China Caixin PMI rises in Oct; South Korean exports miss estimates; Parker Hannifin revises down guidance

CRH (CRH LN, £22bn) completes disposal of European Distribution business for EV of €1.64bn, payable in cash | Chemring (CHG LN, £563m) receives contract award for further 75 units under its US DoD’s “Aerosol & Vapor Chemical Agent Detector” Program to be delivered in FY20; expects adj. op profit to be “slightly ahead of expectations” | Carclo (CAR LN, £8m) FY19 prelims (31/03) reports revenues down ~1% y/y and u/l op. profit down ~88% reflecting deterioration in LED Tech Division; sales process

Small Cap Breakfast

Path Investments (PATH) -RTO of a 50 per cent. participating interest in the producing Alfeld-Elze II gas field located 22 kilometres south of Hannover in Germany. Offer TBA. Due late Aug. Vitesse Media (VIS) — To be renamed Bonhill Group. RTO of the trade and assets of InvestmentNews, a Business Information and Data & Insight brand supporting the US financial adviser and wealth manager community Due 17 Aug. Raising £18.6m at 80p. Mkt cap £26.7m. Kropz PLC-Intention to float by the emergin

Chemring - Ducks aligning

Chemring’s H118 report demonstrates improved operational performance and financial security. While FX headwinds persist, the operating margin improvements at Countermeasures and Sensors are visible, as is improved cash generation. End markets are evolving from the perceived threat to increasing budgets, which underpins Chemring’s market position. The FY18 outlook remains unchanged, underpinned by the H2 order book.

Chemring - Flight path adjusted

Chemring is making strong progress on many fronts as market dynamics begin to play in its favour. It has re-established its financial footing and is positioned to drive growth organically and with selective M&A. FY18 is likely to be one of consolidation due to the profile of the 40mm ammunition contracts, but earnings growth anticipated in Countermeasures and Sensors offsets a fall in Energetics. The operational excellence programme targets a 300bp improvement on existing product lines by 2022.

Biting the bullet

Chemring has announced another profit warning, but unlike previously, management appears to be finally setting about rebasing the company for the future. While FY16 expectations look relatively intact, with 75% order book cover for revenues, a standby rights issue should see debt reduce to manageable levels, enabling management to stop looking over its shoulder and focus on the path ahead. Such repositioning should come as a welcome relief to investors.

Supreme (SUP LN) - Record performance, EBITDA ~doubled

Supreme’s FY24 trading update confirms a record performance in the 12 months to 31 March 2024. Organic revenue and profit growth across all four divisions has driven Group revenue +45% YOY to £225m, with FY24 adj. EBITDA almost doubling to ‘at least £38m’, driving record levels of cash generation. Supreme is actively exploring complementary M&A, supported by a debt free balance sheet. Trading on an undemanding FY25 PE of just 6.7x, with a 3.4% yield, we believe downside risks are more than price

Morning Note – 22 April 2024

Supreme+ (SUP, House Stock at 125p) - Supreme, Supreme!

Morning Note – 25 April 2024

Vianet Group: FY24 trading update, strategic contract win

Vianet has published a positive trading update for FY24 with turnover up 7.6% to £15.18m, a 3.5 percentage point increase in gross margin YoY, and adjusted EBITA ahead of market expectations. Net debt continues to fall and closed FY24 at £1.52m (£2.1m at 30 September 2023), demonstrating strong free cash flow generation, even without the benefit of the £0.9m tax receipt received in 1H24, which augers well for a final dividend. The company reported a new contract with Wilcomatic Wash Systems, the

SP Angel Spec Sits: FY Trading Update (LTHM)

Vianet - FY24 ahead, strategic forecourt customer win

Vianet’s FY24 trading update shows FY24 revenue +1% ahead of our previous forecast, adjusted EBITA +2% ahead, EFCF and net debt +£0.6m ahead, and a strategic new customer win with prominent forecourt operator Wilcomatic. A robust FY25 pipeline and outlook leads us to reiterate our FY25E forecasts at this point, with the update highlighting: strong progress renewing and winning new customers on 3-5 year contracts as they migrate from 3G to Vianet’s advanced 4G LTE solutions; the successful integr

Headlam Group - Strategy for growth in tougher market

Headlam Group has laid out an ambitious long-term revenue target of between £900m and £1bn, as it seeks to grow its share of the UK floor coverings distributor market. Despite a challenging backdrop due to the low level of residential housing transactions, management is seeking to expand each of its sales channels: Trade Counters, Larger Customers, Regional Distribution and Europe & Other. The FY23 results reflected the more challenging environment and the group trades at a discount to its long-

Renewi - Solid trading and better cash generation

Renewi’s FY24 trading update was in line with management’s expectations and its improved cash generation is reassuring for investors. Attention is now likely to turn the strategic review of the UK Municipals with management stating that they remain on track to update markets by the end of June. This could lead to an exit of key liabilities and leave Renewi as an attractive circular economy investment with strong market positions and organic growth plans, which should assist in generating value,

Norcros (NXR LN) - Sale of Johnson Tiles UK streamlines the business and improves operating margin

Norcros has announced the sale of its Johnson Tiles UK business to the current management team for a consideration of £1.0m, with a further modest earnout based on the equity value of the business, both payable in April 2028.

Hardman & Co Insight: 2023 was an annus horribilis for Quoted UK Infrastructure and Renewable Energy

The focus of Hardman & Co Research is on the nine quoted Infrastructure Investment Companies (IICs) and on the 22 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Funds (REIFs): the stocks analysed are all members of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). We are updating our publication of January 2023, assessing both the lacklustre share price performances during 2023 and the key issues, including interest rates, inflation and power prices. As a 31-strong group, its combined market capitalisation is no

SP Angel Morning View: Copper prices hit $9,700/t as China smelts concentrates for zero charge Tc/Rc

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 24 April 24

24th April 2024 * A corporate client of Hybridan LLP ** Arranged by type of listing and date of announcement *** Alphabetically arranged **** Potential means Intention to Float (ITF) has been announced Dish of the day Admissions: Delistings: What’s baking in the oven? ** Potential**** Initial Public Offerings: Reverse Takeovers: 16 April 2024: Electric Guitar (ELEG.L) Concurrent with its Admission to trading on AIM, Electric Guitar is proposing to acquire the entire issued share capital of 3radi

LIBERUM: Ilika: CMD confirms operational progression

LIBERUM: Gattaca: Resilient contract performance, perm tough