There was 5.5% organic growth in revenues and underlying operating profit rose by just over one-third to £14.7m. The cash balance has increased to £15.7m, which provides firepower for acquisitions. Shore Capital has edged up its earnings per share forecast from 188.8p to 190p.
Volvere (VLE) says full year revenues from continuing operations will rise from £16.2m to £18.6m. There was a £23.1m gain on the sale of Impetus Automotive. There was an underlying loss on continuing activities, but the frozen pie maker Shire Foods improved its profit contribution. There is £34.1m of cash in the Volvere balance sheet.
Frontier IP (FIPP) says that the outcome for the year to June 2019 is likely to be ahead of management expectations. A deal by investee company Exscientia, which is involved in AI-based drug discovery, with Celgene Corporation should result in a substantial uplift in its valuation.
Science in Sport (SIS) had a 25-day contribution from the profitable PhD Nutrition business in 2018. The group’s underlying loss increased last year, but PhD will help to reduce the loss and the cash outflow from operations, which was £6.42m last year. There is £8m in the bank and even with capital investment requirements that should be enough to cover requirements this year.
Ceramic products supplier Portmeirion Group (PMP) increased its 2018 pre-tax profit by 10% to £9.7m and a further rise to £10.3m is forecast for this year. Online sales are growing rapidly from a relatively low base. The home fragrance business is doing well, and capacity is being added. The total dividend is 8% higher at 35.7p a share.
Share (SHRE) improved its significantly improved its profitability in the second half of 2018, although trading levels weakened towards the end of the year. That weakness has continued into the early months of this year. Evan so, Cenkos forecasts a rise in pre-tax profit from £700,000 to £1.3m, upgraded from £1.1m, in 2019.
Clear Leisure (CLP) has placed its 50%-owned data mining operation in Serbia on a care and maintenance basis. This is due to the fall in the price of cryptocurrency. Legal actions and negotiations continue concerning a number of past investments. Clear has paid £76,000 for a 10% stake in PBV, which provides data services for the Italian legal sector. At the end of 2018, there were €2.1m of bonds converted into shares.
Andrew Perloff has increased his stake in 600 Group (SIXH) from 6.19% to 8.85%.
Midatech Pharma (MTPH) has changed the ratio of its ADRs from two shares for each ADR to 20 shares for each ADR. This is a way of getting the trading price of the ADRs on NASDAQ back above $1.
EQTEC (EQT) could be a beneficiary of the deal done by its largest shareholder EBIOSS with Urbaser for the collection, treatment and possible conversion of waste to energy. Urbaser is conducting due diligence on EQTEC’s gasification technology and this could be used for any waste to energy plant if all three parties come to an agreement on a specific opportunity. Projects could be in Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia and Romania.
A local authority report has placed a five year reserve status on the Plymouth Airport site where Sutton Harbour (SUH) has a 135 year lease. The local authorities are keen that the site should be used for general aviation, but a viable business plan needs to be put together. Sutton Harbour would like to develop the site.
Tau Capital (TAU) has sent a circular to shareholders concerning a capital return of $1.19m or 2.42 cents a share, raise $150,000 via a placing at 0.1 cents a share and change its name to UK Onshore. Reverse takeover candidates are being assessed. Gerwyn Williams and Nigel Burton will join the board.
Synectics (SNX) has won a £1m order from the oil and gas sector. This is the largest order for its surveillance systems from this sector for a number of years. Synectics reported a rise in full year revenues from £70.1m to £71.2m and pre-tax profit slipped from £3.02m to £2.86m. The full year dividend is increased from 4p a share to 4.7p a share.
MAIN MARKET
Athelney Trust (ATY) has responded to the letter from former director Dr Pohl, who wants to regain his place on the board along with Simon Moore and remove David Lawman. Dr Pohl has acquired more than 100,000 shares in the past month, and this means that five shareholders own more than 50% of the investment company putting its investment trust status at risk. As long as there is more than 35% of the company held by the public this is not a problem, but it would be if Dr Pohl joined the board. There have been £90,000 of extra costs because of disputes between the two major shareholders. The plan remains to bring Gresham House on board as fund manager
WideCells Group (WDC) is changing its name to Iconic Labs and moving into digital marketing and technology. The management of this business previously built up social publisher Unilad. In the first 12 months, an agency consulting division will be launched to assists clients to develop brands. There are plans to build up a distribution and publishing division through acquisitions and launch content licensing and e-commerce divisions. There is little indication of what will happen to the stem cell operations, although management appears to believe that the insurance business could be worth pursuing. Historic liabilities are being resolved. The convertible loan note holder continues to convert a proportion of the loan note that is below 30% and then sell the shares. There are 785.6 million shares in issue with more to come.
