KUKA saw a strong recovery in order intake, but revenues reported a material decline, as did profitability. This higher order uptake was the silver lining of KUKA’s Q3 figures, which were not bad for a capex-driven business. We are aware such contracts could face cancellation however. Interestingly, the order book did not benefit that much from the higher demand for automation. The figures were broadly in-line with our expectations.
Companies: KUKA AG
KUKA’s Q2 figures are far from being disastrous, but they gave a realistic view on a capex-driven industry. The figures fit into our broad picture and management’s guidance for a potential negative EBIT for the full year is already our expectation. However, we miss some strategic measures in addition to those to fight the impact of the current situation. What will KUKA’s positioning be in the post-COVID-19 period? How could this be reached? Many questions, no answers.
Despite the cash drain in Q1, the cash level stood at quite a high watermark. What is a bit more worrying is the lower order intake (should be better in Q2). As expected, automotive and electronics remained quite cautious in placing new orders. Contrary to the stumbling industries, Swisslog’s lower order income was unexpected. The figures were barely better than expected. Management explained the reported declines by limited access to customers’ production sites. Some car manufactures have re-started production after the Easter Holidays.
‘With a little help from my friends’ could have been another title as the Quandt-family-dominated car producer, BMW, has ordered robots for the manufacturing of car bodies.
FY 2019 had quite a nice ending, reporting higher than expected sales and earnings. And here ends the good news. Management failed to provide any outlook, but the CEO has been cited in a press release that the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting KUKA and is causing ‘great concern’. We understand that the company is preparing for shutdowns and other measures, but the order backlog has improved relative to the 9M figures.
Being highly likened to the automotive and electronics industries, KUKA could not decouple from the development in these industries. The Q3 set of figures showed some deeper skid marks in the main divisions, which had forced management to cancel FY guidance at the end of September and to announce the restructuring of part of a division. Now, we know the segment is in Robotics. Furthermore, it was not unexpected that Europe and China would become difficult markets.
The current economic environment and the uncertainties, especially in the automotive industry, negatively impacted KUKA’s Q2 report. Despite having a dominant shareholder, who made some direct investments in KUKA subsidiaries, the China division China has not really benefited from this kind of constellation although it has shown some improvement. Profitability was slightly above our expectations.
But on omission! KUKA’s management strives to meet guidance, expecting a pick-up of the business in H2. The company had always booked in recent quarters the costs for various initiatives, which burdened the EBIT line, but were expected to be beneficial for future growth. It seems that management has cancelled these in Q1 in order to meet a target. Profitability exceeded our expectations.
Or, one cloud raises the question of whether the company is being run properly or whether the major shareholder is not fulfilling its promises. Independent of the answer, management’s typical reaction is to start a cost-cutting programme propelled by making people redundant. Additionally, we do not understand how management has come to the conclusion that the reduced guidance was met. Our earnings expectations have not been met.
Chinese-dominated KUKA has adjusted the already lowered FY 2018 guidance (sales: €3.3bn, adjusted EBIT margin: around 4.5%) once again. Management now expects sales of c.€3.2bn and an adjusted EBIT margin of 3.0%. The 2020 targets (sales: €4.0-4.5bn; adjusted EBIT: ~7.5%) do not look realistic according the new management.
Management reduced FY 2018 guidance primarily expecting lower profitability (EBIT margin of 4.5% after 5.5%). Reported Q3 figures did not meet our expectations. Although we do not follow KUKA due to the shareholding structure (94.55% owned by Midea) and the low liquidity, we try to read across the trends in the robots industry. In the third quarter, we saw some trend reversal, although this doesn’t look sustainable.
