Lift Global Ventures (AQSE:LFT), an investment company focused on financial media, technology, and related sectors, announced it will invest in artificial intelligence (“AI”) as part of its existing investment policy.
Concurrently, Lift has strengthened its Board with the appointment of two highly experienced directors-one bringing substantial expertise in AI and technology, and the other in investing in early-stage technology companies. To support this strategic direction, Lift is pleased to announce the appointment of the following individuals to the Board, with immediate effect: David Richards MBE – Non-Executive Chairman and Mark Horrocks – Non-Executive Director.
Alkemy Capital Investments (ALK), the holding company of Tees Valley Lithium Ltd (“TVL”), announced that it has secured full financing for the FEED (Front-End Engineering Design Study) of its lithium refinery in Teesside and has received an indicative term sheet from Ara Partners LLC for the equity participation of the US$250 million main financing FEED study into the proposed 25,000 tpa refinery fully financed by a £5 million debt facility secured by Founder and Chairman Paul Atherley.
Comment: Given the way that shares of ALK are up 62% over the past five days, one would guess that at least one or two people successfully guessed today’s funding news was on its way. Given that it is being provided by the Chairman, one can say that today’s RNS is actually the best it could have been.
Abingdon Health(ABDX), a leading international developer, manufacturer and distributor of high quality and effective rapid tests, announced a new contract win with an expected value of c. US$2.5 million. The Company has signed a Master Service Agreement (“MSA”) with a leading global pharmaceutical company for the development and regulatory approval of a companion diagnostic lateral flow point of care test.
Comment: It mush be a good company if the counterparty does not its name mentioned. That said, ABDX will probably need a few more of these in order to get its shares out of bumping along the bottom mode.
Panther Metals (PALM), the exploration company focused on mineral projects in Canada, announced the receipt of assay results for the recent mine tailings sampling programme undertaken at the Winston Project, located on the historic Winston Lake Mine tailings storage facility in Ontario, Canada. The tailings assay results exceed Panther’s expectations returning high grade gold (Au), gallium (Ga), silver (Ag), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co).
Comment: All puffed up from its new crypto angle, we see PALM also riding high as far as its day job of exploration. The name of the game has been and always will be to prove up assets of significant in substance and grade, which looks to be happening.
Microlise Group (SAAS), a leading provider of transport management software to fleet operators, provided a half year update on trading for the six months ended 30 June 2025 (H1 FY25). The Group expects to publish its interim results in late September 2025. Group revenue of £44.1m, growth of 12.6%. Adjusted EBITDA growth of 19% to £6.2m (H1 FY24: £5.2m), with Adjusted EBITDA margin increasing to 14.1% (H1 2024: 13.4%). Net cash of £11.2m (H1 2024: £8.9m). SAAS said it is currently enjoying buoyant end markets, a robust pipeline and a growing order intake.
Comment: Shares of SAAS have already bounced back after the cyber incident in the autumn, with the latest robust numbers likely to accelerate the process. A kind of what does not kill you makes you stronger on this one.
Rockhopper Exploration (RKH), the oil and gas company with key interests in the North Falkland Basin, announced it has received firm commitments to raise up to approximately US$140 million (approximately £105 million), at an issue price of 53 pence to fund Phase 1 of Sea Lion.
Comment: The issue with the Falklands, apart from the government paying Argentina to get rid of them, was always the capex. That said, the market seems enthused enough to finance RKH so far.
Wellnex Life (WNX) provide the following operational update for the quarter ended 30 June 2025. Wellnex Life for Q4 FY25 recorded sales of $6.6 million an increase of 22.2% compared to the PCP (Q3 FY25: $5.4 million), with brand sales increasing by 19.5% to $4.9 million and IP Licensing Sales increasing by 30.8% to $1.7 million. The Company has now made the decision to repurchase the raw ingredients from Homart to supply the current Company’s manufacturing partner, with the intention of enhancing margins compared to a finished services arrangement. In order to fund these initiatives, support the continued growth in the business, and to provide greater financial flexibility alongside its ScotPac invoice discounting facilities, the Group has entered into a loan facility via Reach Wholesale for the amount of $2.825 million.
Comment: Good progress for WNX, probably as good as the management might have expected. Presumably the loan facility will smooth doubts over the cash position and the ability to execute / roll out.