Bluebird Merchant Ventures (BMV) has raised £436,500 at 2.25p a share. The cash will be used for the pre-construction phase of the South Korean gold projects. An agreement has been made with a local landowner for the use of land outside the main entrance of the Kochang mine.
Highlands Natural Resources (HNR) has raised £1.56m at 8.5p a share via an offer through PrimaryBid.com. This cash will fund a move by the natural resources company into the organic cannabidiol market. It has established Zoetic Organics in the US and it believes that hydrogen produced by Highland in Kansas can be used as a fertiliser with potential to increase the size of the plant. First revenues could be achieved in the summer.
Standard list shell Stranger Holdings (STHP) claims that Alchemy Utilities Ltd has sabotaged the proposed reverse takeover by refusing to provide audited accounts. Stranger is trying to get back the £300,000 it lent to Alchemy as well as its reverse takeover costs of £450,000. Stranger believes that the Alchemy management team may have misrepresented its financial status. An alternative acquisition is being lined up, but Stranger had negative net assets at the end of September 2018 and there are additional costs since then.
Standard list shell Hertsford Capital (HERT) still had £2.88m in cash at the end of 2018.
Telecoms services provider Toople (TOOP) is growing its gross profit but EBITDA is similar to the same period last year, which was around £650,000.
PV Crystalox Solar (PVCS) has ended its wafer production activities in Germany and it intends to apply its wire sawing expertise to cutting non-silicon materials. There are plans to return £38.5m to shareholders, which is equivalent to 24p a share and that is not far short of the current market price. That could still leave more than €10m of cash. Management is considering whether to maintain a listing.
Sure Ventures (SURE) says 23%-owned Suir Valley Ventures has maintained its 10% stake in WarDucks, which is developing an AR game, by participating in a €3.3m fundraising.
Andrew Hore
Andrew Hore – Quoted Micro 26 February 2018
Blockchain technology investor Coinsilium Group Ltd (COIN) is advising Tutellus Technologies on its upcoming token generation event. Tutellus matches students with teachers in the Spanish-speaking world. The Tutellus token will be used as a medium of exchange for the new blockchain-based platform. Richard Lloyd has been appointed as adviser to Coinsilium’s Gibraltar-based subsidiary TerraStream, which is developing a token offering platform. TerraStream intends to raise cash via a token offer but it is waiting for a more specific set of regulations from the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission that should be published in the second quarter.
IMC Exploration Group (IMCP) has decided to focus on the flagship project in gold project at Avoca, Wicklow and the Kilbricken zinc deposit in County Clare. IMC plans to relinquish five licences.
Natural resources investing company MetalNRG (MNRG) has appointed Rolf Gerritsen as chief executive and he is subscribing for 2.5 million shares at 2p each, combined with 2.5 million warrants exercisable at 3p each. The former chief executive Paul Johnson is acquiring the same number of shares on the same terms. MetalNRG is progressing the potential standard listings of a number of resources businesses and it will retain stakes. MetalNRG is also seeking to move to the standard list.
Health staff recruiter Healthperm Resourcing Ltd (HPR) generated revenues of £250,000 in 2017. There were 130 candidates deployed. The company intends to double its number of employees by the end of June 2018. New contracts have been won in the Middle East and with Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and these candidates will be found this year. The 2017 figures should be published in May.
AIM
Gooch and Housego (GHH) says that it is experiencing exceptional demand for critical components for microelectronic manufacturing and this has offset any slowing in demand for high reliability fibre couplers. Trading is in line with expectations and there will be a second half weighting to the year’s figures. US tax changes will reduce the deferred tax in the balance sheet by £500,000 and cut the effective rate of tax to around 23%.
Lighthouse Group (LGT) is doing particularly well at the moment. The IFA significantly increased its business from affinity groups and average revenues per adviser rose by nearly one-quarter to £122,000. Assets under management are starting to build up and the fees from these will begin to become more important. In 2017, pre-tax profit improved from £1.9m to £2.5m and net cash was £8.7m. The dividend was raised from 0.27p a share to 0.42p a share.