Although we do not follow KUKA due to the shareholding structure (94.55% owned by Midea) and the low liquidity, we try to read across the development in the robots industry. In the second quarter, we saw a continuation of Q1’s trend and some acceleration in the decline qoq. In Q2, revenues clearly declined 15.4% to €852.7m and the order intake dropped 4.7% to €960.2m. Adjusted EBITDA including PPA and restructuring expenses of €3.7m came in at €77.2m (€63.6m) and adjusted EBIT rose from €47.4m €62.0m. The latter’s respective margin moved from 4.7% to 7.3%. Net income clearly went up +21.4% to €40.8m. New reporting structure without the previous year’s figures In the context of KUKA’s change in reporting structure, the failure of comparable previous year’s figures doesn’t help. Automotive declined 1.9% to €398.2m qoq but EBIT was up to €27.8m (Q1: €26m) and the EBIT margin was 7.1% after 6.6%. *Industries*’s sales dropped 14.1% qoq (to €389.2m), EBIT significantly improved (€43.1m after €9.6m). Consumer Goods & Logistics Automation generated some higher sales (€157.1m after €145.6m) qoq, but EBIT dropped from €3.1m (Q1 18) to €-6.0m in the reporting period.
KUKA results – a proxy for the robots industry? Although we do not follow KUKA due to the shareholding structure (94.55% owned by Midea) and the low liquidity, we try to read across the development in the robots industry. In the first quarter, we discovered that the company is not really a proxy for the industry. In Q1 18, revenues declined 6.9% to €900.2m and order intake dropped 5.9% to €744.5m. Adjusted EBITDA including ppa and restructuring expenses of €5.2m declined 25.9% to €41.1m. EBIT collapsed by 58.5% and reached €15.3m after €36.9m. The EBIT margin declined from 4.1% to 2.7%. Adjusted EBIT also dropped significantly by 40.3% to €23.9m. Net income plummeted 63.5% to €9.7m and earnings per share from €0.67 to €0.24. New reporting structure will reduce impairments The operating performance lost traction completely due to higher costs and lower revenues. Starting on 1 January, the company changed the reporting structure. Previously the focus was on Products and Solutions. Due to the new customer-centric organisation the company will report three divisions: Automotive, Industries and Consumer Goods & Logistic Automation. The Robotics Systems and Swisslog division was dividend into new segments. The change in the reporting structure might also indicate that management is trying to avoid impairment charges on the former Swisslog division. In Q1 18, the Automotive division generated total revenues of €396.8m and an EBIT of €26m (EBIT margin of 6.6%). The Industries division generated €235.9m revenues, an EBIT of €9.6m and an EBIT margin of 4.1%. The Consumer Goods & Logistic Automation contributed €145.6m to revenues and €2.1m to EBIT. The EBIT margin reached 2.1%. No previous numbers related to the new structure were available.
Kuka reported final 2017 results. We have no recommendation (major shareholder with 94.6% Midea) but take the company as a proxy for the automation process in the industry. Kuka has already released preliminary results in January combined with a profit warning.
Problems of the Systems division not yet solved. The company released preliminary results. In the financial year 2017 revenues are expected to reach €3.45bn. The EBIT margin however is expected to decline from 5.5% to 4.3%. The main reasons for this decline are project delays in the Systems division. The total estimated amount will be around €40m. Already in Q3`17 the company’s Systems division suffered. EBIT dropped 75.7% and the EBIT margin declined from 7% to 1.8%. According to management, the decline was caused by capacity shortages in some projects thereby causing shortages in others. The project delays continued in the fourth quarter. Therefore management decided to publish a profit warning. In Q3`17, however, management was still confident of reaching the EBIT margin guidance of 5.5%.
Research Tree provides access to ongoing research coverage, media content and regulatory news on KUKA AG. We currently have 32 research reports from 1 professional analysts.
