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
Calisen Group. Potential Intention to Float. Owner and manager of essential energy infrastructure assets . Consolidated FY Dec 18 revenue £162.1m and operating profit £25.4m. Raising up to £300m in primary plus partial vendor sale. The Global Sustainable Farmland Income Trust will invest in a diversified portfolio of operational farmland assets located in major agricultural markets including the United States, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and certain countries within Latin and South America. Raising up to $300m. Due 28 February
Companies: SCE MWE PMI ABC TM17 LEK FIPP ZEG EMH GWMO
Registration document approved for Helios Towers. The Group provides essential network services, flexible infrastructure solutions and reliable power supply to mobile network operators in five African growth economies. Revenue increased 7 per cent. year-on-year to US$191m (H1 2018: US$178m), with Adjusted EBITDA up 15 per cent. year-on-year at US$99m (H1 2018: US$86m) for the six months ended 30 June 2019. Pricing rumoured at 115p to 145p implying valuation of up to $1.8bn. Expected Oct 2019.
Companies: OSI CTP IQE MTFB SENS AVCT TGP PMI CMCL JLH
AuM grew in Q2 with solid investment performance mitigating a modest net outflow (£87m). Year to date, we have seen continuing political uncertainty which has impacted net sales across the UK Smaller Companies sector, Miton has not been immune. We expect flows to return with sentiment, and make no material changes to our earnings forecasts. We continue to see a 60p/share intrinsic value, after taking into account a significant quantum of “free cash” on the balance sheet.
Companies: Premier Miton Group Plc
Miton has benefited from positive market tailwinds, with AuM +5% to £4.6bn. Net inflows have continued at both group level (+£5m) and in Equity funds (+£42m), which comprises the bulk of AuM. Positive equity markets have helped add £219m additional AuM. This is slightly ahead of our £4,559m estimate and also positive in terms of mix, with greater than expected higher margin AuM. This drives a modest 2- 3% earnings upgrade. With sustained net inflows and material £15m “free” cash, we see an intrinsic value of 70p/share on only a 13x ex-cash PER.
Techniplas –global producer and support services company providing highly engineered and technically complex components, making the supply chain to original equipment manufacturers more efficient. FYDec17 rev $515m. Loungers plc—the operator of 146 café/bar/restaurants across England and Wales under the Lounge and Cosy Club brands, announces its intention to seek admission on AIM, offer TBC, expected late April. SDX Energy plc—a North Africa focused oil and gas company, announces its intention to complete a Canadian plan of arrangement under section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act and will have shares de-listed from the TSX-V and admitted to trading on AIM. Expected 28 May 2019, anticipated market cap of £76m
Companies: CPC TPFG CFX I3E APPS SOS PMI STR
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Companies: MODUMIARSVNPNDABBYISVJFIGRMTOKLRKIEMERRPSSRPMGNSBABPAYSTAFSOLGVNETZOOCPICALLCOSTCAMLSBIZGFRDEQLSAA/HSVPMIBURKETLBWJQ
Circassia Pharma (CIR.L) - specialty pharmaceutical company focused on respiratory disease transferring from the Main Market. No funds being raised. Due 4 Feb. Greenfields Petroleum (TSX-V:GNF) production focused company with operated assets in Azerbaijan seeking AIM dual listing including $60m private placement. Mkt cap $12.6m CAD. Expected late January 2019. Chaarat Gold Holdings—RTO, the Company intends to acquire Kapan Mining and Processing CJSC, which owns the Shahumyan medium-sized polymetallic mine in Kapan in the Republic of Armenia. No raise, market cap of £110.1m, due early Feb
Companies: ESL BONH KOD CCT IRON LOOP EMAN SWG PMI
Miton has been caught in the wash of market volatility during Q4. The Q4 update shows AuM down 10% to £4.4bn, however inflows continued (+£92m) contrasting a £584m impact from markets. Updating for this reduces our FY19e EPS forecast by 24%. Funds attracted >£1bn net inflows across 2018; indicative of the weight which UK intermediaries attribute to process-driven investment strategy and active returns. We believe that Miton is well positioned to benefit should markets improve.