Scotland-based Springfield Properties (SPR) reported maiden interim results. Revenues were 10% higher at £54.8m and pre-tax profit was £3.1m, up from £2.6m. The fastest growth came from the affordable homes division. The private housing side is waiting for planning permissions for planned villages in Scotland but existing permissions mean that the second half has significant contracted revenues. Even though Springfield was quoted for a few weeks of the period it is paying a 1p a share interim dividend.
Saffron Energy (SRON) has asked for trading in its shares to be suspended because there have been changes to the proposed acquisition of south east Asian oil and gas assets. A supplementary admission document is likely to be required.
Gas and electricity supplier Flowgroup (FLOW) has secured £5m of additional funding from Palm Ventures and Lombard Odier Asset Management to provide seasonal working capital. Cost savings are on track but the market remains competitive.
Ultimate Sports Group (USG) has decided to stop marketing spending on the UltimatePlayer.me children’s sport platform due to disappointing take-up. There will be a £521,000 write-off relating to this platform. There was £130,000 in the bank at the end of 2017 and Ultimate has raised £537,500 at 5p a share, although this will require a capital reduction. Richard Bernstein is acquiring nine million shares and David Kyte the other 1.75 million shares. Eurovestech-boss Bernstein has been engaged to find a suitable business to acquire and a successful transaction would net him a fee of 1% of the value of the acquisition.
Fintech business TruFin (TRU) joined AIM on 21 February, when it raised £70m at 190p a share. The share price ended the week at 214p.
Stanley Gibbons (SGI) has secured a £19.4m investment from Phoenix UK Fund to shore up its poor balance sheet. This will leave Phoenix with a majority stake, but it will take out the RBS debt.
CCTV technology business Synectics (SNX) improved its pre-tax profit from £2.6m to £3m last year, despite strong comparatives in the key gaming sector in the previous year. Oil and gas improved its contribution but trading in transport was hit by the lack of new buses being bought by companies. Synectics expects flat pre-tax profit of £3m for the year to November 2018, due to additional development spending, but a sharp jump to £4m is forecast for next year.
Tristel (TSTL) has been hit by tough trading conditions in surface cleaners in the NHS and investment in gaining approvals have also held back profit. The international business goes from strength to strength and this helped interim pre-tax profit to grow to £2m. US EPA approvals for surface cleaners could be gained by May but then state by state approvals are required so revenues will not flow through until 2019. Approvals for endoscope cleaning products require FDA approval and will take longer.
Drilling results from the APTA deposit at the Anza project in Colombia that is 100%-owned by Orosur Mining Inc (OMI) have been positive. High grade gold mineralised intercepts currently cover a strike extent of 1.5km and a depth of 275 metres. Results are awaited on five more holes and six holes will be drilled on Charrascala deposit.
Kin Group (KIN) says it will not make an acquisition by 28 February so trading in the shares will be suspended. There are talks with potential acquisitions and £800,000 remains in the bank.
MAIN MARKET
London and Associated Properties (LAS) is selling the Brixton markets to Market Village for £37.25m in cash. This compares to book value of £24.5m. The net income is £1.2m a year. London and Associate Properties had net assets of £38m, which is equivalent to 44.5p a share, at the end of June 2017. The share price is at a one-third discount to the June 2017 even without any profit on the disposal and gearing should fall to below 100%.
Macfarlane Group (MACF) increased pre-tax profit by 19% to £9.3m on the back of a 9% increase in revenues. The profit growth came from the packaging distribution division with the manufacturing division making a lower contribution. The full year dividend was raised from 1.95p a share to 2.1p a share. The pension deficit has been cut from £14.5m to £11.8m.
BATM Advanced Communications (BVC) had a strong second half and 2017 revenues were much better than expected. EBITDA is expected to jump from $2.8m to $7m. The growth is coming from both the networking and biomedical divisions.
Precious stones explorer Shefa Yamim (SEFA) says that Macquarie University has confirmed the existence of moissanite coupled with titanium-rich corundum in its licence area volcanic rocks and this augurs well for the potential of the Kishon Mid-Reach project.
Andrew Hore
Ian Pollard – HSBC More Secure Than in 2011, Surprise Surprise !!