Aptamer Group (APTA), the leading developer of next-generation synthetic binders delivering innovation to the life science industry, announced a trading update for the year ended 30 June 2025. Robust revenue growth and enhanced financial position The Group delivered unaudited revenue of £1.20 million, representing a 41% increase over the previous financial year’s £0.85 million and demonstrating increased commercial traction. APTA said the target the Optimer binds to in the liver, “the biomarker”, has been identified and the delivery system validated in functional cell-based assays, which shows the potential of blocking liver fibrosis in a clinical setting.
Comment: Alcoholics everywhere will no doubt be pleased with the progress being made on the liver fibrosis front, although it is APTA’s tie ups with blue chip names that is really the sizzle here.
London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) announced its Interim results. Strong growth and margin progression, AEPS +20%, significant shareholder returns. 2025 margin guidance improved, new £1 billion share buyback in H2. LSEG said “We have continued our strong and consistent growth track record, with a good performance from our subscription businesses enhanced by our leading markets platforms.
Comment: It is a shame that out of the all the cash LSEG is making, it is not using some of it to make being listed on the LSE a cheaper, more efficient and liquid experience. But hey, that is what happens when you have a monopoly.
Rolls Royce (RR.) announced 2025 Half Year Results. RR said “Strong first half performance, demonstrating our transformation in action; FY25 guidance raised. Strong first half performance driven by continued progress in our multi-year transformation, despite challenges from the supply chain and tariffs. Underlying operating profit rose by 50% to £1.7bn with a margin of 19.1%, reflecting the impact of our strategic initiatives, operational effectiveness, and performance management.
Comment: RR continues to be in the right place at the right time, with defence budgets rocketing around the Western World, even though we could never beat China / Russia, and no one here would go to war anyway anymore. That said, the civil side of the business is clearly robust, although presumably the full headwind of the tariff debacle is yet to be exposed.
London BTC Company Limited (BTC), the London Stock Exchange Main Market-listed bitcoin treasury company with active mining operations across the United States and Canada, announced that, for the first time, it has more than 1,000 operational Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”) Bitcoin miners operating in North America.
Comment: BTC has managed to get its shares back down to 7p from a peak of 64.5p last month. The hope here is that BTC mining might be a more resilient activity, than the brief dazzle provided by BTC Treasury Strategy.
Next (NXT) announced a Q2 trading statement. NXT said “We are increasing our guidance for full price sales in the second half from +3.5% to +4.5%. This adds a further £27m of full price sales to our forecast. The increase in sales in Q2, along with our improved sales guidance for H2, means that we are increasing our full year guidance for profit before tax by +£25m to £1,105m.”
Comment: In 43 years I have never met a person who has claimed to have bought anything at NXT (it was founded in 1982). In such circumstances one can only suggest that the company has great management. The shares are up 29% so far this year, laughing in the face of the cost of living crisis.
Celebrus Technologies (CLBS) the AIM-listed data solutions provider, is pleased to announce a new Celebrus software contract win. The win is a three-year deal with a major UK retail financial services institution. The deal was closed by our direct sales team and has a total contract value of $2.9 million. It adds Celebrus ARR of $0.8 million in its first year, with further ARR growth for years two and three included in the contract.
Comment: Apparently Celebrus, a name no one has heard of, changed its name from D4t4 Solutions, a name that no one had previously heard of. But well done to the direct sales team: Babychams all round.
St. James’s Place (SJP) today issued its half-year results for the six months ended 30 June 2025. SJP said “I am pleased to report strong operating and financial performance in the first half of 2025. During the period our highly qualified, professional advisers helped over one million clients to navigate a complex macroeconomic environment, ensuring clients’ financial plans remain on track for the future. This resulted in gross inflows of £10.5 billion, up 23% on the first half of 2024. Retention of client funds under management (FUM) remained high, leading to net inflows of £3.8 billion.
Comment: It would appear that SJP has put any issues regarding fees behind it, and that clients are perhaps more forgiving and loyal than one would imagine. Perhaps the FTSE 100 at record highs has helped, as well of course as the investment skills of the company.
Thruvision (THRU) the people screening company, announced that Nicholas Slater is in on the shareholder register at 3.23%.
Comment: Mr Slater appears to be a canny chap, as the share price chart of THRU looks as though it is ready to turn positively. Earlier this month the company said it had secured a material contract from a new government customer in Asia, helping to more than double its first-quarter order intake and extend its cash runway until the end of 2025.
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.
