Hybridan Small Cap Feast

Joiners: Cleantech Lithium (CTL.L) has joined AIM. The Group is intending to produce lithium using a sustainable direct lithium extraction method, which returns water to its source instead of depleting vital aquifers. Each of the Projects are based in Chile, one of the world’s best regions for solar and other renewable energy. The intention is to utilise renewable energy for process power. The result being that the overall process will have a very low CO₂ footprint potentially giving a critical advantage in the European Union market which has set strict CO₂ emissions limits. Capital raised £5.6m. Mkt Cap £23.71m.

Leavers: Blue Prism has left AIM following a takeover.

Banquet Buffet

Altona Rare Earths 11.15p  £3.2m (AQSE:ANR)

The mining exploration company focused on the evaluation, acquisition and development of Rare Earth Elements (REE) mining projects in Africa announced that, following positive results from Phase 1 exploration of its Monte Muambe REE asset, it is proceeding with Phase 2 of the project. Phase 1 results show above average REE levels. Two new mineralised areas identified. Phase 2 resource drilling to start in April 2022 and last for up to 12 months. Phase 2 will deliver: maiden Mineral Resource Estimate, metallurgical testing and scoping study. Phase 1 total spend was £580k and Phase 2 costs expected to be approx. £1.2m. Full Intertek assay results expected by May 2022.

Altus Strategies 54.5p  £63.94m (ALS.L)

Further significant gold intersections from reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Company’s 100% owned, 105 square kilometre Diba & Lakanfla gold project in western Mali. The Lakanfla licence is located approximately 5km east of the Company’s Diba licence. Both licences host numerous gold prospects, including a shallow-dipping, near-surface gold deposit. Highlights: RC drilling completed at 100% owned Diba & Lakanfla in western Mali. Latest intersections from the Lakanfla Central prospect include (not true widths): 0.90 grams per tonne  Au over 66 metres from 41m; 1.32 g/t Au over 26m from 85m; 2.21 g/t Au over 12m from 137m o  4.37 g/t Au over 6m from 32m. Latest intersections from the Diba NW prospect include (not true widths): 1.81 g/t Au over 10m from 256m; 0.60 g/t Au over 23m from 154m. Programme designed to generate an updated Project Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). MRE to be integrated into an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment. Strategically located in a world-famous gold belt that hosts numerous open-pit mines.

Autins Group 19p  £7.5m (AUTG.L)

The UK and European manufacturer of the patented Neptune melt-blown material and specialist in the design, manufacture and supply of acoustic and thermal insulation solutions, will hold its Annual General Meeting at 11.00am today where the Group’s Chairman, Adam Attwood will provide the following statement: “FY21 was one of strategic progress despite automotive market uncertainty. We continued our operational improvements and successfully increased European and non-automotive sales, particularly German flooring and products made from our proprietary melt blown material, Neptune. However, the positive H1 momentum was checked in H2 by semiconductor related supply chain disruption which adversely affected automotive volumes This led the Group to undertake and successfully complete a £3m placing in December 2021 to improve cash headroom and ensure the Company is well positioned to take advantage of future market recovery. Sales volumes in H1 FY22 remain similar to H2 FY21 due to the continued impact of semiconductor shortages. The industry had previously forecast an improvement in semiconductor supply in the second half of calendar year 2022, but the war in Ukraine adds to the overall uncertainty and timing of the recovery. Medium-term prospects remain positive with good retail demand for cars being reported. We are progressing our EV strategy and will continue to diversify into non-automotive markets”.

Empire Metals 1.08p  £3.9m (EEE.L)

Results of the Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling programme at the Eclipse Gold Project and the commencement of the follow-up Diamond Drill (DD) programme, which will continue over the next few weeks. The RC drilling programme, the fourth carried out by Empire at Eclipse, was designed to gather further geological and structural information on the mineralised shear and to test for lodes below the gold-depleted zone of weathering. Drilling to date has confirmed that gold mineralisation is associated with a NW-striking and steeply SW-dipping shear zone (Eclipse shear) with significant gold mineralisation known to extend over a strike length of more than 200 metres. Seven RC holes for a total of 960m have been completed so far, focused mainly on demonstrating that the gold mineralisation persists at depth around the Eclipse shaft and Jack’s Dream shaft, and to test for continuity along strike to the south-east. Several of the RC holes intercepted the Eclipse shear, with significant intercepts reported as follows: 10m @ 1.12g/t Au from 107m downhole at ECRC22_005; 3m @ 1.31g/t Au from 93m downhole at ECRC22_004; 3m @ 1.30g/t Au from 98m downhole at ECRC22_004; 1m @ 0.41g/t Au from 64m downhole at ECRC22_003; 2m @ 0.33g/t Au from 86m downhole at ECRC22_001. The next phase of the campaign has commenced and consists of 6 DD holes for a total of 900m, which will provide important geological and structural data and will allow Empire to update and improve the geological model at Eclipse.

