Interims – guidance reiterated. We reintroduce forecast & move to Buy

Alliance Pharma’s H1 interims are relatively robust, with trading conforming to recent commentary. Whilst there has been an impact in some areas of the business in H1 (Prescription Medicine) as expected per the trading update in July, the rest of the business particularly Kelo-cote, has proved very resilient and highlights the defensive nature of the business, and underlying adj. PBT (excl. amortisation and impairment charges) was solid in H1 2020 at £16.3m (+7% YoY). We anticipate some push and

Small Cap Feast

Intention to float by Gemfields Group. No Capital Raise. Currently listed on JSE. (GML:JNB) at circa £122m. The Group's key producing assets, the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia (believed to be the world's single largest producing emerald mine) and the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique (one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), are both expected to have long mine-lives with potential for expansion. Also owns the Faberge brand. Due Valentines Day 2020.

THE MONTHLY January 2019

The Hardman & Co Healthcare Index (HHI) has been running since 2009. Its main function is to highlight the attractions of life sciences investments over the long term. 2018 was a difficult year; however, the index still outperformed its comparative London indices, falling 10.0% to 393.2, compared with -13.0% and - 18.2% for the Allshare index and the AIM index, respectively. Furthermore, several (17) companies in our index increased their capital base – 15 of our 50 constituents raised new funds

International brands driving performance

Alliance Pharma (APH) is a profitable, cash-generative, specialty pharma business. The proportion of sales generated from higher margin international star brands is rising rapidly, and will be boosted by the recent acquisition of Nizoral in APAC, and UK approval and launch of Xonvea for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, where conservative management has failed. Investment behind these brands together with compliance with new regulatory directives will limit short term growth but positions the co

THE MONTHLY November 2018

In addition to Hardman’s monthly analysis of client stocks, the thorny issue of market disruption – a popular theme currently - is also addressed. In a wide-ranging article, Hardman’s utilities analyst, Nigel Hawkins, assesses the impact that market disruption has already made. In some sectors, notably telecoms and aviation, market disruption has been apparent for many years, as the rise of Vodafone, Ryanair and easyJet demonstrates. However, in some sectors, such as oil and housebuilding, struc

Small Cap Feast

PetroTal (TAL.TO) - The exploration and production company focused on oil assets in Peru is seeking a secondary AIM quoting 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

The Monthly September 2018

September’s Hardman Monthly features an article from guest contributor, Tim Ward. Tim is the Chief Executive of the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA), an organisation that champions the interests of small to mid-size quoted companies.

The Monthly

Hardman & Co’s analysts have direct experience of uncovering accounting frauds. In this article, Steve Clapham outlines why we might see a surge in them over the next few years. He is engaged by institutions to teach their fund managers and analysts how to identify risks brought about by such frauds. Hardman & Co is pleased to offer this service to private investors.

2018: a year of international progress

Alliance Pharma (APH) is continuing with its buy-and-build strategy, having evolved through 35 acquisitions over a period of 20 years into a profitable, cashgenerative, specialty pharma business. The company has a mix of international growth brands – Kelo-cote, MacuShield, Vamousse – and a bedrock of solid, local, low-growth products. A fourth international growth brand in the portfolio, Nizoral, was acquired from J&J on 21 June 2018 in the APAC region. The cash consideration of £60m was funded

Small Cap Breakfast

Ovoca Gold (to be renamed Ovoca Bio PLC) - RTO of IVIX, a Russian company developing a drug candidate for the treatment of female sexual dysfunctions. No monies to be raised, market cap of £8.5m, due 30 July Nucleus Financial—independent wrap platform provider . FYDec17 revs £40.36m and PBT of £5.1m. Offer TBA. Due late July. Kropz PLC-Intention to float by the emerging plant nutrient producer with an advanced stage phosphate mining project in South Africa and exploration assets in West Africa

Cenkos: Healthcare Sector - Ward Round

Weekly round-up of AIM-listed healthcare news. Venture Life Group, GENinCode, Kromek, Alliance Pharma, Polarean Imaging, Benchmark Holdings, Ondine Biomedical, Verici Dx, Faron Pharmaceuticals, Avacta Group, Abingdon Health, Open Orphan, Belluscura, Hutchmed (China), Oxford Biodynamics

