CleanTech Lithium (CTL), an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, announced that the Company’s subsidiary in Chile, Atacama Salt Lakes SpA has submitted its main application for a Special Lithium Operation Contract for the Company’s flagship asset, Laguna Verde.
Laguna Verde is one of six saline systems that the Government of Chile has prioritised for development by the private sector and the CEOL gives the applicant the right to commercially produce lithium from the specified project.
Comment: One can see the newsflow is accelerating at CTL, something that the market has yet to give it credit for. But given the momentum, one would imagine that with the market cap below £15m, a rebound for the stock is now overdue.
Fiinu (BANK), a fintech group and creator of the Plugin Overdraft®, announced today that it has entered into non-binding heads of terms for its first white-label deal for its flagship Plugin Overdraft® product with an independent UK bank. This collaboration will see Fiinu provide the bank with its AI advanced white-label Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform, incorporating its Plugin Overdraft product. The Bank Independent Overdraft platform will fully integrate into the bank’s existing treasury, regulatory reporting and accounting systems. Initially documented in Heads of Terms, this agreement represents a key milestone in Fiinu’s growth strategy and is the culmination of nearly 12 months of discussions between the parties.
Comment: Shares of BANK had been on the front foot earlier this week, and now we know why. This does sound like the deal shareholders have been longing for. One presumes that the UK bank will sort out the financial requirements, or already have them in place.
QBT (QBT), the AIM-listed investment company focused on an R&D and investment programme within blockchain technology, confirmed the filing of a new patent application covering Method C’s disruptive AI Oracle: “IMPLEMENTATION OF BINARY DECISION TREES”.
Comment: Although one presumes that there are only around five people in the country who understand a word of QBT’s RNSs, the wording sounds serious enough to be credible. While baffled rocket scientists scratch their heads, we are assuming that QBT is working to produce the strongest chip possible for Bitcoin mining…
AAA, the technology holding company, whose key asset is a significant holding in the predictive AI motion insights platform Sentiance, announced the results of its annual general meeting held yesterday. All ten of the resolutions, including the approval of three years of audited accounts, and the re-appointment of Colin McQuade, James Normand and John Hardbattle as directors were resoundingly passed by shareholders. AAA said it continues to explore funding options for both AAA and Sentiance. As part of this process we are in active talks with investment banks and institutional investors to raise significant new funding. Additionally, we are acutely aware of the need to provide liquidity for AAA shareholders. Whilst there is currently no definitive solution or timetable for this, we continue to work to this end and will update shareholders as soon as we are able.
Comment: After several years of pain it would appear AAA is where it wants to be, having banished the odd big, bad, wolf, along the way. Getting the right kind of funding especially with regard to Sentiance, and allowing patient shareholders to have an exit / liquidity, is now the priority.
Mkango Resources (MKA), announced that CEO, William Dawes and President, Alexander Lemon, will provide a corporate update on the Company via the Share Talk platform on Monday 20 January 2025 at 18:00 GMT. Please register for the event via the following link: https://www.bigmarker.com/share-talk/Mkango-Live-Q-A-January-2025. Questions can be submitted pre-event or at any time during the live presentation.
Comment: Obviously, this corporate update will be hosted by the one of the best broadcasters in the business, and unlike other platforms will actually have an audience, gain traction for the company, and be hosted by a professional. This is as opposed to those platforms who just say they have the aforementioned.
Filtronic (FTC), the designer and manufacturer of products for the aerospace, defence, space and telecoms infrastructure markets, announced two senior appointments to its leadership team, further strengthening the Company as it continues its growth trajectory. David Marshall has been appointed as Director of Programmes, while Sarah Shaw joins as General Counsel. These appointments follow the recent addition of Antonino Spatola as Chief Commercial Officer, consolidating a leadership team with significant industry expertise to support Filtronic’s ambitious strategic plans.
Comment: Jobs for the boys and girls, but FTC once again reminds us that it has a great chance of being a great British international success story in its field.
Helium One Global (HE1), acknowledged the announcement released today by Blue Star Helium regarding the Galactica-Pegasus project in Las Animas County, Colorado, USA and is pleased to provide the following update. Site works at the Jackson-31 and Jackson-04 helium wells are complete. All casing has been delivered to site. The drilling contractor is preparing to mobilise the rig to Jackson-31 and spud is expected (early) next week.
Comment: Those chomping at the bit to know what the latest is for HE1 in Tanzania, will no doubt be delighted to receive more news from Colorado.
Cora Gold (CORA), the West African focused gold company, announced an updated MRE at its flagship Sanankoro Gold Project in southern Mali. This follows the addition of 2,669m of drilling (50 Reverse Circulation drillholes) to the Sanankoro MRE dataset; this drilling was primarily to de-risk the MRE and convert near surface Inferred Mineral Resource material to higher-confidence Indicated, allowing the Company to extend the life of mine of the Project once new Ore Reserves studies have been completed.
