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EVR Holdings heads higher after clinching partnership with O2

Last updated: 13:31 17 Oct 2019 BST, First published: 08:50 17 Oct 2019 BST

Domino's Pizza -

EVR Holdings PLC (LON:EVRH), the operator of the MelodyVR (virtual reality) platform, shot up 22% after securing a partnership with the O2 mobile phone network.

The company has entered into an exclusive UK partnership with Telefonica UK Limited, the company behind O2, making MelodyVR the exclusive music partner of O2's 5G UK launch.

O2 users will be provided with 12 months of unrestricted access to the MelodyVR platform, redeemable via the MelodyVR app on smartphones or VR devices, when they upgrade to an O2 5G plan, EVR said. In addition, O2's premium 5G tariff will include an Oculus Go device to enjoy with the MelodyVR service.
 

12.30pm: WH Smith finds its better to travel …

WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH) surged 9.5% to 2,286p after it agreed to acquire US travel retailer Marshall Retail Group.

The UK retailer is paying £312mln, doubling the size of its international segment.

The FTSE 250 company, a fixture on high streets and in airports and railway stations fixture, will raise £155mln through an equity placing and finance the rest with bank loans.

11.30am: Rathbone friendless as it warns on margins

Wealth management firm Rathbone Brothers PLC (LON:RAT) lost a tenth of its value after posting third-quarter results ahead of a strategic update to the City.

The shares fell to 2,140p after the asset manager reported total funds under management and administration increased 4.4% to £49.4bn at the end of September from £47.3bn a year earlier.

The group cautioned that it expects its underlying operating margin (in percentage terms) would ease back towards the mid-twenties as the company invests over the next two to three years in the hope of boosting organic growth.

10.30am: Petro Matad plunges

Shares in Petro Matad Limited (LON:MATD) lost 31% of their value at 2.95p after it revealed the results of drilling and logging operations at the Gazelle-1 well.

The well, in the north of Block XX, eastern Mongolia, was drilled to a depth of 2,550 metres. The Lower Tsagaantsav reservoir objective was encountered at 2280 metres, 20 metres deeper than the pre-drill prognosis.

The interval penetrated was shale dominated and no hydrocarbon pay was identified on the logs, Petro Matad said.

9.30am: Retreat from international markets by Domino's is welcomed by the market

Investors tucked into Domino’s Pizza Group PLC (LON:DOM) shares, sending them 4.9% higher to 278.9p, after a “solid” third quarter from the pizza delivery outfit.

Group system sales were up 3.4% year-on-year, with like-for-like (LFL) sales up 3.0% in the UK, in contrast to the Republic of Ireland, where LFL sales were down 0.7%.

The group confirmed it would exit its international markets in an orderly manner.

Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC’s (LON:MONY) third-quarter update was less well-received, sending the shares 9.6% lower to 350p.

The price comparison website operator saw revenue rise 4% from a year earlier to £100.9mln, with the insurance sector up 3% and the home services offering up 21%.

The money segment, however, was revenue fall 5% “due to the continuing challenges in product availability”.

Proactive news headlines

Feedback PLC (LON:FEED) says it is considering numerous opportunities for its medical imaging app Bleepa following its recent launch.

Oncimmune Holdings PLC (LON:ONC) has welcomed recommendations from an independent review into NHS cancer screening programmes, which has suggested the entire system needs overhauling to aid earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Verona Pharma PLC (LON:VRP, NASDAQ:VRNA) looks set to make rapid progress following the completion of recruitment for a phase IIb study that will assess the safety and efficacy of its inhaled drug for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Tissue Regenix Group PLC (LON:TRX) has confirmed receipt of a US$300,000 grant to begin a build-out programme for a new 21,000 square foot facility in San Antonio, Texas.

Sareum Holdings PLC’s (LON:SAR) chief executive, Dr Tim Mitchell, will outline the potential of the company’s latest drug to fight a number of cancers when he attends a US conference later this month.

Pembridge Resources Plc (LON:PERE) revealed that the Minto project, in the Yukon, has been brought back into production, with first new concentrates made on 11 October.

Shanta Gold Ltd (LON:SHG) has successfully shored up its debt position while staying on track to meet its production and cost targets for the year.

Shefa Gems Ltd (LON:SEFA) has delivered the highest grade results to date from Zone 2 of its Kishon Mid-Reach project in Northern Israel.

Ariana Resources PLC (LON:AAU) said drilling at its Kiziltepe mine has confirmed several mineralised structures.

Horizonte Minerals PLC (LON:HZM) has unveiled the findings of a successful pre-feasibility study which has confirmed the Vermelho project as “a large, high-grade resource, with a long life and low-cost source of nickel sulphate for the battery industry.”

Ormonde Mining plc’s (LON:ORM) joint venture running the Barruecopardo tungsten mine has raised a further €US$10mln in debt finance from principal backer Oaktree.

Custom electronics maker discoverIE Group PLC (LON:DSCV) has acquired Xi-Tech, a maker of specialist sensing and data acquisition modules for x-ray and optical detection applications.

Rosslyn Data Technologies PLC (LON:RDT) has announced its president Charles Clark is stepping down after 14 years in the company.

Afarak Group PLC (LON:AFRK, NASDAQ:AFAGR) has postponed its third quarter report from 15 November to 29 November.

RM Secured Direct Lending Plc (LON:RMDL) is seeking to raise up to £10mln in an institutional placing to continue investing in its “strong pipeline”.
 

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