Prospex Energy 4p  £10.0m (PXEN.L)

The investment company focused on European energy projects updated on the production strategy from its El Romeral power project near Carmona in Southern Spain in which the Company holds a 49.9% working interest through Tarba Energía S.L.. The owners of Tarba (Prospex and Warrego Energy Limited) have agreed to operate the El Romeral power plant 24 hours per day for 6 days per week until further notice. The reservoir performance and the operating regime are being monitored closely and the Tarba management is confident that the right balance is being achieved between ultimate recovery of remaining reserves and maximising electricity output and therefore income at this time. Over the last 2 weeks the power plant has been successfully operating 24 hours a day, 6 days a week securing the recent high electricity prices. The power-plant automation and operational procedures have now been fully tested to enable continuous operation whenever required. Currently Tarba has cash in hand of more than EUR400k and the forecast revenue for March 2022 is likely to exceed EUR500k at current forward curve electricity prices. The reservoir modelling work by Tarba will continue to forecast gas production profiles from the El Romeral concession using a suite of production strategies including further sensitivities on rates, pressures and ultimate recoveries. The production strategy will be regularly reviewed and optimised based on sound reservoir management.

Semper Fortis Esports* 1.13p  £4.64m (AQSE:SEMP)

The esports company focused on establishing teams and forming brand and technology partnerships announced the launch of its new blockchain-based play-to-earn gaming division, SMPR Guild. Play-to-earn is a new category in video gaming that rewards players for winning and completing tasks with game-based tokens which are free to use in-game or convert into cryptocurrency and then into fiat currency. The Company will purchase in-game items (non-fungible tokens—NFTs) required to play a game and then provide access to these to active game players on a revenue share basis. The players earn game-based token rewards by playing which are then split between the player and the Company. The initial acquisition costs of the NFTs can range from $10 to $1,000. The Company will enable players who do not have the upfront capital required to purchase the NFTs to participate in games by sharing their earnings with the Company. The revenue split differs game by game and can be impacted by the cost of the NFTs as well as the time and effort spent in the game. Several players have already joined the SMPR Guild scholarship program. Scholarships are revenue-sharing programs that allow new players access to NFTs; any resulting in-game rewards are shared between the scholar and the Company. The NFTs (assets) owned by the Company will have intrinsic value which may increase or decrease with time. The Company will always have the option to resell these assets in the secondary open market. Part of the Company’s strategy will be to enter promising games at the preliminary stages when the acquisition costs of the NFTs are cheap to minimise risk and benefit from the uplift in value of the NFTs as the popularity of the game increases.

Shearwater Group 94p  £22.4m (SWG.L)

The organisational resilience group that provides cybersecurity, advisory and managed security services announced that its group company, Brookcourt Solutions, has secured a significant three-year advanced endpoint cyber defence solution contract with a global financial organisation, totalling $4.1m. The contract contributes to the Group’s current full year expectations. Under the terms of this contract, Brookcourt Solutions will be responsible for deploying one of its technology partners’ cutting-edge endpoint security software solutions across the breadth of the financial organisation’s operations. This solution will improve the resilience of the organisation’s digital estate.

Synairgen 21.34p  £42.7m (SYN.L)

The respiratory company developing SNG001, a formulation for inhalation containing the broad-spectrum antiviral protein interferon beta, today announces that the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has halted all patient recruitment in its Phase 2/3 COVID-19 trial, which included the assessment of SNG001. The development today is due to the significant shift in the nature of the pandemic which would necessitate a substantial modification of the study design not feasible in this multiple treatment-arm, platform trial. Due to these changes in the pandemic, a new clinical trial design is needed to evaluate the efficacy of SNG001 against COVID-19. As a result, lead investigators from ACTIV-2 and Synairgen are in ongoing discussions to try to identify an appropriate clinical trial to continue the evaluation of SNG001. The NIH led ACTIV-2 trial was established to investigate potential therapies in non-hospitalised adults experiencing mild to moderate COVID-19. SNG001 was included in this study in February 2021 and the Independent Data Safety Monitoring Board for ACTIV-2 had previously (October 2021) recommended it advance from Phase 2 into Phase 3. 