AMTE Power, a developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells for specialist markets, announced its intention to seek admission to trading on AIM. Admission is expected to take place during March 2021. The Company intends to raise approximately £7m by way of a placing of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company. Timing TBC. Samarkand Group Limited, the cross-border eCommerce technology and retail group opening up the world's largest market for brands and retailers, intends to IPO on the Apex Segment Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market. Admission is targeted for March 2021. Cellular Goods a UK-based provider of premium consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids announced its intention to join the main market (standard) this Spring. Target valuation £20m raising c. £8m “to finalise the development and launch of a range of the Company's premium-quality consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids, which is fully compliant under UK law.” NextEnergy Renewables to launch an IPO on the Main Market. NREN is a differentiated renewables investment Company that aims to capture the most attractive private renewables and energy transition infrastructure investment opportunities globally. Targeting a £300m raise. NREN is targeting total returns of 9-11 per cent. per annum (net of all fees and expenses but including the Target Dividend and capital appreciation) . The Company's target dividend yield for the first full financial year to 31 December 2022 is 5.5 pence. Due Early March 2021. Auction Technology Group is considering an IPO on the Main Market. The Group operates six world-leading online Marketplaces and proprietary global auction platform technology for curated online auctions. In FY20 the Group delivered pro forma revenue of £52.3m, supported by notable underlying year-on-year growth from both Standalone ATG Group and Standalone Proxibid Group (12.4 per cent. and 40.4 per cent., respectively). For the same period, the Group delivered a strong profitability performance of £22.3m pro forma Adjusted EBITDA representing a pro forma Adjusted EBITDA margin of 42.6 per cent. Expected March 2021. Digital 9 Infrastructure launch an initial public offering on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, by way of an initial placing and offer for subscription for a target issue £400m. Digital 9 Infrastructure plc is a newly established, externally managed investment trust. The Company will invest in a range of digital infrastructure assets which deliver a reliable, functioning internet. The IPO Prospectus is expected to be published in March 2021. Team PLC announced their plans for an AIM IPO. Team owns Theta Enhanced Asset Management Ltd, trading as Team Asset Management. This is a Jersey-based active fund manager providing discretionary and advisory portfolio management services to private clients, trusts and charities. Assets under management were GBP291m in November, up from GBP140m in December 2019 . The Company is seeking to raise no less than £5 million. The Placing will be priced on a pre-money valuation for the Company of £7 million. Targeting March Admission. Virgin Wines UK Plc recently set out their plans for an AIM IPO. Virgin Wines is a direct-to-consumer online wine retailer that sells products to retail customers in the UK through two subscription schemes and a pay-as-you-go offering. The Group also sells a range of beers and spirits and operates a B2B sales channel for corporates. Deal details TBC but media reports suggest a £100m valuation. Targeting 2nd March Admission Fix Price announces its intention to float on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Fix Price is one of the leading variety value retailers globally and the largest in Russia, with more than 4,200 stores. Fix Price has revenues of RUB 190.1bn, RUB 142.9bn and RUB 108.7bn for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA for the same years was RUB 36.8bn, RUB 27.2bn and RUB 14.2bn, respectively. The Offer would consist of an offering of GDRs by certain existing shareholders of the Company. Great Point Entertainment Income Trust PLC announced its prospectus has been approved by the FCA. Great Point Entertainment Income Trust PLC is a newly established, externally managed closed-ended investment company. The Company will provide project finance to content makers and commissioners in the global television and film production industry via senior loans secured against pre-sold intellectual property (IP) rights. GPEIT's investment objective is to provide Shareholders with dividend income and modest capital growth through exposure to media content finance. According to media reports, Deliveroo, are expecting to release their IPO plans on 8th March. The company raised more than $180m in January with a valuation of more than $7bn.
Companies: SBI OCI IDOX ROL JAN BSE PXS SHED TSG KDNC
AFC Energy has this morning announced (RNS Reach) that it has launched its Anion Exchange Membrane (“AEM”) Fuel Cell test facility at the Company's Surrey headquarters. This facility will test and optimise AFC Energy's high energy-density fuel cell technology, HydroX-Cell(S)™, that is currently in development. The design of the new dedicated AEM fuel cell facility was completed in the second half of 2020 with full fit out now complete in advance of full operation.
