Yesterday Ethtry PLC (AQSE: ETHY) announced that it has agreed Heads of Terms to acquire 100% of Dunbar Energy Ltd and Dunbar Energy Inc, companies developing behind-the-meter gas to electricity powered data centre shell projects, creating an enlarged US-focused energy and digital infrastructure business with an indicative combined pre-money equity value of US$15 million. The proposed Transaction represents a major step in Ethtry’s strategy to build a significantly larger, asset-backed business positioned at the intersection of energy, digital infrastructure and growing data-centre demand.
Comment: A surprisingly large deal from a small listed company, in a vast, new gold rush area: data centres. Of particular interest here is that this is a niche player, going for brownfield sites and small scale units that will not attract the ire of nimbies and Luddites.
Savills plc (SVS), the global real estate advisor, today announced its unaudited results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Group revenue up 9% (same in constant currency) with year-on-year growth reported across all business segment. Group underlying profit before tax increased 47% (49% in constant currency), including significant improvement in profitability in North America. Reported profit and earnings were affected by one-off costs related to the acquisition of Eastdil Secured Holdings LLC. Acquisition of Eastdil Secured completed on 31 July 2026.
Comment: It is interesting that while SVS does moan and groan regarding macro factors, it seems to be the case that the business is diversified geographically and otherwise to withstand even a crackpot Iran conflict. This should stand the company in good stead, especially in its home turf of the UK, where things look to be dead in the water.
Rank (RNK) announced its preliminary results for the 12 months ended 30 June 2026. RNK said, “We finished 2025/26 with strong trading momentum and have made a good start to the new financial year with Group NGR up 8% for the first six weeks. Within this, digital revenues grew 10% and Grosvenor gaming machine revenues grew 15%. We reiterate our ambition to deliver at least £100m underlying operating profit in the medium term. Digital profitability will inevitably step down in 2026/27, however, due to the annualised impact of RGD at 40%, despite the decisive mitigating actions we have taken in 2025/26.”
Comment: Anyone who was looking for RNK shares to jump as it did previously on results, this did not happen (so far) today. Perhaps people are still recovering from the eclipse? That said, the technical set up of an end of day close through 104p leading to 124p, could still be delivered in coming days…
Entain plc (ENT), the global sports betting and gaming group, today reported Interim Results for the six-month period ending 30th June 2026. H1 Group Net Gaming Revenue +5%cc, ahead of expectations with both Online and Retail outperforming. H1 Online NGR +7%cc reflects continuing strong volume growth (+9%cc) and stronger than expected performances in UK&I (+13%cc) and Australia (+13%cc). Online Underlying H1 EBITDA margin 21.4%, with Entain CEE reported as discontinued operations.
Comment: Apart from the horrible name, one wonders what ENT could have offered up today in order to get its share price moving. This is especially concerning given the way that the shares have already been bumping along the bottom, and it difficult to envisage what would change this state of affairs.
NeoTerra (TERA), the African critical minerals exploration and development company, provided an update on gallium metallurgical testing for its Monte Muambe Project in Mozambique. Gallium pre-concentration pathway using XRT technology successfully identified. Initial hydrometallurgy testing using acid route delivers 85% gallium extraction. Results support further work to develop a gallium recovery flowsheet.
Comment: One already forgets the old name of TERA, but perhaps still yearns for the shares being back up at 4p plus as it was in April. Gallium is great as is today’s 85% number, the only issue is that no one really knows what it is used for. A very pretty note from Zeus though.
Distil Plc (DIS), owner of premium drinks brands including RedLeg Spiced Rum, Blackwoods Gin and Vodka, and Blavod Black Vodka, announced that it has received the first order through its U.S. distribution partner to bring Blavod Black Vodka back into the U.S. market. Blavod previously experienced success in the U.S. market and benefits from latent brand awareness. Vodka is the largest spirits category by volume and value in the U.S.