LIBERUM: Futura Medical* - Strategy on track, FM71 data in Sept

Shield Therapeutics - FY results: focus on funding and growing the US

Full-year results were in line with the preliminary guidance issued in early 2022. Feraccru revenues in Europe increased with a 60% increase in volumes and the US commercialisation of Accrufer continues, with broader insurance coverage (100m lives covered). As with many small cap companies, access to growth capital is currently difficult; however, the group has raised a $10m loan from a major shareholder providing a cash runway till end-2022. Our assumption is that further funding comes from deb

Cenkos: OptiBiotix Health Plc -- Final results

OptiBiotix has reported final results for the year to December 2021, with revenues growing 45% to £2.2m and the EBITDA loss increasing to £1.0m, reflecting the increased investment in the business. Post-period end, OptiBiotix has continued to return value to shareholders through the successful spin-out and listing of its ProBiotix Health division. Future growth of the company is supported by commercial agreements with large partners and a substantial pipeline of opportunities through its 2nd gen

SHORE CAPITAL - Warpaint London+ (W7L) - House Stock at 113p

Record H1 as distribution widens and offer resonates

Trading continues to track ahead of expectations, which have been upgraded twice so far YTD. There is clear evidence the growth strategy is bearing fruit. Distribution gains are increasing brand reach both in the UK and overseas. This appears to be an ideal time for its on-trend value-for-money proposition to gain traction, potentially with counter-cyclical characteristics as consumers start trading down. After the recent pull-back, valuation is undemanding for a 3-yr EPS CAGR of 13% with risk p

CMA conclusion; small bolt-on; and in line trading

An update from CVS this morning covering conclusion of the CMA process, a further acquisition and update on trading. The CMA investigation into the acquisition of Quality Pet Care (QPC) is now complete, thereby bringing to an end a 9 month process. As part of the undertaking, CVS yesterday completed the sale of QPC for cash proceeds of c.£9m, implying a c.£12m impairment. Whilst the CMA episode has clearly been a setback, it does not seem to have fundamentally impaired ongoing M&A ambitions give

Morning Note – 30 June 2022

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 30/06/2022

Dish of the day Joiners: Visum Technologies has joined the AQSE Growth Market. The Company's business is to own and operate an "on-ride" video and photographic camera system that it sells and/or licenses to customers (being theme parks, ride manufacturers, souvenir imaging providers, and other leisure operators). Leavers: No Leavers Today. What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen? Immediate acquisitions (IME.L) is to re-join AIM via a Reverse Takeover of Fiinu Holdings Limited. Once complete the Compan

Next Gen XPLOR and D2C

Belluscura has announced the launch of the next generation X-PLOR portable oxygen concentrator and expanded distribution through a D2C offering and partnership distribution plan for smaller DMEs.

SHORE CAPITAL - Oxford BioDynamics+ (OBD) - House Stock at 16p

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 20/06/2022

Joiners: No Joiners Today. Leavers: Tungsten Corp and Sensyne Health have both left AIM. Hibernia REIT has left the Main Market. What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen? Visum Technologies seeking admission to The AQSE Growth Market. The Company's business is to own and operate an "on-ride" video and photographic camera system that it sells and/or licenses to customers (being theme parks, ride manufacturers, souvenir imaging providers, and other leisure operators). Due 30 June. LifeSafe Holdings, a fi

Positive AGM statement

The strong momentum from Q4-21 has continued into H1-22, with revenues expected to be up by more than 22% YoY. The outlook remains positive supported by strong industry demand and market share gains in the UK, where the group’s sustainability and affordability credentials are increasingly resonating. Whilst some macro pressures remain, these look to be manageable. We therefore make no change to our forecasts at this stage, but are highly encouraged by current trends and remain optimistic for the

LIBERUM: SourceBio International* - Scaling growth and trading well

Continued growth and margin improvement prompt further upgrades

A positive AGM update confirms strong revenue growth has continued YTD and further margin improvement means management again expect EBITDA to be materially ahead of expectations. The business model is now settled, with additional distributors appointed in the US which should help drive further penetration into the Primary Care market there. China revenues were strong and with no sign yet of any slowdown, despite being cognisant of renewed lockdowns there. Gross margins have remained robust on po