Filtronic (FTC), the designer and manufacturer of products for the aerospace, defence, space and telecoms infrastructure markets, announced the appointment of Antonino Spatola as its new Chief Commercial Officer.
FTC said this appointment, which is focused on accelerating Filtronic’s innovation and commercial potential, reflects the Group’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its leadership team with a view to achieving its strategic growth objectives and solidifying its position as a global leader in radio frequency and microwave solutions.
Comment: It seems that every day that goes by FTC is gathering the momentum to become a genuine blue chip play in its field. Today is another step in this direction.
Genflow Biosciences (GENF) released a look back at 2024. GENF said its focus on the SIRT6 gene and its potential to slow aging and delay age-related diseases has seen significant progress. This year, we’ve strengthened our leadership by collaborating with world-class researchers and laboratories, with generous support from the Belgian Government that has been instrumental in advancing our work.
Comment: It is a shame that a company which is on a trajectory to do such great things, and is a non-dilutive funding magnet, has managed to keep itself under the radar, and undervalued to date. Hopefully, in 2025 it can start doing better at communicating with the market.
Arrow Exploration Corp. (AXL), the high-growth operator with a portfolio of assets across key Colombian hydrocarbon basins, is pleased to provide an update on the operational activity at the Alberta Llanos field on the Tapir Block in the Llanos Basin of Colombia where Arrow holds a 50 percent beneficial interest. AXL said initial production from the AB-1 exploration well is an exciting event for Arrow. In addition to the thick pay zones encountered in the Ubaque formation, additional pay zones currently behind pipe, the C7, Gacheta and Guadalupe, provide further opportunities for production and reserves increases.
Comment: Alas a company with brilliant management, brilliant operational results and the prospect of much more to come, is being let down at least in share price terms by the Achilles Heel of investor relations / PR. Perhaps it can spend some of its $19.1m cash balance on finding a remedy?
Guardian Metal Resources (GMET), a strategic mineral exploration and development company focused on tungsten in Nevada, USA, announced that it has raised £750,000 in a placing with a single existing institutional investor, Premier Mition, at an issue price of £0.30 per share. GMET said the Placing represents a further step for the Company towards its goal of strengthening the U.S. supply chain for the essential metal, tungsten. There is growing global investor recognition of the critical importance of rapidly establishing domestic tungsten production in the U.S., given its dual applications in both military and broad industrial sectors.
Comment: The contribution from Premier Miton is certainly a coup for GMET, in terms of validation, and provides a good backdrop to the expected non-dilutive funding expected sooner rather that later from the US Government to secure critical metal supply security.
Hercules Site Services (HERC), a technology enabled labour supply group for the UK infrastructure and construction sectors, provided a strategic update relating to its proposed intention to divest its Suction Excavator business, as it is now a non-core activity. In the 12 months to 30 September 2024, the Suction Excavator business amounted to less than 5% of the Group’s revenue, but 88% of its consolidated debt excluding invoice discounting. Therefore, the Proposed Divestment will materially reduce debt levels and increase the Group’s free cash flow.
Comment: Although the suction business may sound sexy to some, it clearly is not to HERC, and selling it off sounds like a no brainer in the current environment. Ideally, this move adds to the 64% share price recovery seen in HERC shares over the past year, especially given the Big State gravy train is now well in place under the new Labour government to undoubtedly benefit the company.
Further to the announcement made on 18 December 2024, Gelion (GELN), the global energy storage innovator, announced the appointment of Dr Graham Cooley, as Non-Executive Director of the Company with immediate effect. GELN said Dr Cooley’s appointment strengthens the Company’s capabilities and corporate governance for the next stage of its growth. He brings a wealth of relevant experience and knowledge to the Gelion Board through his background in the power, energy storage and hydrogen sectors over more than 35 years. He was previously Business Development Manager at National Power plc, the UK’s largest power generator, and CEO of ITM Power plc, the first hydrogen related company quoted on AIM.
Comment: Bagging Dr Graham Cooley is the perfect fit for GELN, not only in terms of its space, but the timing. Indeed, the good doctor is as close to hiring a rock star as the company could achieve.
Pulsar Helium (PLSR), a helium project development company, announces that drilling for the deepening of the Jetstream #1 appraisal well commenced at 6:00PM (central time) on January 2nd, 2025, at its flagship Topaz Project in Minnesota . As part of this crucial phase, Pulsar plans to deepen the Jetstream #1 appraisal well by a minimum of 1,640 feet (500 metres), to a total depth of no less than 3,840 feet (1,170 metres) which is anticipated to be completed later this week. Upon completion, a series of downhole tools will be used to gather data on the well characteristics.
Comment: Expectations should be high as far as PLSR’s latest campaign, given that it blew the lights out in February last year, with only a “tip of the iceberg” drill. That led to a 5x rally for the shares in Canada. History is capable of repeating itself should all go as planned.
SRT Marine Systems (SRT), a global provider of maritime domain awareness systems and technologies for security, safety and environmental protection, is pleased to advise that it has received formal notice to proceed (NTP) for the second phase (Phase 2) of a significant, long-term project to build up a national integrated maritime MDA system for a national coast guard. This second phase of the project is worth a total of approximately $15m.
Comment: Shares of SRT have actually quadrupled from the brief dip to 10p seen last June, and with news such as today appear well placed to further press home the upside, especially given the blue chip nature of the partnership.
Avon Technologies (AVON) confirmed that Team Wendy Ceradyne has received a delivery order worth approximately $18 million from the Defense Logistics Agency. This order is under the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Integrated Head Protection System (NG IHPS) helmet IDIQ framework contract, originally awarded in September 2021. AVON said it continues to see good levels of demand for Team Wendy’s head protection systems from the US DOD demonstrating its leading ballistic shell and traumatic brain injury mitigation technology and long-term contract positions. It looks forward to continuing our support to the U.S. Military with this vital, lifesaving, protection equipment.
Comment: There is nothing sweeter than starting the new year with a chunky Stateside order, particularly when it is from the Military-Industrial Complex (nice people to do business with).
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