Companies: AFC Energy plc
tinyBuild— a leading video games publisher and developer with global operations. tinyBuild's strategic focus is in creating longlasting IP by partnering with video games developers, establishing a stable platform on which to build multi-game and multimedia franchises is to join AIM. Offer details TBC. Due mid-March. AMTE Power, a developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells for specialist markets, announced its intention to seek admission to trading on AIM. Admission is expected to take place during March 2021. The Company intends to raise approximately £7m by way of a placing of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company. Timing TBC. Samarkand Group Limited, the cross-border eCommerce technology and retail group opening up the world's largest market for brands and retailers, intends to IPO on the Apex Segment Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market. Admission is targeted for March 2021. Cellular Goods a UK-based provider of premium consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids announced its intention to join the main market (standard). Has raised £13M in an oversubscribed placing. £25m mkt cap. Due 26 Feb. NextEnergy Renewables to launch an IPO on the Main Market. NREN is a differentiated renewables investment Company that aims to capture the most attractive private renewables and energy transition infrastructure investment opportunities globally. Targeting a £300m raise. NREN is targeting total returns of 9-11 per cent. per annum (net of all fees and expenses but including the Target Dividend and capital appreciation) . The Company's target dividend yield for the first full financial year to 31 December 2022 is 5.5 pence. Due Early March 2021. Digital 9 Infrastructure launch an initial public offering on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, by way of an initial placing and offer for subscription for a target issue £400m. Digital 9 Infrastructure plc is a newly established, externally managed investment trust. The Company will invest in a range of digital infrastructure assets which deliver a reliable, functioning internet. The IPO Prospectus is expected to be published in March 2021. Team PLC announced their plans for an AIM IPO. Team owns Theta Enhanced Asset Management Ltd, trading as Team Asset Management. This is a Jersey-based active fund manager providing discretionary and advisory portfolio management services to private clients, trusts and charities. Assets under management were GBP291m in November, up from GBP140m in December 2019 . The Company is seeking to raise no less than £5m. The Placing will be priced on a pre-money valuation for the Company of £7m. Targeting March Admission. Virgin Wines UK Plc has out their plans for an AIM IPO. Virgin Wines is a direct-to-consumer online wine retailer that sells products to retail customers in the UK through two subscription schemes and a pay-as-you-go offering. The Group also sells a range of beers and spirits and operates a B2B sales channel for corporates. Anticipated mkt cap £110m. Raising £13m in new money and vendor sale of £34.9m . Due 2nd March. Fix Price announces its intention to float on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Fix Price is one of the leading variety value retailers globally and the largest in Russia, with more than 4,200 stores. Fix Price has revenues of RUB 190.1bn, RUB 142.9bn and RUB 108.7bn for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA for the same years was RUB 36.8bn, RUB 27.2bn and RUB 14.2bn, respectively. The Offer would consist of an offering of GDRs by certain existing shareholders of the Company. Great Point Entertainment Income Trust PLC announced its prospectus has been approved by the FCA. Great Point Entertainment Income Trust PLC is a newly established, externally managed closed-ended investment company. The Company will provide project finance to content makers and commissioners in the global television and film production industry via senior loans secured against pre-sold intellectual property (IP) rights. GPEIT's investment objective is to provide Shareholders with dividend income and modest capital growth through exposure to media content finance. According to media reports, Deliveroo, are expecting to release their IPO plans on 8th March. The company raised more than $180m in January with a valuation of more than $7bn.
Companies: YEW IKA UPR WYN ENW BWNG TRAK DBOX HZM G4M
BAE released a sound set of figures for FY20, beating the consensus and shining with its strong cash generation. The company remains poised for groth in FY21 thanks to its defensive backlog and high exposure to strategic contracts.
