Y/E update – building blocks in place for future success

Consumers continue to respond well to Sosandar’s on-trend, affordable, long lasting, lifestyle appropriate ranges. While market conditions were poor in Feb/Mar, trading has been strong in Apr as delayed seasonal demand becomes evident post year-end. Net cash is higher and the transition to a less-promotional multi-channel global brand is progressing. The emerging high margin stack bodes well for profitable future growth as initiatives gather momentum online and offline, with maiden stores in lat

Positive Q3 update; higher margin growth accelerates

Revenue growth of 23% in the peak quarter (vs +6% in H1) will be well received. Alongside clear share gains, an accompanying 340bps margin uplift is also stand-out in the industry. This stems from adopting a less promotional strategy on its own site, which commenced in Q2. This holds back short-term sales, scale economies and profitability (per the Oct downgrade) but today’s update underlines the demand for its unique ranges, and validates the decision to broaden distribution in the UK and overs

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 15 Dec 23

15th December 2023 The Small Cap Team will take a break until Monday 8 January 2024 after today. Merry Christmas to all our readers. @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in

H1 results in line. Growth re-accelerates in Q3

H1 financials were well trailed in the Oct pre-close, including the temporary drag on sales and scale economies from a change of promotional strategy on its own website. The transition to a full price multi-channel brand is making headway, though, with growth accelerating to 16% in Oct/Nov (vs 4% in Q2) and gross margin expanding further. We continue to see substantial future in the Sosandar brand, and see recent weakness as an opportune entry point.

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 18 Oct 23

18th October 2023 @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment obje

Near term investment to create further future value

SOS has traded well in H1 in its 3rd party channels and is a top performing brand at M&S/Next. New agreements have been announced in OZ and CAN. It has also unveiled plans to become a full-price ‘multi-channel’ brand, with the 1st stores to open by spr’24 a timely development in our view. This explains why H1 gross margin is so strong, as it has reduced promotional activity albeit lower resultant short-term volumes on its website reduce 24/25 forecasts, which markets may dislike. The channel dat

Taking the Upper Brand: Brands Sector Overview

The earliest dated brand has long been contested; the majority point to Kongō Gumi, a family run construction company that specialised in Buddhist temples in Japan; its documented record of ownership goes back to 578 AD. Like Kongō Gumi, several different brands have withstood the test of time, albeit without then same degree of longevity. The term brand originates from the 1500s and means "to burn" in Ancient Norse and was initially used to mark cattle for ownership. This practice can be consid

Capabilities aligned for exciting new growth phase

FY23 was a transformational year. Despite tough external conditions SOS made strong financial progress with growth in both sales & profitability, and raised £5.5m in an over-subscribed placing to accelerate growth. With a broader product offering, higher gross margin and very compelling customer KPIs, including LTV/CAC, now is the right moment to accelerate profitable expansion. New capabilities to transact and fulfil internationally, and the imminent launch of its App and new personalisation to

Positive exit rate into FY24 and accelerating growth

The full year update signals positive sales/margin trends continued in Q4. With a step-change in resource/capability to expand overseas accommodated within forecasts, the medium to long term potential has increased. Having raised £5.5m in Feb at 22p, SOS is now very well-placed to deliver a step-change in scale and profitability by accelerating multi-channel distribution and other growth plans, including customer acquisition where LTVs are compelling. We see a big opportunity in Mar’25 in partic

Eleco - FY23 recurring revenue growth of +22%, EBITDA +2% ahead

Eleco’s FY23 results show robust organic recurring revenue growth of +17% with recurring revenue +22% to £20.7m, adj EBITDA +2% ahead of the January update, and a confident outlook with Q1 ARR already at £24.5m vs £22.6m at FY23. At this point, the excellent start to FY24 leads us to reiterate our FY24-26E revenue, adj EBITDA, EFCF, and DPS, and we include the April 2024 acquisition of Vertical Digital in our FY24-26E net cash, as we explain below. As Eleco builds upon the successful acquisition