HSBC Holdings HSBA claims that 2017 produced good results which demonstrate the strength and potential of HSBC and, believe it or not, it is simpler, stronger and more secure than it was in 2011.If that is the best it can find to say about itself that is not a rosy picture. Adjusted profit before tax rose by 11% and reported profit before tax by 141 %. The final dividend has been maintained and the group has benefited from 1% of positive adjusted jaws which should please everyone who enjoys jargon. Significantly I can not find in the report a single mention of service or customer care, although plaudit upon plaudit is heaped on senior management for the sterling work it is said to have done during the year. HSBC has also agreed to pay over $100m dollars by way of settlement of a US criminal investigation into rigged currency transactions in which its excellent senior management involved it.
Dunelm Group DNLM is increasing its interim dividend by 7.7% for the half year to the 31st December, after like for like sales growth of 6% and total growth of 18%. Online sales grew by 50% or 36.8% on a like for like basis. Underlying basic earnings per share fell by 6.6% as against a rise of 1.8% on a reported basis, whilst underlying profit before tax fell by 8% compared to a tiny rise of 0.7% on a reported basis. The company is pleased that it continued to gain market share in a static homeware market.
Tracsis Group TRCS trading across all parts of the business was strong in the six months to the 31st January and comfortably ahead of the previous year. Revenue rose from £15.6m to £18m and EBITDA was up by 25%. The completion of two acquisitions on the 1st February are expected to lead to further growth
Lighthouse Group LGT delivered an excellent set of results for 2017 with profit before tax rising by 32%, in celebration of which it is increasing the final dividend from 18p per share to 30p.representing an increase of 55% for the full year after taking into account the increase in the interim dividend from 9p. to 12p. Revenue for the year grew by 13% and EBITDA by 27%.
Synectics plc SNX is increasing its final dividend by 50% to match the rise in profit before tax also up by 50%, despite revenue for the year to 30th November remaining static and a fall in the year end order book.
Villas & houses for sale in Greece; http://www.hiddengreece.net
Quoted Micro 24 July 2017
NEX EXCHANGE
Ace Liberty & Stone (ALSP) has raised £10m via a 6% convertible loan note. The conversion price is 71.25p a share and full conversion would be the equivalent of 26% of the share capital. The loan note is redeemable on 23 May 2019. The holder of the loan note has also been granted an option to purchase some of Ace’s properties.
Block Energy (BLOK) has increased its ownership of the Norio onshore oil field production sharing contract in Georgia from 38% to 69% at a cost of $310,000 in cash. The plan is to move to a 100% working interest. Schlumberger estimates that Norio contains 118.7 million stock tank oil initially in place and it has produced 1.9 million barrels. The production is running at 25 barrels per day and the plan is to increase this to more than 250 barrels per day. That could happen within six weeks of the start of a work programme.
African Potash (AFPO) has raised £50,000 at 0.045p a share and appointed Alexander David as its new corporate adviser. This will help to get the trading suspension lifted. Warrants to raise a further £50,000 will last for 90 days from the lifting of suspension. An agreement has been entered with African Agronomix, which is being given the right to acquire 100% of the company’s 70% interest in the Lac Dinga project in the Republic of Congo.
NQ Minerals (NQMI) has appointed Beaumont Cornish as its provisional nominated adviser for a proposed move to AIM. NQ Minerals has secured a $7m loan facility from the RIVI Opportunity Fund and this funds the final payment for the Hellyer gold mine in Tasmania. A gold purchase agreement means that 14% of the first 22,000 ounces of payable gold and 7% of the amount in excess of that figure has to be sold to RIVI.
The joint venture between a 40%-owned subsidiary of food and logistics company AfriAg Global (AFRI) and LGC Capital, which is quoted on TSX, is acquiring a 60% stake in South Africa-based House of Hemp, which has a long-term lease on the only certified indoor cannabis growing facility. The joint venture is paying nearly C$20,000 and C$37,000 a month for six months. The joint venture will also secure C$4.9m to scale up production. David Lenigas is chairman of both joint venture companies.
MiLOC Group Ltd (ML.P) has raised £166,000 at 28.5p a share.
AIM
Audio visual products distributor Midwich Group (MIDW) says that the weakness of sterling has helped it to grow and the recently acquired Spanish business has done better than expected. This has led to upgrades for the next three years. Investec has raised the 2017 earnings forecast to 21.3p a share. Cash generation remains strong and the net debt forecast has been reduced to £20.2m. The interim figures will be reported on 12 September.