Companies: BAE Systems plc
Directa Plus has announced that it has signed a supply agreement and a Strategic R&D Agreement with NexTech Batteries Inc, a leading company in the field of Lithium Sulphur batteries based in Nevada, US. These agreements follow on from the Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the two companies and announced on 26 October 2020. The Supply Agreement has an initial duration of three years, with an option to extend for an additional two years and under the Supply Agreement, Directa Plus will supply NexTech with 300kg of nanoplatelets in 2021, with quantities for delivery in each subsequent year to be agreed between the parties. Directa Plus and NexTech have also agreed a worldwide bilateral exclusivity between the parties in the lithium battery field for the duration of the Supply Agreement. The three year R&D Agreement provides for Joint Lab activities with the intention of developing new specific grades of G+® graphene nanoplatelets for a next generation of Li-S batteries. Both parties will dedicate selected scientists from their R&D teams and part of their respective facilities to the enterprise. As announced in November 2020, NexTech, using Directa Plus's G+ materials, achieved 410Wh/kg of specific energy in a practical demonstration system at a weight only slightly below 30g. For comparison, standard lithium-ion batteries have a specific energy density of 100-265 Wh/kg.
Companies: Directa Plus Plc
We update our valuation following our initiation note in September. Since then there has been multiple positive developments in terms of new strategic collaborations with world leading organisations as well as investment to ensure capacity can be built up to satisfy demand. Our revised target valuation of 191p reflects elements of the ABB relationship in a number of major markets, albeit the longer-term opportunity could be much bigger than this. Indeed, we have not included all AFC’s growth opportunities in this valuation. Recent profit taking gives an opportunity to re-visit the long-term investment thesis. The next scheduled news flow is FY results in early March.
In the past two years, since Hardman & Co first started to target the IC sector, we have heard many managers of ICs and boards talk of the growth of the retail investor on their registers. Many have approached Hardman & Co for help in addressing this market, since we have a unique strength in this field relative to other providers.
Companies: AVO ARBB BBGI CLIG DNL FLTA ICGT OCI PCA PIN PHP RECI STX TRX VTA YEW
Report on Techcrunch that IROKO, a Nigerian-based media company, could file to go public in the next 12 months on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) Alternative Investment Market. Founded by Jason Njoku and Bastian Gotter in 2011, IROKO boasts the largest online catalogue of Nollywood film content globally. According to this report, the media company will raise between $20 million and $30 million valuing the company at $80 million to $100 million. AMTE Power, a developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells for specialist markets, announced its intention to seek admission to trading on AIM. Admission is expected to take place during March 2021. The Company intends to raise approximately £7 million by way of a placing of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company. Timing TBC. Samarkand Group Limited, the cross-border eCommerce technology and retail group opening up the world's largest market for brands and retailers, intends to IPO on the Apex Segment Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market. Admission is targeted for March 2021. Cellular Goods a UK-based provider of premium consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids announced its intention to join the main market (standard) this spring. Target valuation £20m raising c. £8m “to finalise the development and launch of a range of the Company's premium-quality consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids, which is fully compliant under UK law.” Kanabo Group (RTO by Spinnaker Opportunities SOP.L) on the main market (standard). Raising £6m, enlarged mkt cap £23.4m. Kanabo focuses on the distribution of Cannabis-derived products for medical patients, and non-THC products for CBD consumers . Due 16 Feb. NextEnergy Renewables to launch an IPO on the Main Market. NREN is a differentiated renewables investment company that aims to capture the most attractive private renewables and energy transition infrastructure investment opportunities globally. Targeting a £300m raise. NREN is targeting total returns of 9-11 per cent. per annum (net of all fees and expenses but including the Target Dividend and capital appreciation) . The Company's target dividend yield for the first full financial year to 31 December 2022 is 5.5 pence. Due Early March Auction Technology Group is considering an IPO on the Main Market. The Group operates six world-leading online Marketplaces and proprietary global auction platform technology for curated online auctions . In FY20 the Group delivered pro forma revenue of £52.3 million, supported by notable underlying year-on-year growth from both Standalone ATG Group and Standalone Proxibid Group (12.4 per cent. and 40.4 per cent., respectively). For the same period, the Group delivered a strong profitability performance of £22.3 million pro forma Adjusted EBITDA representing a pro forma Adjusted EBITDA margin of 42.6 per cent. Digital 9 Infrastructure launch an initial public offering on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, by way of an initial placing and offer for subscription for a target issue £400m. Digital 9 Infrastructure plc is a newly established, externally managed investment trust. The Company will invest in a range of digital infrastructure assets which deliver a reliable, functioning internet. The IPO Prospectus is expected to be published in March 2021. Cordiant Digital Infrastructure to admit its shares on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange . Targeting a £300m raise. Cordiant invests in global infrastructure and real assets, running infrastructure private equity and infrastructure private credit strategies through limited partnership funds and managed accounts. Due 16 Feb 4basebio UK Societas is a specialist life sciences group focused on therapeutic DNA for gene therapies and DNA vaccines and providing solutions for effective and safe delivery of these DNA based products to patients. The Company has been divested from 4basebio AG , a German company listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange . No capital to be raised on Admission. Anticipated market capitalisation on AIM Admission: £14.53m. Due 17 Feb Cornish Metals (TSX-V: CUSN) intends to list on AIM. The Company is proposing to raise £5m by way of private placement of new Common Shares to advance the United Downs copper-tin project. The Company expects that Admission will become effective 16 February 2021. The Company's Common Shares will continue to be listed and trade on the TSX-V in Canada. Raising £8.2m. £18.7m mkt cap.
