Zytronics expecting a loss in current fiscal year

Zytronic PLC (LON:ZYT) lost 14% of its value at 129p after it said it is difficult to foresee a return to profits in the current fiscal year.

The company, which makes touch sensors, said the constraints imposed by the coronavirus pandemic affecting its major overseas markets such as gaming are sapping demand for its products.

The downturn in sales experienced in the second half of last year levelled out at about GBP2.0mln for the quarter to 30 September 2020 and the first quarter of this financial year to 31 December 2020.

9.40am: A Treatt for the company’s shareholders

Treatt PLC (LON:TET) rose 13.8% to 876p as investors tucked into the food ingredients maker after its trading update.

Treatt said profits for its current financial year are expected to “materially exceed market consensus” after what it noted was a strong operating performance across multiple categories and customers.

In an update on trading so far for the year ending September 30, 2021, the natural extracts and ingredients maker said it had seen “new organic revenue growth and enhanced margins” from an improving product mix, adding that evolving beverages market was driving potential for further revenue and margin growth.

9.00am: Kooth and Learning Technologies both sharply higher after raising guidance

Kooth PLC (LON:KOO) shares rose 6.6% to 282.5p in early trading on Friday after the group said underlying revenue for 2020 is expected to be ahead of market expectations.

The digital mental health platform operator, which floated in September of last year, said underlying revenue is expected to be in the range of GBP12.5mln to GBP13.0mln, up more than 40% year-on-year. Net cash at the end of the year was GBP7.8mln.

In a similar vein, Learning Technologies Group PLC (LON:LTG) shares climbed 4.3% higher to 168.8p after it said its full-year revenues and earnings are expected to be ahead of consensus.

The over-performance was achieved despite disruption in the wider market during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The digital learning and talent management specialist said it expects revenues to be no less than GBP131mln, up from GBP130.1mln in the prior year, while recurring revenues increased to 80%growth from 74% driven by what the firm said was the ongoing performance of its software & platforms division and the expansion of its business in open-source learning management systems.

Proactive news headlines:

Evgen Pharma PLC (LON:EVG) said its lead compound has been shown to inhibit a protein associated with many different cancers. Research carried out by Professor Philip Eaton, of the Queen Mary University of London, showed SFX-01 was able to decrease the activity of SHP2. This is a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase that is associated with breast cancer, leukaemia, lung cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, laryngeal cancer and oral cancer.

Learning Technologies Group PLC (LON:LTG) said its full-year revenues and earnings are expected to be ahead of consensus despite disruption in the wider market during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a trading update for the year to December 31, 2020, the digital learning and talent management specialist said it expects revenues to be no less than GBP131mln, up from GBP130.1mln in the prior year, while recurring revenues increased to 80%growth from 74% driven by what the firm said was the ongoing performance of its software & platforms division and the expansion of its business in open-source learning management systems.

Union Jack Oil PLC (LON:UJO) has updated on the planning and permitting process for the West Newton project in Yorkshire. Project operator Rathlin Energy is advancing the process with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The West Newton partner seeks approval for the development of the field – by testing, appraisal and production from the two existing wells along with the drilling, testing, appraisal and production from up to six new wells over a 25-year lifespan. “The East Riding of Yorkshire Council`s screening opinion considers that the proposed development would not comprise EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) development,” Union Jack noted in a statement.

Directa Plus PLC (LON:DCTA) said it has had its hydrocarbon sludge processing contract with OMV Petrom extended and increased. The contract, which was initially awarded in July 2019, was for the provision of decontamination and oil recovery services using the company’s proprietary Grafysorber technology. The AIM-listed producer and supplier of graphene nanoplatelets based products for use in consumer and industrial markets said the value of the contract has now increased to EUR410,000 from EUR150,000 (of which, EUR75,000 was delivered and invoiced in 2020) originally. The balance of the contract is expected to be fulfilled by June 2021.

Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd (LON:FOG) (CVE:FO) has highlighted what it describes as very encouraging initial gas composition data from the Kyalla 117 well, at the Beetaloo project in Australia’s Northern Territory. Gas samples taken during a 17-hour unassisted flow period confirm a 17-hour unassisted flow period, the company said. The data meets expectations, it added, and also supports the view that Kyalla gas stream will have elevated LPG and condensate yields.

Vast Resources PLC (LON:VAST) said it has appointed a new general manager at its Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine in Romania. Marcus Brewster, a senior mining professional with 24 years of open pit and underground experience, will clock in for the first time on March 1, 2021. Brewster previously held senior operational management positions at international mining companies such as Hummingbird Resources, Endeavour Mining, Nordgold & Gold Field. His role will include leading the development of Baita Plai to its full potential while maintaining the highest standard of safety and environmental compliance, Vast Resources said.

Advanced Oncotherapy PLC (LON:AVO) said it has raised GBP5.9mln via a share placing at 40p a pop. The buyers of the new stock, which was priced at just a 2% discount to the group’s average closing price over the past 30 days, were clients of SI Capital, an independent stockbroker. The latest cash injection will be used to help progress the assembly of the company’s LIGHT proton beam therapy system.

Anglesey Mining PLC (LON:AYM) has said it is to raise GBP660,000 by placing 10mln shares at 6.6p a share. The newly issued shares represent roughly 4.7% of the company’s current issued share capital. The money raised will be used for general corporate purposes and particularly to continue the development of the group’s Parys Mountain property as outlined in the recent positive preliminary economic assessment for that project, Anglesey Mining said.

Live Company Group PLC (LON:LVCG) has announced the appointment of Monecor (London) Limited Capital as the company’s sole corporate broker with immediate effect.

Oriole Resources PLC (LON:ORR), the AIM-quoted exploration company focused on West Africa said that following an exercise of warrants and options over ordinary shares in the company it has issued 18,349,792 new ordinary shares of 0.1p each; The exercise prices of the warrants and options were: 264,126 warrants at 0.60p each; 17,419,000 warrants at 0.68p each; and 666,666 options at 0.37p each. Following the issuance, a total of 296,965,977 warrants and 82,526,246 options over ordinary shares (representing approximately 25.5% of the company’s enlarged issued share capital) remain outstanding.

Landore Resources Limited (LON:LND) said it had received a notice to exercise warrants over a total of 296,296 ordinary shares, for which funds of GBP59,259.20 have been received by the company.

Shield Therapeutics PLC (LON:STX), a commercial-stage, pharmaceutical company with a focus on addressing iron deficiency with its lead product Feraccru/Accrufer (ferric maltol), has said Hans Peter Hasler, its non-executive chairman acquired 100,000 ordinary shares in the company on January 20, 2021, for consideration of GBP0.59 each. Following the transaction, Hasler holds 100,000 shares.

Great Western Mining Corporation PLC has announced that an extraordinary general meeting of the company will be held at Haresmead House, Foulkesmill, Wexford, Ireland, on February 17, 2021, at 11.00am. The group said the business of the EGM will be to consider and, if thought fit, approve certain resolutions relating to the replacement of CREST with a system operated by Euroclear Bank SA/NV for the electronic settlement of trading in the Company’s ordinary shares. Approval of the resolutions is necessary to ensure the company’s shares can continue to be settled electronically when they are traded on Euronext Growth Dublin and the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and remain eligible for continued admission to trading on those exchanges.

Edison Research has issued an update on Baker Steel Resources Trust PLC (LON:BSRT). Its analysts said: “In 2020 BSRT’s shares traded at an average discount to NAV of c 20%, compared to its five-year average of c 25%. The discount has significantly narrowed by the year-end and turned into a slight premium (1.5%) on 30 December 2020 close, which may suggest investors already anticipated a significant NAV uplift. As such, the immediate share price response to the end-2020 NAV announcement on 14 January 2021 was only a c 10% increase compared to the 27.5% NAV uplift versus end-November, resulting in a double-digit discount to NAV (currently c 14.1%). To view the full report use the following link: https://www.edisongroup.com/publication/annual-review-results-in-a-strong-nav-uplift/28677