Regenerative medical devices developer Tissue Regenix Group (TRX) is acquiring CellRight Technologies, a US-based developer of bone processing and soft tissue products, for an initial $25.9m (£19.9m) with an earn-out of up to $4.1m (£3.1m) depending on revenues. The bone technology widens the group product range from a pure focus on soft tissue products. The deal also includes a US manufacturing facility. CellRight has launched 13 products since 2012 and more are due in the second half of 2017. The products are sold through distributors. In 2016, revenues were $5.42m and the gross margin was 62%. Two-fifths of revenues were from spine products. In the eleven months to December 2016, Tissue Regenix revenues were £1.44m. Tissue Regenix raised £40m at 10p a share and the additional funds will finance the growth of the enlarged business. All but one of the directors has subscribed for new shares. Management believes it is possible for the group to move into profit by 2020. Tissue Regenix plans to launch seven products over the next two years.
Qannas Investments Ltd (QIL) is using $8m to tender for 12.9% of the share capital at $0.90 each. There are not enough distributable reserves to pay a dividend of this size.
Transport optimisation software and services provider Tracsis (TRCS) has won a multi-million pound contract with a UK rail operator. The contract will last four years and includes the renewal of some existing licences. There should be recurring revenues after the four year period. There will be no contribution in the year to July 2017.
Tristel (TSTL) says that sales in the year to June 2017 were 17% higher at more than £20m and pre-tax profit is going to be more than 10% higher than forecast. The pre-tax profit is expected to be £4m. The growth is predominantly from international sales.
Crop enhancement technology developer Plant Impact (PIM) says that full year revenues will be between £8.5m and £9m, up from £7.2m the previous year. This is despite the cancelation of shipments of Veritas to Brazil. Contract discussions about Veritas with Bayer in Brazil are continuing and they may take some time. However, new buying arrangements are expected to help 2017-18 revenues reach £13m. There is £3.2m left in the bank but a further £2m is being raised at 31p a share with the possibility of a further £2m. This cash is required to finance R&D.
IP Group has raised its all share offer for Touchstone Innovations (IVO) but technology business developer says that the offer of 304p a share, based on an IP Group share price of 137p, is still below its NAV of 312p a share.
EQTEC Group (EQT) is in talks to acquire the waste-to-energy technology subsidiary of its majority shareholder, EBIOSS. EQTEC will pay for the business in shares and it will also need to raise more cash for working capital. Due diligence is being undertaken.
TV programmes producer Zinc Media Group (ZIN) expects to make EBITDA of £300,000 in the year to June 2017. The business has been restructured and starts the new financial year with a strong base. There is a commissioned TV slate of £6.5m for this year.
Security technology supplier Synectics (SNX) reported a 5% increase in revenues and a rise in gross margins, which enabled the interim pre-tax profit to increase by £1m to £1.3m. The oil and gas sector is showing signs of recovery and the order book is worth £33.7m. There is net cash of £1.8m. A full year profit of £3m is forecast.
Inland Homes (INL) increased its completions by 28% to 188, helped by the development of the company’s in-house construction team. In the year to June 2017, revenues will fall from £102m to £90m, although this excludes the revenues from two land sales.
First Property Group (FPO) has launched a new fund which could double third party assets under management. Fprop Offices LP has eight institutional investors and will invest in office blocks and business parks over a seven year term. So far, £182m has been invested in the fund, including £3m by First Property. A loan to value of up to 30% is allowed. This new fund will not pay recurring management fees and instead First Property will take a share of any profit.
Parity Group (PTY) continues to increase its exposure to consultancy activities. WH Ireland has trimmed its revenues expectation for this year but has maintained its pre-tax profit forecast at £1.6m.
Pembridge Resources (PERE) is raising £2.5m at 1.6p a share as part of the planned move to a standard listing.
MAIN MARKET
World Trade Systems (WTS) has dispatched a circular to shareholders in order to gain retrospective approval for loans from Kudrow, which is deemed to be a related party. This is part of the process of the re-application for a standard listing. Kudrow has waived its right to interest and there is an intention to convert the remaining loan of £860,000 into shares.
Bluebird Merchant Ventures Ltd (BMV) says that work has started on reopening the Gubong mine in South Korea.
Andrew Hore



