Asiamet Resources Ltd (LON:ARS) shares advanced 6.5% as it kicked off a new drill programme at the Beutong copper-gold project, in Indonesia. The explorer has a 40% stake in the project, though it is in the process of increasing that to 80%, and the new programme aims to test the deposit at depth as well as investigate potential extensions to the deposit. In a separate statement, Asiamet also announced the appointment of Liberum Capital as its corporate broker.
Tekcapital PLC (LON:TEK) told investors that the Lucyd blockchain venture has received US$6.1mln in contributions through its “token generation event” or TGE. Lucyd, established by Tekcapital last year, was setup to develop ergonomic, augmented reality (AR) smartglasses and a blockchain-based app store tied to the device.
Plastics products group Plastics Capital Plc (LON:PLA) had mixed news for shareholders, reporting continued strong sales growth, albeit lower than expected in its Industrial Division. Sales growth in the Films Division has been exceptional, the company said, while growth in the Industrial Division has improved in the second half of the financial year (which runs to the end of March), but not as much as expected when the group reported its interims in December.
Haydale Graphene Industries PLC (LON:HAYD) expects revenues over the next twelve months to rise following a period of period investment and expansion. Ray Gibbs, chief executive, said: “The next six to twelve months should be an exciting time for the group, which we believe now has the customer engagement, geographic reach, engineering solutions capability and product know how to create material change in the group's future revenues."
Shares in Ceres Power Holdings PLC (LON:CWR) provided some cheer in a chilly market on Thursday with news of more progress with its SteelCell technology. The company unveiled a new 5kW (kilowatt) stack platform and the latest advancements of its SteelCell V5 at the Fuel Cell Expo in Japan.
Alliance Pharma plc (LON:APH) has unveiled the succession of its deputy CEO to CEO, the current CEO's transition to a non-executive role, and the appointment of a new chairman. In a statement, the AIM-listed specialty pharmaceutical group said Peter Butterfield, currently deputy CEO, will take over from John Dawson as CEO on 1 May 2018.
Stratex International PLC (LON:STI) has stuck a deal with IAMGOLD Corporation subsidiary AGEM Senegal Exploration for the Dalafin gold project in Senegal. The deal gives AGEM the right to acquire a 51% stake in the project by spending US$4mln over a four-year period, and once the first option is exercised, the companies will form a joint venture.
Jersey Oil & Gas Plc (LON:JOG) is preparing for the next well at the Verbier discovery in the North Sea, with a rig contract now signed for an appraisal programme. The explorer said in a statement that project operator Statoil has signed up the West Phoenix rig for the drilling due to take place in summer 2018.
Ticketing and queue-busting software outfit accesso Technology Group PLC (LON:ACSO) has bagged its first healthcare partnership, with the Henry Ford Health System (HFHS). The long-term agreement will enable HFHS, a six-hospital system, to use TE2, accesso’s digital experience and personalisation platform, to digitise and personalise patients’ interaction with the healthcare provider.
Belvoir Lettings PLC (LON:BLV) has acquired an additional 624 managed properties that its estimates will increase its network income by almost £1mln per annum. The AIM-listed property franchise group said the acquired properties, located within Welwyn Garden City and St Albans, will increase group management service Fees (MSF), Belvoir’s main revenue stream, by £400,000 in the first six years of ownership.
Devon-based tungsten and tin miner Wolf Minerals Limited (LON:WLFE) has topped up its bridge loan facility with major shareholder Resource Capital and restructured its other Senior debts. Wolf has been reliant on funding from Resource Capital to keep going while it sorted out teething problems at the new Drakelands mine near Plymouth, but this improvement programme is now nearly done said Richard Lucas, interim managing director.
Challenger Acquisitions Limited (LON:CHAL) revealed it has so far secured eleven actors for the upcoming Star Sanctum convention to be held in May 2018. The leisure and entertainment focused company said in an update that a variety of television and film actors have been engaged for the convention, including Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
BlueRock Diamonds PLC (LON:BRD) expects to ramp up production at its Kareevlei diamond mine in South Africa this year as it operates from its upgraded plant. The AIM-listed diamond mining company estimates it can achieve an average grade of between 3.5 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) and 4.5 cpht, indicating total production of between 9,500 and 12,500 carats. Last year the mine, located in the Kimberley region, produced 3,728 carats.
Jubilee Metals Group PLC (LON:JLP) and its joint venture partner for the Kabwe project, BMR Group(LON:BMR), have agreed to extend the fulfilment on all conditions under their agreement from the end of February to the end of March. The decision to extend the long stop date comes after BMR lost its mining right for the Kabwe project in Zambia.
Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas Ltd (LON:ECO, CVE:EOG) is growing confident that its 40% owned Orinduik exploration project has “world class potential” as Exxon Mobil continues to enjoy prolific success on the neighbouring block. Exxon on Wednesday gave details of its latest discovery offshore Guyana, after news of the oil find emerged.
Chaarat Gold Holdings Ltd (LON:CGH), in a statement after Wednesday’s close, updated investors as it continues to work towards the close of a US$20mln funding launched in December. On December 18, the mine developer announced that it planned to bring in the funds - in a mixture of equity and loan notes – and it has so far received US$11.36mln (US$6.4mln from equity and US$4.95mln of notes).
HemoGenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:HEMO) saw its shares jump higher after Align Research initiated coverage on the biotech company with a "conviction buy" stance and target price of 1,81p.
Metal Tiger PLC (LON:MTR), the AIM-listed investor in strategic natural resource opportunities, announced that Geoff McIntyre is stepping down from his role of non-executive director. The company also announced the appointment of Neville Keith Bergin as non-executive director effective immediately.
Bushveld Minerals Limited (LON:BMN), the AIM-listed integrated vanadium producer with additional investments in coal, power and tin, has announced the appointment of a new joint broker, Alternative Resource Capital, a trading name of Shard Capital Partners LLP.
Collagen Solutions PLC (LON:COS), the developer and manufacturer of medical grade collagen and tissue components for use in regenerative medicine, confirmed it will be attending two forthcoming conferences in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, between 6-9 March 2018. The group said its CEO, Jamal Rushdy, will present at the Canaccord Genuity Musculoskeletal Conference on 6 March, and the company will exhibit at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Conference from 7-9 March.
Kibo Mining PLC (LON:KIBO), the multi-asset Africa-focused energy and resource company, announced that its new corporate presentation is now available to view on the group’s website.