Comment: One certainly learns something new every day in terms of Vodka being so hot in the USA, something which could be related to the prospect of the current incumbent of the White House wanting to entertain a third time. It remains to be seen though, whether DIS can make the leap from being a small cap on the verge of greatness over the Pond, to a fully fledged Diageo contender.
Ethernity Networks Ltd (ENET), a supplier of data-processing semiconductor technology for networking appliances, provide an update regarding the Company’s patent-monetisation activities. Ethernity has been pursuing a process to monetise certain patents within the Company’s intellectual property portfolio and have engaged an intellectual property monetisation brokerage firm to evaluate licencing opportunities for its patent portfolio. Based on initial feedback received as part of this process, the Board believes that a transaction, should it be successful, has the potential to generate upfront substantial licensing proceeds, together with potential additional licensing revenues over subsequent years.
Comment: One could say that ENET has been bubbling under for quite some time, with the shares delivering the odd spike on news such as today’s. As the company admits, it is all about monetisation of the patents, something made all the more intriguing as one presumes no more than five people in the country understand what the patents are for. But yes, semiconductors are hotter than July, and August at the moment for that matter.
Bezant Resources PLC (BZT) the exploration and development company with projects located in Namibia, Botswana and Zambia announced a successful first blast at the Hope open pit site at its 90% owned Hope & Gorob copper gold project in Namibia. ‘We are pleased to announce this important milestone in the development of the Hope and Gorob Copper and Gold mine development. The blast was successful with excellent fragmentation and extremely well positioned relative to ore. The result is testament to our external geological advisor Sound Engineering and also our newly recruited geological staff. The project continues to move forward in all aspects and we are particularly pleased with progress at the NLZM plant where current activity is intense. We will keep the market updated as we proceed towards the key milestones of ore input and saleable concentrate.“
Comment: Not sure whether milestone should be one or two words when associated with a blast, but the message is clear, the starting gun for BZT as far as the latest campaign is concerned has well and truly been fired. It remains to be seen whether BZT can join the likes of Kendrick (KEN) and African Pioneer (AFP) in terms of being another winning member of the Colin Bird stable.
Oxford BioDynamics Plc (OBD), the international biotechnology company advancing personalised healthcare through precision clinical diagnostic tests and EpiSwitch® Orion, its cloud-based 3D genomics platform for pharma and biotech partners, announces that it has entered into a partnership agreement with The Dubai London Clinics & Hospitals Group, one of Dubai’s longest-established private healthcare providers. This agreement makes OBD’s EpiSwitch PSE prostate cancer test available across DLCH’s network of clinics and hospitals across the United Arab Emirates.
Comment: One should perhaps reverse engineer all the fundraises that our dear friends at Oak Securities have done for OBD in the sense that this displays a money where your mouth is belief that OBD will get over the line. This point is underlined by the latest UAE news is concerned, as well as the recent first commercial agreement for its EpiSwitch® Orion 3D genomics discovery platform.
Shuka Minerals Plc (SKA), an African focused mine operator and developer, is pleased to announce that, further to the announcement on 14 July 2026, it has successfully completed the ninth drill hole KBDD09 slightly to the south of the previously unmined “Speaks” and “Mine Club” zones at the Kabwe Zinc Mine. SKA said “It is exciting to intersect a new and multi-element orebody. It shows that speaking to some of the old time workers about the area and Kabwe history can uncover previously untouched areas. To have zinc, lead, copper and vanadium mineralisation existing in the same intervals suggest much richer mineral bearing fluids and perhaps a zonal nature of the wider orebody. These steep exploration holes continue to give us confidence in the continuity of the Kabwe orebody. We are hoping to hit a lot more high-grade zinc mineralisation as well as copper.”
Comment: Given the good work being done at SKA by Richard Lloyd and the team, it is surprising that the market is not showing the company more love, after all he is a geologist and knows what he is doing. Presumably at some time soon the shares will finally lift off the floor.
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.