Circassia Pharma (CIR.L) - specialty pharmaceutical company focused on respiratory disease transferring from the Main Market. No funds being raised. Due 4 Feb. Greenfields Petroleum (TSX-V:GNF) production focused company with operated assets in Azerbaijan seeking AIM dual listing including $60m private placement. Mkt cap $12.6m CAD. Expected late January 2019.
Companies: SCH PMI CCS DNL GAN IND ELA BLV GFIN PTR
Miton’s strong flow momentum has continued through Q3, driving AuM +7% qoq to £4.9bn (up from £4.8bn at end August). We remain encouraged by flows into more nascent funds with material capacity, which are passing key milestones. A differentiated brand of active management is clearly resonating with intermediaries. The valuation remains attractive - on an 11x FY19e ex-cash PER and a 14x FY19e regular PER - in light of 29% EPS growth and 16% of the market cap in free cash.
Gresham Technologies (GHT LN) Improving win-rate in H2 and pipeline underpins confidence in full year | Hargreaves Services (HSP LN)Wolf Minerals Update | Hollywood Bowl Group (BOWL LN) Robust YE update | Marston’s (MARS LN) Slightly soft end to the year | Miton Group (MGR LN) Flow momentum continues into Q3 | Sanderson Group (SND LN) Significant progress in FY18, full year revenue and profit slightly ahead | Scapa Group (SCPA LN) In line H1 trading update | Springfield Properties (SPR LN) Site visit highlights quality offering | The PRS REIT (PRSR LN) Strong deployment continues into Q1 | Walker Greenbank (WGB LN) On track to deliver revised forecasts. Search for new CEO started
Companies: GHT HSP BOWL MARS SND SCPA SPR SDG PMI
Summerway Capital investing company established to acquire companies or businesses which the directors of the Company believe have the potential for strategic, operational and performance improvement so as to create shareholder value. Offer TBC, market cap TBC expected 19 October Admission is being sought as a result of the proposed RTO of Cambian Group plc following completion of the acquisition by CareTech a leading provider of specialist social care services, supporting adults and children with a wide range of complex needs. No raise, market cap TBC expected 19 October. PetroTal (TAL.TO) - The exploration and production company focused on oil assets in Peru is seeking a secondary AIM quotation before the end of 2018. Path Investments— First acquisition of a 50 per cent. participating interest in the producing Alfeld-Elze II gas field located 22 kilometres south of Hannover in Germany. Seeking £10m raise. Due early Oct Green Man Gaming—pure play e-commerce and technology company in the digital video games industry. revenue CAGR growth of 26.7% in the last three years to £47.5m. Due Mid October 2018. EBITDA Profitable. Offer TBA Crossword Cybersecurity PLC* (NEX:CCS)—the technology commercialisation company focusing exclusively on the cyber security sector is exploring its options in relation to a potential move to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange which, if it were to proceed, would likely take place over the next few months.
Companies: PMI OPTI EDL CTP BCN CWR ASO WHR AAZ MMX
Companies: APCBMSCTGCRPRPCFSNXTCNFA/RUAZOODMTRSDICALLCAMLESCEUSPBONHGETBLSAIEQLSFDMW7LRTHMPMIBOOXLM
Research Tree provides access to ongoing research coverage, media content and regulatory news on Premier Miton Group Plc. We currently have 123 research reports from 5 professional analysts.
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
What’s new: Ahead of the publication of the Group’s interims results for the six months to 31 December 2020, CLIG has released a detailed trading update which reveals: Group consolidated FuM of US$11.0 billion (£8.0 billion), which is twice the FuM of US$5.5 billion (£4.4 billion) at the Group’s year end on 30 June 2020; The merger with Karpus Management Inc ("KMI") added c US$3.6 billion from 1 October 2020; Investment performance across CLIG’s investment strategies was “strong”, following “significant discount narrowing” and “good NAV performance”; Rebalancing of client portfolios resulted in US$ 290 million of net outflows.
