The start of this week brought us to our final destination on the roadmap out of lockdown. Monday, dubbed as ‘Freedom Day’, marked the day that all restrictions were lifted, including rules on mask-wearing and social distancing.
For all intents and purposes we are now back to, or at least closer to, normality, but one that is still very different to what us-of-two-years-ago would have considered ‘normal’. We are still in so-called ‘unprecedented times’ and have yet to drop that prefix as masks continue to be as basic to put in your pocket when leaving the house as your wallet, and we will never again be able to wash our hands without singing a little song in our head (whether you’re a ‘happy birthday’ type of person or went down the pop-song route).
As numbers of vaccinated people increase, we can only hope that we will never again hear of banana bread or wake up to Joe Wicks’ face, and that zoom quizzes are a thing of the past. From all of the panicked talks of ‘new normal’ at the start of pandemic, it appears that it has now shifted to just being, well, the normal. We have adapted and accepted the changes we have had to make, and in fact even welcome some of the changes: from increased levels of hygiene and not being sardined on the tube anymore, to having the flexibility to work from home, there are many alterations to our lifestyles and ways of thinking that we will not be giving up.
Although the official rules have now been lifted, of course not everyone will feel comfortable enough to do the same and we will each be creating our own set of rules to adhere to. So, whether you are choosing to continue to stay at home and limit contact with others, or you are heading straight to the clubs, or are sat somewhere in-between on that spectrum, we can all agree that it is worth celebrating that we are beginning to see the pandemic in the rear-view mirror.
Client News
Papillon Holdings plc (LSE:PPHP) announced the proposed acquisition of a 100% interest in the Kilimapesa Gold Mine in the Republic of Kenya, placing of 638,951,276 Ordinary Shares and to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market. The announcement signifies a new corporate strategy – to solidify position as an emerging East African focused gold producer.
Charles Tatnall, Papillon CEO, said, “Today marks another momentous step towards achieving our mission of establishing a strategic portfolio of African gold producing assets focussing on known and geologically proven gold projects and listing on the London Stock Exchange.” Its updated Prospectus has been approved and readmission is expected 23 August 2021 with a contemporaneous dual listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. They will trade under the name of Caracal Gold plc and its new ticker symbol will be GCAT.
Contango Holdings Plc (LSE:CGO) provided an update on its scheduled work programme at the Garalo-Ntiela Gold Project Area in Southern Mali. Aeromagnetics and airborne geophysics for the collection of magnetic and radiometric data commenced at the start of July 2021 and has been completed across both licences as planned.
Results from the survey are expected in early August 2021. The collection of this data was to further aid direct mine planning activities and support the Project’s accelerated development into production. The Company is also pleased to report the Project camp is nearing completion, supporting the permanent presence of up to 20 employees and contractors, along with a secure storage building for drill core. Futher updates included the resultant ground-based IP to commence early August.
Plexus Holdings PLC (AIM: POS) has received the London Stock Exchange’s Green Economy Mark in a nod to the Aberdeen based engineer’s contribution to the global green economy – the Green Economy Mark is given to companies and funds that derive more than 50% of revenues from environmental solutions.
Over the last 30 years, Plexus has been protecting the environment, initially with its ‘through the BOP’ (Blow-out Preventer) wellhead designs, and subsequently with its POS-GRIP® proprietary metal-to-metal leak-proof wellhead sealing system. POS-GRIP prevents leaks, and ensures that oil and gas exploration and production is conducted in line with the highest possible standards to safeguard the environment from harmful emissions.
Tirupati Graphite plc (LSE: TGR)
Cora Gold Limited (AIM: CORA) welcomed an update on their first Zone B results starting with strong grades and widths of oxide mineralisation. Cora Gold is very pleased with the eighth set of drill results from its largest ever drilling campaign at its Sanankoro Gold Project in Southern Mali.
The Company is focussed on targeting resource growth as well as infill drilling to convert existing Inferred resources to Indicated. The results to date have been extremely encouraging with good widths and high-grade results in generally shallow oxide ore. These results demonstrate that there is further mineralisation beyond the existing pit boundaries both at depth and along strike in both directions and offers further encouragement as the Company targets a resource update later in the year.
Quantum Exponential Limited, a company formed to identify investment opportunities in the quantum technology sector, has announced its intention to apply for admission to trading on the Aquis Stock Exchange. Admission is expected during August 2021.
Quantum Exponential will be the first investment company focused solely on quantum technology – investing in quantum communications, quantum sensing, quantum metrology and quantum computing software and components. Quantum Exponential’s strategy is to assemble a portfolio of minority investments in leading global quantum technology companies, primarily in NATO allied countries.
Martin Schwedler, CEO, commented: “The proposed admission of Quantum Exponential to AQSE is very exciting. This first of its kind investment category will give institutional and private investors access to many forms of technical innovation, which over the next decade is expected to deliver very strong returns for early investors.”
Until now public market investors have had no means to gain pure exposure to this exciting new technology; Quantum Exponential provides this opportunity.
If you would like to hear more, please get in touch with the SBP team.
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In the news this week
Flags at the ready – it’s time for the Olympics!
Glasgow joins scheme to cut use of fossil fuels ahead of climate summit COP26
Lewis Hamilton wins dramatic home race at the British GP
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