Companies: CCS UKOG PTD SFE STAR ATYM AVG PHD CGNR SNX
AMTE Power, a developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells for specialist markets, announced its intention to seek admission to trading on AIM. Admission is expected to take place during March 2021. The Company intends to raise approximately £7 million by way of a placing of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company. Timing TBC. Samarkand Group Limited, the cross-border eCommerce technology and retail group opening up the world's largest market for brands and retailers, intends to IPO on the Apex Segment Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market. Admission is targeted for March 2021. Cellular Goods a UK-based provider of premium consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids announced its intention to join the main market (standard) this Spring. Target valuation £20m raising c. £8m “to finalise the development and launch of a range of the Company's premium-quality consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids, which is fully compliant under UK law.” Kanabo Group (RTO by Spinnaker Opportunities SOP.L) on the main market (standard). Raising £6m, enlarged mkt cap £23.4m. Kanabo focuses on the distribution of Cannabis-derived products for medical patients, and non-THC products for CBD consumers . Due 16 Feb. NextEnergy Renewables to launch an IPO on the Main Market. NREN is a differentiated renewables investment company that aims to capture the most attractive private renewables and energy transition infrastructure investment opportunities globally. Targeting a £300m raise. NREN is targeting total returns of 9-11 per cent. per annum (net of all fees and expenses but including the Target Dividend and capital appreciation) . The Company's target dividend yield for the first full financial year to 31 December 2022 is 5.5 pence. Due Early March 2021. Auction Technology Group is considering an IPO on the Main Market. The Group operates six world-leading online Marketplaces and proprietary global auction platform technology for curated online auctions . In FY20 the Group delivered pro forma revenue of £52.3 million, supported by notable underlying year-on-year growth from both Standalone ATG Group and Standalone Proxibid Group (12.4 per cent. and 40.4 per cent., respectively). For the same period, the Group delivered a strong profitability performance of £22.3 million pro forma Adjusted EBITDA representing a pro forma Adjusted EBITDA margin of 42.6 per cent. Expected March 2021. Digital 9 Infrastructure launch an initial public offering on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, by way of an initial placing and offer for subscription for a target issue £400m. Digital 9 Infrastructure plc is a newly established, externally managed investment trust. The Company will invest in a range of digital infrastructure assets which deliver a reliable, functioning internet. The IPO Prospectus is expected to be published in March 2021. Cordiant Digital Infrastructure to admit its shares on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange . Targeting a £300m raise. Cordiant invests in global infrastructure and real assets, running infrastructure private equity and infrastructure private credit strategies through limited partnership funds and managed accounts. Due 16 Feb. 4basebio UK Societas is a specialist life sciences group focused on therapeutic DNA for gene therapies and DNA vaccines and providing solutions for effective and safe delivery of these DNA based products to patients. The Company has been divested from 4basebio AG , a German company listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange . No capital to be raised on Admission. Anticipated market capitalisation on AIM Admission: £14.53m. Due 17 Feb Cornish Metals (TSX-V: CUSN) intends to list on AIM. The Company is proposing to raise £5m by way of private placement of new Common Shares to advance the United Downs copper-tin project. The Company expects that Admission will become effective 16 February 2021. The Company's Common Shares will continue to be listed and trade on the TSX-V in Canada. Raising £8.2m. £18.7m mkt cap.