Companies: City of London Investment Group PLC
Secure Trust Bank’s (STB) pre-close update confirms the upbeat trends evident in its Q3 update in November. The strong lending rebound continued into Q4, loan repayment holidays are at low levels, and the balance sheet has remained robust and liquid. STB reiterated that its FY20 PBT would be well ahead of £9.7m (we forecast £13.0m). However, the new COVID-19 restrictions introduced in December 2020 have affected consumer loan demand into 2021, as well as the Motor Finance business. Management expects to be better placed to disclose its outlook for FY21 when STB’s FY20 results are released on 25 March. Our forecasts (FY21 PBT £31.6m, ROE 9.1%) and fair value (1,756p per share) remain unchanged.
Companies: Secure Trust Bank Plc
Finals (9mths to Sep-20) are in line with expectations. Recurring fee income from 3rd party AuM (incl. PRSR) ensured solid profitability. The balance sheet is well resourced with £26m to develop seed assets. With a positive outlook following the launch of the £1bn JV with EQT, we see accelerating returns over the medium term. PRSR is also on track to materially complete the initial 5,200 portfolio this year. Sigma trades below our 200p+/share intrinsic valuation – which attributes no value to AuM growth, which is a strategic priority.
Companies: Sigma Capital Group plc
Allied Minds has announced that Joe Pignato has decided to step down as CEO and from the board with immediate effect. However, he will continue to support the company as CFO for an interim period as the board continues its search for a permanent CFO. As part of a streamlining process, Allied Minds will now become a board-led company with no immediate intention to appoint a new CEO. The chairman and NEDs (experienced VCs and private company investors) will represent Allied Minds on portfolio company boards (including Federated Wireless, BridgeComm and Spin Memory) with an intention to accelerate realisations where possible.
Companies: Allied Minds PLC
Sirius Real Estate has been a stand-out performer within the UK listed commercial real estate sector over the last three years, delivering a total shareholder return of 107%. The shares also offer a valuable portfolio diversifier for investors, with a geographic focus on Germany, and a focus on pro
Companies: Sirius Real Estate Limited
Vietnam Enterprise Investments (VEIL) is the largest and longest-established Vietnamese equities closed-end fund. The last quarter of 2019 and most of 2020 marked a period of portfolio repositioning for the fund. The team sold 14 holdings, and bought two, making the portfolio more focused (28 stocks at end 2020 versus 41 at end Q319) but better balanced by market cap as well as domestic and international business exposure. Over H220 the performance has picked up, with NAV total return of 28% versus 24% for the VN Index, after marginally lagging the benchmark over the past three years. The trust is well positioned for longer-term investors looking for an exposure to the fast-growing Vietnamese economy via a relatively large and liquid listed equities vehicle.
Companies: Vietnam Enterprise Investments
Volta Finance (VTA) posted a 5.7% decrease in NAV in 2020, recovering from the initial 32.4% drop in March. This was mainly supported by CLO equity tranches posting solid monthly returns in November and December 2020 at +11.0% and 9.7%, respectively. Volta had anticipated a downturn for some time and repositioned its portfolio into CLO equity over the last two years. During the early-2020 market turmoil, Volta’s manager focused on securing liquidity by fully deleveraging the portfolio and implementing cost-cutting initiatives. In December, Volta introduced a dividend policy to pay 8% of its NAV (in line with historical yields), which currently implies a prospective 9.2% yield on the share price.
Companies: Volta Finance
Pacific Horizon (PHI) generated a very impressive uplift in its NAV over the course of 2020. This reflects its focus on growth, and technology and biotech stocks in particular. These performed well as we attempted to adjust to life under the pandemic, thereby accelerating a number of structural trends. PHI provided an NAV total return of 86.1%, which eclipsed the return on the MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan of 21.2%, the broader MSCI AC World of 12.7% and the average of its Asia Pacific sector peer group of 25.3%. PHI is the top-performing trust in this sector by a significant margin. Despite this stellar growth, PHI’s manager is not resting on his laurels. Emerging Asia still remains a high-growth and underresearched region, and he continues to focus on those themes he expects to do well over the next five years. For example, EV continues to be a significant theme and the manager has been increasing exposure to the commodities needed to deliver a greener future, but which the world is structurally short of, following long-term underinvestment.
