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Robust FY21 performance forecast, despite pandemic
Companies: SDI Group plc
Ongoing strong demand for EKF’s products, both in the core business and the Primestore MTM Covid-19 sample collection device, means the FY20 outturn will be “comfortably ahead” of already upgraded expectations. This pattern is expected to persist throughout Q1’21 and beyond and management is confident that the performance in Q1 will be materially ahead of expectations. Having previously left FY21 estimates untouched, we are today putting through the first in what we expect to be a series of material upgrades. Given the dynamic situation around Covid-19, we expect regular updates throughout the course of the year and will adjust our forecasts accordingly as visibility over ordering patterns increases.
Companies: EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc
Although 2020 will probably go down in history as one of the most challenging years experienced during our lifetime, it will also likely be chronicled as one of the best years for the recognition and appreciation of science. As we entered 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was in its infancy. However, it rapidly evolved through the exponential rise in infections and mortality globally. Much has been achieved during the past 12 months in the fight against COVID-19, but, as we enter 2021, there are considerable concerns about the emergence of a mutant version of the virus and the second wave that we are now facing.
Companies: AVO ARBB ARIX BBGI CLIG DNL FLTA ICGT OCI PCA PIN PHP RECI STX SCE TRX SHED VTA YEW
For many reasons, 2020 was a transformational year for Circassia as the new management team set to work streamlining the business, addressing legacy issues and positioning the group to benefit from the strong market position of NIOX, a gold standard diagnostic device for asthma. Whilst the pandemic has had an impact, recovery is underway, with Q4 revenues back to 86% of Q1 levels. The EBITDA breakeven point of the business has been reduced further to £32.0m and there was £7.4m of net cash on the balance sheet at the year end. Whilst the pace of recovery remains difficult to predict, the business looks well set for the medium term.
Companies: Circassia Group PLC
Q4 trading has led sales to guidance being raised 8%. This has been driven by better than expected UK sales, incl. success with new customers like Wilko/Tesco. Some of the benefit is offset by a non-cash FX debit, but it still leads to an upgrade and higher net cash. As a result of successful trials in Tesco Express, W7 is also being rolled out to 469 more stores. This, and previously announced distribution gains, bodes well for incremental sales/PBT in 2021, and underlines the appeal of its value-for-money brands. On 11x 2019 cash-adjusted EV/EBITDA, valuation is undemanding, particularly with the added attraction of dividends/income.
Companies: Warpaint London PLC
After an eventful 2020, ReNeuron released updated 12-month Phase ll data in January on its lead human retinal progenitor cell (hRPC) project. This continues to show a consistent and robust, sustained average gain in visual acuity in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A continuation study in nine patients using two million cells is underway with three- and six-month data due over H2 CY21 and the first three patients treated. This will facilitate partnering negotiations. A pivotal hRPC study may start in 2022. Deals are possible in CY21 on the exosome genetic drug delivery platform, which could be very valuable. The valuation remains at £190m with strong cash.
Companies: ReNeuron Group plc
Allergy Therapeutics’ European commercial business remains resilient despite COVID-19 impacts. The H121 trading statement indicates sales growth of 7% (+5% CER), while steady pipeline progress is also being made. Recruitment and treatment in the G309 Grass MATA MPL Phase III study is on track, with post period key events including initiation of the P001 ex vivo peanut allergy biomarker study and publication of positive challenge chamber results for ImmunoBON in a peer reviewed journal. This bodes well for news flow delivery over the rest of calendar 2021. G309 results in the autumn are expected to inform design of the G306 pivotal grass trial; P001 data in the spring will support IND submission; and ImmunoBON is set to launch in Germany later this month. A record cash balance of £48m (at end-December 2020) covers nearterm requirements taking the company through to material value-inflection points. Ahead of H121 results on March 3, we maintain our £325m (51p/share) valuation.
Companies: Allergy Therapeutics plc
Diaceutics has rebased itself for growth. While the pathway to normalised expenditure patterns in the pharma industry will not be helped by new lockdowns, we believe the second half of 2021 onwards will see continuous budget improvements. Customer engagement with the new platform is positive and this is the key to securing the incremental financial benefits offered by taking the business fully online.