Companies: OHG MDZ PEG IQE RBN WHR HMI ANIC KOD GMR
Directa Plus has announced that its existing relationship with NexTech Batteries Inc has progressed to a formal supply and strategic R&D agreement. We consider this a very positive development, given the potential for Lithium-Sulphur (Li-S) to disrupt the dominance of Lithium-Ion batteries. Directa will supply NexTech with 300kg of G+® graphene platelets this year, with potentially far higher quantities for delivery in subsequent years linked to NexTech’s anticipated growth.
The Drax prelims show continued progress in generation and pellet production with the impacts of COVID 19 on the customers business within expectations. The company is delivering cost reductions in its pellet supply business and this business will be significantly expanded with the proposed acquisition of Pinnacle Renewable Energy, turning the company into a major vertically integrated biomass business.
Companies: Drax Group plc
Affected by volumes which were lower than their long-term average and weak commodity prices for the upstream division, the group published a disappointing set of FY20 figures. Although the group’s efforts on its cost structure are notable, we maintain a cautious view on inventory due to the economic uncertainty that could erode cash generation (due to an increase in working capital requirements, among other things).
Companies: Centrica plc
Volex has reported interim results that are in-line with expectations following a strong trading update in mid-October. Of far greater significance is today’s announcement of the proposed acquisition of DEKA for a consideration of up to €61.8m on a debt free basis. DEKA is a leading and highly profitable power cord manufacturer, strategically located in Turkey, that serves leading European white goods manufacturers. The acquisition should close in early CY2021, subject to expected Turkish Competition Authority approval. We foresee 15% earnings enhancement in FY2022E with further opportunities for revenue synergies with Volex in the Far East as its operations also vertically integrate, production efficiencies increase and the cost of production falls. The statement highlights that pro forma net debt/EBITDA remains under 0.4x and this provides scope for further bolt-on acquisitions alongside a new $70m RCF and $30m accordion, also announced with the interims.
Companies: Volex plc
NBB is an established and well-recognised 40-year brand in the field of senior executive-level talent acquisition, which has been substantially upgraded since appointing Mike Brennan as Group CEO in 2016, and has become a totally transformed company. Notably NBB has lifted its game dramatically, growing into a broad human capital solutions business delivered via professional embedded processes, where before what we had was the familiar well-respected but single-strand executive search operation. As a result, growing and more relevant new service lines now form the largest part of the company, and aligned with this, NBB's financial prospects have improved significantly. While Covid has been challenging, the company has managed the crisis well by considered and strategic headcount additions, while at the same time taking out over £500,000 in costs. Positive H1 and FY EBITDA reports stand out as important milestones. Net debt cut from c.£1m to near-zero in H1 reflected a return to cash-generation. We are now able to include forecasts for FY-2020E and in addition '21 and '22 scenarios, illustrating the potential upside.
Companies: Norman Broadbent plc
Cornish Metals (TSX-V: CUSN) intends to list on AIM. The Company is proposing to raise £5 million by way of private placement of new Common Shares (the "Fundraising") to advance the United Downs copper-tin project. The Company expects that Admission will become effective in February 2021. The Company's Common Shares will continue to be listed and trade on the TSX-V in Canada. 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. 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. Moonpig, the digital greeting card company, is planning an IPO with a potential valuation of £1bln, according to multiple media reports. Further details expected to be announced over the next two weeks.
Companies: ZPHR PANR PRSM SENS CYAN G4M ITX CRCL FEN ZIN
