eEnergy Group (EAAS), a provider of energy efficiency solutions, announce three contract wins across the NHS and education sectors. EAAS said “Significantly, these contracts are outside our traditional routes to market, reinforcing the success of our framework-led strategy and diversification into key growth markets.”
Comment: EAAS notches up just under £1m of new wins, but given the decline in the share price and sentiment for the company of late, it probably needs a few more of such good news days.
Tern (TERN), the investment company specialising in supporting high growth, early-stage, disruptive IoT technology businesses, note that Device Authority Limited, a company in which Tern currently holds 25.3% of the equity, has announced that Microsoft, CyberArk, and Device Authority have joined forces to deliver a secure IoT solution for manufacturing based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology latest framework.
Comment: If this was not TERN, with its history of false dawns and fundraises, today’s news would probably be enough to send the shares rocketing. As it is, it will probably be enough to deliver a rally to allow the company to get its next placing away.
Persimmon (PSN) announced its full year results: “We entered 2025 with an improved forward order book and have continued to add to it since the start of the year. In the first nine weeks of 2025, our net private sales rate per outlet per week was 0.67, up 14% compared to the same period last year (2024: 0.59). Combined with a 3% increase in the private average selling price to £288,542 (2024: £279,282), our current private forward order book is £1.15bn, 27% higher year on year (2024: £0.90bn).”
Comment: It should be party time for housebuilders given the population demographics, as well as the government’s new policy to build the areas of the green belt owned by Sir Keir Starmer.
Empire Metals (EEE), the AIM-listed resource exploration and development company, is pleased to announce that an updated corporate presentation has been published on the Company’s website https://www.empiremetals.com/investors/shareholder-documents/presentations/.
Comment: Given how excited the market currently is regarding companies whose commodities are used in rockets and bullets, titanium focused EEE is back in the box seat as far as being flavour of the month. An easy return to last year’s 14p peak beckons.
Zephyr Energy (ZPHR) provided initial fourth quarter 2024 and full-year 2024 results related to hydrocarbon production from its non-operated asset portfolio in the Williston Basin, North Dakota and Montana, U.S., and an update on the Company’s flagship project in the Paradox Basin, Utah, U.S. ZPHR said “2024 was another strong year for our non-operated Williston portfolio. The historical investment in the portfolio continues to compound cashflow which enables us to pursue the significant upside potential of the Paradox project.”
Comment: Although one can say that on the operational side ZPHR has played a good game, the share price / valuation still reflects the aftermath of a company which disappointed some in the market in terms of tapping shareholders, and meeting timelines.
Chill Brands (CHLL), the consumer packaged-goods distribution company, announces its intention to raise funds through a proposed convertible loan note issue to support the Company’s strategic objectives during 2025 and provides an update on current business activity as well as for the expected timing of completion of the audit for the year to 31 March 2024. CHLL said it has continued to sell through its remaining inventory of Chill ZERO products while preparing for the impending ban on the sale of disposable vape devices, due to come into effect on 1 June 2025.
Comment: After all the company has been through, and what awaits it from June 1, it seems harsh to say anything negative.
Aptamer Group (APTA), the developer of novel Optimer® binders to enable innovation in the life sciences industry, announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2024 (H1 2025). Revenue £0.7 million (H1 2024: £0.3 million). Adjusted EBITDA loss of £1.1 million (H1 2024: £1.8 million). APTA said, “”I am pleased to report significant milestones across each of the Group’s asset development programmes. This includes the initiation of human skin trials with Unilever for our Optimer deodorant additives. We have also validated our binders for Alzheimer’s disease diagnostics with clinical samples with solid results. “
Comment: Deals with Unilever and Astrazeneca speak for themselves as far as the potential of APTA. The key now is getting EBITDA into the black.
Zenith Energy (ZEN), the listed international energy production and development company, announced that it has recently made coupon payments, in full and on time, in respect of the following multi-currency Euro Medium Term Notes the Company has issued on the Vienna MTF of the Vienna Stock Exchange.
Comment: Given the recent fundraise, and the excitement regarding how much it could win in Tunisia, one can imagine that the cashed up company has found it easy to meet its obligations.
Empyrean Energy (EME), the oil and gas development company with interests in Australia, Indonesia and the United States, announced that it has received notice from its joint venture partner, Condor Energy Services Ltd, that the rig package arrived on location and rig up for the Wilson River – 1 well has commenced. Completion of the rig up and testing is expected this week, with the Wilson River-1 well anticipated to spud during the coming weekend on Saturday 15th or Sunday 16th March.
Comment: While someone on X has suggested that success at Wilson River could make EME ten bagger, so far the market as a whole has yet to catch up on such enthusiasm.
Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals (HEMO) announce that it was approached by an institution wishing to make an investment into the Company; this investor will subscribe £709,200 for the issue of 394,000 new Ordinary Shares at £1.80 per share. The net proceeds of this subscription will be dedicated to the continuation of the Phase I clinical trials for the Company’s Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy, aimed at treating relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia in adults.
Comment: Presumably given that the usual private investor route to raise money may not be that easy for its currently, while it develops the cure for cancer, another £709k institutional slug is just what the doctor ordered. That said, it feels that more cash has gone into HEMO than HS2.
Solid State (SOLI), the specialist value added component supplier and design-in manufacturer of computing, power, and communications products, announces the receipt of a $25m order for communications equipment under a prominent defence order programme, to be delivered in the next financial year ending 31 March 2026 (FY25/26). This order was previously expected to be received and delivered in FY24/25, however as announced in November 2024, it was put on hold following the change in the UK Government and pending the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review. Whilst the defence review is expected to report in the Spring, this order has been approved by exception.
Comment: SOLI’s $25m order is a decent percentage of its now £100m market cap. Interestingly, the shares have already risen by around a third over the past week, so someone clearly guessed successfully that there was good news on the way.
Disclaimer & Declaration of Interest:
The information, investment views, and recommendations in this Zaks Traders Cafe interview are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing in this interview should be construed as a promotion or solicitation to buy or sell any financial product relating to any companies under discussion or referred to or to engage in or refrain from doing so or engage in any other transaction. Any opinions or comments are made to the best of the knowledge and belief of the commentator but no responsibility is accepted for actions based on such opinions or comments. The commentators may or may not hold investments in the companies under discussion.