Companies: Diaceutics Plc
A year in which we expect the company to make significant advancements in the development and commercialisaon of LIGHT, AVO kicked off 2021 with a new financing partnership with specialist asset financing company DiamedCare and technical updates. With its differenated technical and commercialsoluon supported by growing clinical evidence base for proton therapy ("PT"), AVO remains well posioned to disrupt the radiotherapy market. We expect further progress in 2021 to connue to de-risk the AVO story, with much of the risk now lying on commercial execuon, in our view. Part of AVO's turnkey PT soluon, the new lessor financing agreement with DiamedCare covering Europe and the US should facilitate faster adopon in smaller radiotherapy centers which currently represent an underserved and largely untapped market. We maintain and reiterate both our OUTPERFORM recommendaon and 135 GBp target price.
Companies: Advanced Oncotherapy Plc
STX is a commercial-stage company delivering specialty products that address patients’ unmet medical needs, with an initial focus on treating iron deficiency (ID). Feraccru®/Accrufer® has been approved by the regulators in both Europe and the US. For various reasons, STX has been unable to secure a commercial partner for Accrufer in the US. Consequently, the board is now considering an STX-led launch option, thereby retaining all the US profits. Financial modelling shows the logic of this option, but it would necessitate financing the working capital requirements covering the next two years in the region of £25m-£30m.
Companies: Shield Therapeutics Plc
ReNeuron’s Dec’20 £17.5m raise now means the Group is sufficiently funded through key upcoming milestones for its lead hRPC candidate and the exosome platform – mitigating a previous pivotal issue. 2021 could promise to be the critical year for the Group, with the potential to unlock value from its programmes well beyond its current modest market value. We refresh our forecasts post yesterday’s analyst briefing, and reiterate our positive stance.
The six-month trading update to 31 December demonstrates solid underlying growth, with revenues rising 7% to £54.0m, or c.5% at constant exchange rates (CER), despite ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. Period-end cash was £48.3m, which implied a c.30% increase (+£11.3m) in underlying cashflows in the period. With relevant and potentially significant commercial and regulatory newsflow through 2021, we expect the shares to perform well. We leave our forecasts unchanged for FY 2021 at this point and reiterate our 45p target price, pointing out the substantial and unwarranted discount to its nearest peer (ALK-abello - 6.1x EV/Sales). This target also excludes the value for US market entry for Grass MATA MPL or its early-stage pipeline, including VLP Peanut allergy vaccine.
Alcon, a dominant force in the $25bn ophthalmology space, is set to outgrow the industry in the mid-term – driven by the pick-up in demand for recently-launched products, PanOptix and Precision1. Moreover, with robust margin expansion potential – led by an improving product mix and targeted cost-savings – earnings should grow healthily. A sturdy balance sheet increases its appeal further. Interestingly, Alcon is recovering faster than rivals from the COVID-19-hiccups and its sales and profitability profile should inflect once the situation normalises. Add.
Companies: Alcon, Inc.
It has been a year the likes of which we have never seen before, and hope never to see again. The description of the impact of the CV19 pandemic as K-shaped certainly feels accurate, with some sectors being well placed to benefit from the creative disruption that has engulfed the world, accelerating structural changes, while others through no fault of their own have been severely impacted. This has been the case for the Dowgate portfolio of corporate clients, with our quoted clients falling into three groups. The first, comprising Cambridge Cognition, GRC, The Panoply, S4 Capital and Water Intelligence have on average seen their share prices double this year as structural changes accelerated by CV19 have been accompanied by strong execution. The second, comprising Franchise Brands, OTAQ and SEEEN, have experienced share price declines averaging a third as their businesses have either been directly impacted by CV19 or their growth aspirations curtailed. The final group comprises those companies which have been bid for this year, namely Be Heard, Hunters Property, Huntsworth and Reach4Entertainment. Looking into 2021, we expect continued strong performance from the first group and a rebound in the second as the world returns to normal. Finally, having completed Series A/B rounds for a range of private companies this year, we hope to bring these entrepreneur-led, growth companies to market in 2021.
Companies: COG FRAN GRC OTAQ TPX SFOR SEEN WATR
Upon Admission to AIM, Nightcap will acquire The London Cocktail Club Limited (the "London Cocktail Club"), which is an award winning independent operator of ten individually themed cocktail bars in nine London locations and one location in Bristol. Offer TBC. HSS Hire Group, HSS.L transfer from Main to Aim. Mkt Cap c. £70m. Recently raised £52.6m. Leading supplier of tool and equipment for hire in the United Kingdom and Ireland and has provided equipment hire services in the United Kingdom for more than 60 years, primarily focusing on the B2B market. VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities plc, a closed-ended investment Company focused on making sustainable energy infrastructure investments, today announces intends to launch an initial public offering of shares on the Official List (Premium) of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
Companies: PMI RMM SUN BOIL ITM TRMR MLVN 88E IME ANP