An excellent win, momentum rebuilding

Made Tech has won a material expansion (worth up to £19.5m/2yrs) with a long-standing customer, The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (“DLUHC”). Coming off the back of a soft H1 bookings performance, we expect this win to materially boost investor sentiment and reassure how notwithstanding a tough backdrop (given an impending general election) MTEC continues to outcompete legacy providers and in-so-doing, grow its share of wallet with large/strategic customers. Landing near FY

LIBERUM: Cerillion: Continued strong trading in 1H

Morning Note – 23 April 2024

To infinity…

Cerillion has announced a very solid update, as H1 sales and EBITDA are both up 10% y/y to £22.5m and £10.9m respectively, notwithstanding the exceptionally strong base period (sales and EBITDA +27% and +38% resp.). Results therefore point to continued strong customer demand, reflecting how Cerillion’s out-of-the-box product continues to resonate and gain adoption, particularly in a ‘budget conscious’ environment, by offering faster time to market, greater configurability and at a lower cost. Me

In-line H1, strategic initiatives advancing at pace

As reported in March, underlying EBITDA profitability improved to record levels despite FX headwinds. Further platform and proposition developments were completed, key steps on its digital roadmap, and it has already won 7 contracts YTD. Alongside planned growth in private membership, this will at least offset the loss of one contract. Forecasts are left unchanged today and, as member engagement throttles back up, FX headwinds ease, and proof points of digital efficiency emerge, markets should b

itim - Further professional services contract secured with The Entertainer

itim is a disruptive SaaS-based platform that enables store-based retailers to implement a proven Omni-channel solution. This morning, the group has announced an additional professional services contract with its long-standing client, The Entertainer. Following a year-long trial, The Entertainer is opening in over 800 Tesco stores across the UK & Ireland, alongside a supplier agreement for Tesco stores across Central Europe. Under the contract, The Entertainer will extend its use of itim's Unify

Intelligent Ultrasound Group - GE Healthcare launches new Voluson Signature with

GE Healthcare has announced the launch of the Voluson Signature 20 and 18 ultrasound systems, with the related press release noting these systems ‘comprehensively integrate artificial intelligence’ to improve the ultrasound procedure for clinicians and the women being scanned. These ultrasound systems include SonoLyst, the AI which incorporates Intelligent Ultrasound’s ScanNav Assist and ScanNav AutoCapture AI software. The launch of additional Voluson systems including the SonoLyst suite of AI

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 22 April 2024

22nd 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

Alphawave Semi: FY23 trading update, amended forward guidance

Alphawave Semi has reduced guidance for FY23 and prospectively citing lower revenues from China, changes in expected revenue recognition from long-term contracts, and continuing investment in R&D. The share price has reacted negatively, giving up most of the gains since the trading statement at the end of January. Current consensus, which is a good match for pre-existing guidance, should be reduced, most likely following release of the FY23 results and full 1Q24 trading update due on 23 April. H

Morning Note – 26 March 2024

Devolver Digital (DEVO LN) - Rebuild year

Devolver Digital encouragingly delivered 2023 results slightly ahead of expectations and provided a steady medium-term outlook that leads us to reiterate our 2024 Adjusted EBITDA estimates. Longer term, the company is now planning to further develop its two major planned titles, Human Fall Flat 2 and System Era's next major new release. We now expect those major titles to be released in 2026 rather than 2025, meaning we lower our 2025 Adjusted EBITDA forecast to $10.6m from $17.6m but introduce

It’s not what you sell, it’s the way that you sell it

This report is intended to help UK small- and mid-cap investors gain a better understanding of software companies’ routes to market, and to highlight how one of the most important facets of the way in which they grow and deliver value is routinely ignored.  We examine sales processes for six UK-listed companies and one that has recently been taken over, and consider why they have followed their respective paths.

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 14 Mar 2024

Banquet Buffet*** Abingdon Health 9.25p £11.3m (ABDX.L) The lateral flow contract development and manufacturing organisation announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2023. Revenue increased 117% to £2.4m (H1 2023: £1.1m). The Adjusted EBITDA loss decreased 47% to £1.2m (H1 2023: £2.2m). Furthermore, reduction in operating loss of 50% to £1.2m (H1 2023: £2.4m). The Board therefore expects that H2 2024 revenue will be significantly improved compared with H1 2024

Morning Note – 8 April 2024