Ten Lifestyle Group 85p  £71.6m (TENG.L)

The technology-enabled, global concierge platform for the world’s wealthy and mass affluent, has been awarded a significant commission from an existing major global financial services client to develop and enhance Ten’s proprietary digital platform used by the client’s valued customers. In this addition to the existing contract, Ten will be paid to develop new features that are expected to increase customer engagement, the number of active users and related revenues. These include the integration of the client’s own assets into the existing asset-rich digital platform environment to enhance the overall proposition to the customer base.  The fee for this project is expected to grow the existing Extra Large contract by the equivalent of a Medium contract over the next 12 months and may be renewed over the following years. This addition to the existing contract is incorporated within the Group’s existing growth plan.

Tintra 220p  £31.9m (TNT.L)

The fast-growth RegTech business, Tintra PLC announces the next stage of its strategy, previously set out in the announcement of 4 November 2021, the development of what the Board believes to be the world’s first built for purpose Web 3.0 banking platform, to expand its already-extensive technological capabilities, through to the launch of an equally innovative fully functional metaverse bank. This latest proposed expansion of Tintra’s technological capabilities complement its existing investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Building on its partnership with TMC2, Tintra is continuing to develop end-to-end AI-driven technologies, designed to allow emerging market financial institutions to access global banking systems. The advanced technology the Group is developing is set, in the Board’s view, to revolutionise the regulatory environment and make access to the global marketplace as seamless in Africa, Latin America or Asia tomorrow as it is in Europe or the United States today.

What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen?

Aquis Exchange (AQX.L) the exchange services group, announced its intention to apply for admission of the Group to trading on the Apex Segment of the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market. Aquis’ shares will continue to trade on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange plc to satisfy certain regulatory requirements. The Group is targeting admission to the AQSE Growth Market on 29 March 2022.

Anglesey Mining, a UK mining company currently listed on the Main Market (Premium) intends to move to AIM. Anglesey’s principal asset is a 100% interest in the Parys Mountain copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver project on the island of Anglesey in North Wales. Anglesey is currently exploring and developing the property, which has a high potential for the discovery of additional mineral resources through the development of a new, modern mine in an environmentally sustainable manner. Anticipated Mkt Cap TBC, current capitalisation c£8m. Expected 8 April 2022.

Summerway Capital plc, (AIM:SWC) to be renamed Celadon Pharmaceuticals plc following completion of the acquisition of Vertigrow Technology Ltd, is to relist on AIM. Vertigrow is a UK based pharmaceutical Company specialising in the researching, growing and supply of medicinal cannabis, for a total consideration of £80m. Summerway is an investing company focused on investment and acquisition opportunities across the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, particularly within new and emerging therapeutic areas. Capital to be raised on admission £8.5m. Anticipated Mkt Cap approximately £101.8m. Due 28 March 2022.

Cordiant Global Agricultural Income plc intends to float on the Main Market (Premium). The Company’s investment objective will be to seek to provide an attractive yield, with potential capital growth, by providing secured medium-term finance to the global agricultural sector. The Company will seek to promote more sustainable crop production and help address a capital solutions gap which exists in the agricultural sector in select regions. The Company will provide finance for crop inputs and for capital investment in new technologies and infrastructure which help increase crop yields and have a sustainable benefit. Mkt Cap and Capital to be raised TBC.

Shellraise plc, to join AQSE Growth Market. The Company will focus on identifying investment opportunities in companies operating in the viticulture sector which require funding to increase output. Mkt Cap and Capital to be raised TBC. Expected 18 March 2022.

Carbon Air, a nano-technology company which leverages the adsorption properties of activated carbon and other advanced materials to improve suspension systems, enhance acoustics or reduce noise, to join AIM. The Company’s proprietary technology has allowed it to develop a unique portfolio of solutions for a variety of sizeable end markets, including vehicle suspension systems, acoustic insulation for domestic appliances and micro-speakers for smartphones. Mkt Cap and Capital to be raised TBC. Due Late March.

Recycling Tech Group to join AIM, a UK-based engineering, research and manufacturing company that has developed a modular and mass producible machine, the RT7000, which processes hard to recycle plastic waste into a synthetic oil that can be sold back to the petrochemicals industry as a chemical feedstock to make new plastics. Mkt Cap and Capital to be raised TBC. Due early April 2022.

*A corporate client of Hybridan LLP

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