Dillistone Group PLC (LON:DSG), down 15% at 16.5p, was in the wars again after another profit warning.
The AIM-quoted supplier of software for the international recruitment industry has, not surprisingly, been knocked for six by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The company said that the current fiscal year got off to a good start but it is clear that the impact of COVID-19 will now have a material adverse effect on the group.
9.30am: N4 Pharma on the case adapting Nuvec for COVID-19
N4 Pharma PLC (LON:N4P) jumped by 25% to 7.4p in early trade on Thursday after it updated on a coronavirus (COVID-19) proof of concept research project for its Nuvec candidate.
The specialist pharmaceutical company, which is developing Nuvec as a delivery system for cancer treatments and vaccines, said it has received delivery of the initial quantity of the COVID-19 plasmid DNA from the National Institute for Health in the USA.
It has also appointed Evotec International to undertake the Nuvec proof of concept work for use with COVID-19 at its site in Toulouse, France.
Meanwhile, Collagen Solutions PLC (LON:COS) shares shot up 42% to 1.7p as the group put itself up for sale.
The collagen biomaterials developer said it is in discussions with a “number of parties” and is planning to conduct a “formal review of its strategic options”, including the possibility of a sale of the company.
Collagen is inviting would-be buyers to lodge indicative offers by 5pm on May 15.
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Collagen Solutions PLC (LON:COS) has revealed it is in discussions with a “number of parties” as it confirmed it will conduct a “formal review of its strategic options”. “These options include, but are not limited to, the potential sale of the company or the sale of one or more of the company's assets,” the group added in a statement. The company said it has appointed Goodbody Stockbroker as joint financial adviser alongside England and Company and is inviting would-be buyers to lodge indicative offers by 5pm on May 15.
Clinigen Group PLC (LON:CLIN) said there had been only “marginal disruption” to its business against the backdrop of the coronavirus lockdown as it unveiled a new licensing a distribution deal. The pharma and services group has signed a global agreement with Porton Biopharma for the drug Erwinase/Erwinaze. The treatment has been developed for people with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who have developed hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived asparaginase.
Europa Metals Ltd (LON:EUZ), the lead-zinc and silver projects developer, has hailed high-grade recovery results from the second phase metallurgical testing at its Toral project. The key findings of an updated independent metallurgical report on the project, situated in the Castilla y León region in north-west Spain, included 83.7% lead (Pb) recovery to a 60.0% Pb concentrate; 87.1% silver (Ag) recovery to 1,350 parts per million (ppm) Ag within Pb concentrate; and 77% zinc (Zn) recovery to a 59.1% Zn concentrate. The results demonstrate the potential for high-grade saleable and marketable Pb and Zn concentrates, Europa said and were at the higher end of management’s expectations.
Base Resources Limited (LON:BSE) has told investors that operations at the Kwale project in Kenya continue uninterrupted, with procedures in place to minimise the coronavirus (COVID-19) risks to its personnel and communities. In a quarterly update, the company highlighted production increases from the prior quarter across all products. It also noted ongoing demand from customers, with ilmenite and rutile prices continuing to strengthen in the quarter. Base said it is maintaining its production guidance for 2020.
Keywords Studios PLC (LON:KWS) has said a surge in video game playing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is driving “increased demand” for its development services. In an outlook statement accompanying its final results, the AIM-listed firm also said trading in 2020 had started “in line with market expectation” and that it had only suffered a “limited impact” on its business from the outbreak.
Learning Technologies Group PLC (LON:LTG), the digital learning specialist, said it has yet to see a material impact on its trading performance from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In its results statement covering 2019, the company said the current financial year has started well and it expects 2020 revenues to be largely unaffected by the global economic upheaval, although new business wins may be delayed and payment periods may be extended.
Woodbois Limited (LON:WBI) has reported a 10% year-on-year rise in revenues to US$4.9mln in its first quarter, highlighting “no discernible slowdown in demand” for its timber and forestry services. In an update on Thursday, the AIM-listed group said the first full quarter of production at the newly re-tooled sawmill in Gabon saw production increase by more than 100% over the previous quarter, with recovery levels of 40%, higher than the 34% average for 2019.
Kodal Minerals PLC (LON:KOD) has told investors that its exploration permits have been renewed for the Dabakala and Korhogo gold properties in Côte d'Ivoire. Each has been extended for an extra three years, expiring in April 2023, the group said.
Haydale Graphene Industries PLC (LON:HAYD) said it has sufficient reserves to adequately manage the anticipated impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. In a statement, Haydale said its directors are taking prudent steps to preserve the company’s cash position as it is seeing a slowdown in a number of its markets, particularly in the US where demand for Haydale’s Silicon Carbide blanks has been indirectly affected by the huge reduction in air travel, which has compounded the ongoing impact of the slowdown at one of the major US manufacturers in the aviation industry.
Tlou Energy Ltd (LON:TLOU) told investors it can constructively advance project finance efforts whilst ‘on-the-ground’ access in Botswana is restricted amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a quarterly update, the company said that “discussions with potential project finance partners progressed during the quarter with the company evaluating debt or equity funding or a mix of both." It added: “Tlou's objective is to source the lowest cost of capital with the least risk going forward.”
Gore Street Energy Storage Fund PLC (LON:GSF), London's first listed energy storage fund, has announced that pending completion of certain bank administration requirements, Sanne Limited has been appointed to provide administration and accounting services to the company. It added that JTC (U.K.) Limited continues to provide company secretarial services to Gore Street in accordance with its existing contract, as amended on April 14, 2020.
Kavango Resources PLC (LON:KAV), the exploration group targeting the discovery of world-class mineral deposits in Botswana, announced it has reached an agreement with certain directors and managers for the settlement of arrears of remuneration by the issue of convertible unsecured loan notes. The group noted that in order to preserve the company's cash resources, directors and senior managers have been deferring their remuneration for some time and a balance of £91,855 was due in this respect. It said it has now agreed with directors and senior managers to issue £109,987 nominal of the convertible notes for cash of £18,132 and in payment of the balance of arrears of remuneration, repayable, if not previously converted, on March 31, 2021, which bear a coupon at the rate of 10% per annum and a conversion price the same as the group’s recent placing price in the recent financing, namely 0.8p per ordinary share.
Gaming Realms PLC (LON:GMR) has said it will be deferring the publication of its full-year results for the year ending December 31, 2019, until April 28. The company had previously indicated its intention to publish during the week commencing 13 April 2020. The group said its audit is substantially complete, however, the disruption of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has delayed finalisation, as has been the case with many other companies. Alongside the reporting of its FY19 results, the group said it will also be updating on its current trading.
Silence Therapeutics, PLC (LON:SLN), a leader in the discovery, development and delivery of novel RNA therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases, has said that its annual report and financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, are available for download on the company's website: www.silence-therapeutics.com.
Chaarat Gold Limited (LON:CGH), the AIM-quoted gold mining company with assets in the Kyrgyz Republic and Armenia said it will be hosting an investor and analyst webcast on Friday, April 16, 2020, at 10am BST to provide an update on current operational and financial developments and set out the terms of its proposed equity capital raise. The webcast will be presented via Zoom and panellists will be Artem Volynets, the group’s CEO, Chris Eger it’s CFO, and Darin Cooper it’s COO. Participants can access the presentation via video conference or dial in by registering in advance at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dLeIYTm2Qt-RY7D4F6GhFQ