Companies: Pacific Horizon Investment Trust
Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust’s (MNP’s) manager Zehrid Osmani reports that his ongoing focus on long-term structural, sustainable business models was beneficial for the fund’s performance during the coronavirus-led market sell-off in Q120, with portfolio companies undertaking measures to protect their brand equity. He is encouraged by a general increase in investor awareness of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, an area of research that Martin Currie has focused on for several years, as he believes that ESG improvements can lead to higher total returns for shareholders. MNP’s performance has improved since the appointment of Osmani in October 2018, and its NAV is now ahead of its benchmark over the last one, three, five and 10 years.
Companies: Martin Currie Global Portfolio Trust
AVI Global Trust (AGT) offers a genuinely different investment approach to those of competing trusts in the AIC’s global sector. It also has a good track record of beating its performance benchmark, the MSCI All Countries World ex the United States Index, with dividends reinvested and translated back into pounds. Some well-timed trades and a willingness to look through the current COVID-19 disruption affecting some businesses have helped drive strong performance from AGT over the past few months. The trust’s shares are on an attractive discount, 10.3% at close of business on 22 January 2021, and it is itself invested in a portfolio of high-quality family holding companies, closed-end funds and cash/asset-rich Japanese securities, which collectively trade at a weighted average discount of 30.1% (as at 18 January 2021) to the value of their underlying assets. The manager sees numerous catalysts to unlock value from AGT’s portfolio over 2021.
Companies: Avi Global Trust
Redde Northgate has come through the COVID crisis in very good shape so far. We expect minimal impact on the former Northgate business from “lockdown 2.0”, a strong recovery in profits and a re-rating as normality returns and Redde reverts to mean. We could see further useful earnings upside from acquisitions such as Nationwide and revenue synergies not yet included. The Group is transforming itself into a mobility business which is higher returning, more diversified and has sustainable compounding growth prospects.
Companies: Redde Northgate PLC
Further media reports that Dr Martens, the British Boot brand is planning an IPO on the LSE. It is currently owned by PE group, Permira who is expected to sell down its stake at the IPO. March 2020 YE the group had revenues of £672m and EBITDA of £184m. Deal size TBC. 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 Due mid Jan. 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. Due 14 Jan. 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. Due by Early Feb.
Companies: IUG CBP KAT APP RST DIS NICL BOKU CNIC HE1
Pacific Horizon (PHI) generated a very impressive uplift in its NAV over the course of 2020. This reflects its focus on growth, and technology and biotechnology stocks in particular. These performed well as we attempted to adjust to life under the pandemic, thereby accelerating a number of structural trends. PHI provided an NAV total return of 86.1%, which eclipsed the return on the MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan index of 21.2%, the broader MSCI AC World of 12.7% and the average of its Asia Pacific sector peer group (see page 23) of 25.3%. PHI is the topperforming trust in this sector by a significant margin. Despite this stellar growth, PHI’s manager is not resting on his laurels. Emerging Asia still remains a high-growth and underresearched region, and he continues to focus on those themes he expects to do well over the next five years. For example, companies exposed to the growth in electric vehicles (EV) continue to be a significant theme. The manager has been increasing exposure to the commodities needed to deliver a greener future, but which the world is structurally short of, following long-term underinvestment.
Acorn Income Fund was launched in February 1999, and has a split capital structure with both Ordinary shares which receive a high level of income, during last year dividends of 23p were paid representing an increase of 10.6% on 2019 and offer a flat yield of 7.3%. It also has Zero Dividend Preference shares (ZDPs) which mature next February and offer a GRY of 5.9%. To mirror the two classes in the capital structure, the portfolio also has two distinct pools of assets; with 70%-80% being invested in UK Small Companies being managed by Unicorn Asset Management and the balance of 20%-30% invested in an income portfolio, predominately Corporate Bonds which is managed by Premier Miton Investors. This two pronged approach has enabled the trust to generate a strong total return for Ordinary shareholders of 213% over the past decade with annualised total return of 12.1%. The recent strong annualised dividend growth of 10.8% over the past five years and the current discount of 14.9% on the Ordinary shares offers an attractive entry point.
Companies: Acorn Income Fund