Comment: After waiting what has felt like an eternity, one would imagine patient CORA shareholders will be jumping for joy in the wake of today’s news. Perhaps the shares will resume the rally we were treated to in September / October.
Oxford BioDynamics (OBD), a precision clinical diagnostics company bringing specific and sensitive tests to the practice of medicine based on its EpiSwitch® 3D genomics platform, announced that it has successfully raised gross proceeds of £7 million pursuant to a placing, conducted via an accelerated bookbuild process, and direct subscriptions in each case at a price of 0.5 pence per share.
Comment: A stunning fundraise given the lay of the land in the stock market currently, something which provides OBD more than enough runway to bring in partners, and scale up internationally. Once again star broker Oak Securities has led from the front,and got this deal over the line. We look forward to see what CEO Ian Ross will deliver.
Hummingbird (HUM) announced that its subsidiary, Société des Mines de Komana SA, has reached agreement with the Government of Mali regarding application of the 2023 Mining Code to the Company’s Yanfolila Gold Mine. HUM said this agreement represents a significant milestone in our relationship with the Government of Mali and provides a stable framework for its continued operation and development of the Yanfolila Gold Mine.
Comment: It may be that today’s news is a case of “better late than never”. But it underlines how corporates need to have all their ducks in a row with regard to developing countries.
Genus (GNS), a global animal genetics company, published the following unaudited trading update for the six months ended 31 December 2024. Genus performed strongly in the first half of FY25 and the Board expects to report Group adjusted profit before tax of at least £35m in actual currency, which is ahead of expectations.
Comment: Clearly in the current torrid stock market environment, one has to grab RNSs like this one with both hands. What will be interesting to see is whether the latest news will be enough to turn the tide for the GNS share price, off year lows.
Creo Medical Group (CREO), a medical device company focused on the emerging field of minimally invasive surgical endoscopy for pre-cancer and cancer patients, announced that the first robotic-guided microwave ablation of cancerous lung tissue cases have commenced at a leading UK hospital. CREO said with both the clinical study at the Royal Brompton and this site as part of the clinical Pioneer Programme, we now have two UK hospitals undertaking these procedures. These sites, under the amended collaboration agreement with Intuitive, will provide us with the clinical evidence needed to support the wider commercialisation of the MicroBlate Flex device.
Comment: This robotic angle sounds very Space 1999. But the key here is that the Royal Brompton clinical study underlines the seriousness and the potential of what has been announced today.
GreenRoc Strategic Materials (GROC), a company focused on the development of critical mineral projects in Greenland, is pleased to announce that it has received a Letter of Interest from the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark for the provision of funding to GreenRoc’s Amitsoq Graphite Project in South Greenland.
Comment: With President Trump breathing down Greenland’s / Denmark’s neck, it is not surprising that GROC is on the receiving end of non-dilutive funding, and done so rather more quickly than some of its exploration contemporaries.
Goldstone Resources Limited (GRL) provided an update on production at the Homase Mine and heap leach operation in south-western Ghana. GRL said it continues to make steady progress at Homase and its near-term objective of delivering 1,000 ounces of gold per month is within grasp. Operations on site are developing well and the team is pleased with the mine performance. It remains very optimistic about 2025 and will keep the market updated regularly on operations this year.
Comment: Having swerved its CLN issue. GRL can shine a light on the operational side, and its production goals for 2025.
CAP-XX Limited (CPX), a world leader in the design and manufacture of thin, prismatic supercapacitors and energy management systems, announced that the first shipment of co-branded supercapacitor products is en route to SCHURTER’s warehouse in Switzerland. Following delivery, CAP-XX will be raising its first invoice for these products pursuant to the agreement between CAP-XX and SCHURTER.
Comment: The fact that SCHURTER is both a strategic partner and shareholder in CAP-XX means that today’s news of a first shipment is all the more important for the company, something which one would expect the market to pick up on.
Finseta (FIN), a foreign exchange and payments solutions company offering multi-currency accounts to businesses and individuals through its proprietary technology platform. Underlying revenue grew by c. 26% to £11.3m (2023: £8.9m) and reported revenue increased by c. 19% to £11.4m (2023: £9.6m). Adjusted EBITDA increased by c. 18% to £2.0m (2023: £1.7m).
Comment: Although it remains to be seen how scalable the business is, so far the company has not put a foot wrong, and the shares have been threatening to break through to higher ranges.
Quadrise (QED), the transition technology provider for a cleaner planet, announced the signature of an addendum to the Site License and Supply Agreement with Valkor Technologies LLC in Utah, USA and to confirm, pursuant to the SLS Agreement (as amended) the Company’s first license revenues. Following the excellent progress made by Valkor during 2024 at their Primary Project Site (‘PPS’) at Asphalt Ridge, Utah, USA, Valkor has confirmed to the Company that it has now secured the minimum project finance required to develop the PPS of at least US$15 million.
Comment: The transformation at QED continuers at pace, with the icing on the cake here being that Valkor has already bagged the minimum project finance needed. One would expect QED shares to continue to build on an already spectacular rally.
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.
