When in doubt about pandemics, ask an expert. One of the best being former FDA Commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb (non-exec director of Pfizer & Illumina), who has been calling for widespread COVID-19 workplace testing for some time. Today came news that there is now one such test available for all American businesses, freelancers, ‘gig’ workers &/or sole traders. This new tech-enabled solution is powered by CLSU’s ClearContact, ClearID and Virtual Badge (strategic partnership) applications, in conj
Companies: CLEARSTAR
Thankfully pandemics don’t come around very often. The last one of such virulence as COVID-19 being the ‘Spanish Flu’ in 1918-20. So how is ClearStar faring? Today’s 2019 results (see below) were in line with our revised expectations - reporting adjusted EBITDA (post SBPs) of $370k (-$108k LY) on turnover up 14.1% LFL to £23.0m ($20.1m). Driven by strong top line growth from Medical (+21.4%, MIS) & Direct (+31.9%), together climbing 26.2% to $16.5m (71.8% of group). Albeit partly offset by an 8.
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.
Companies: CCS TRP TEK BOOM 9537 ACT THR VRS SRB MWE
It’s been a ‘FTSE slug fest’ over the past 3 months. Firstly investors were rattled by US/China trade tensions, then uncertainty about Brexit/General Election, and more recently by conflict in Iran/Iraq and the deadly Coronavirus. The latter sending Chinese equities, travel stocks, crude oil, commodities and many other assets plummeting.
Underlying demand for ClearStar’s tech-rich background & medical (MIS) screening services remains buoyant, as evidenced by its record orderbook and healthy pipeline – augmented by November’s ebullient US jobs report, where unemployment fell to a 50- year low of 3.5%
Recruiting skilled, trustworthy and committed staff is a tricky & often cumbersome process, especially in today’s tight US labour market (3.7% unemployment). Get it wrong, and capable candidates go to rivals. Equally hiring poor employees can damage an organisation’s results, brand & culture. No more so than in the regulated areas of healthcare, transport, petro-chemicals, defence, logistics, education and financial services.
If you’re concerned about Brexit, Sterling’s devaluation, currency wars and/or the slowing global economy, then look no further than Uncle’s Sam’s backyard. To us, America remains the ‘destination of choice’ for many investors, given its resilient consumer (>70% GDP), low unemployment (3.7%), solid GDP (2.1% Q2’19) and muted inflation (CPI 2.1%). The only problem is finding the right companies to buy at attractive levels. Step forward ClearStar, a tech-enabled background & medical (MIS) screenin
ReAssure Group plc - The Group is a leading closed book life insurance consolidator in the United Kingdom with 4.3m policies, £68.7 billion of assets under administration on a Post-L&G Illustrative Basis. It is considering a premium listing segment of the main market. Voyager AIR The Com pany w ill focus on the acquisition, leasing and m anagement of prim arily widebody aircraft, w ith asset management services to be provided by Amedeo Limited he IPO will comprise a Placing and Offer for Subsc
Companies: MHC RENX TMT ADT RDT IPEL 9537 CWR
There are few principles in life that work consistently through ‘thick and thin’. One of the most important (& usually hardest to find) for investors is purchasing ‘quality growth stocks at attractive prices’. Enter ClearStar, who this morning (ahead of its AGM) said that LFL sales had climbed 14% in the first 5 months of 2019.
Tech firms are often faced with trade-offs. Take Amazon, who for years prioritised growth ahead of profitability in order to build dominant positions in online retail, cloud services and voice-search (re Alexa/Echo). Likewise, we think ClearStar is adopting a similar long term strategy to create shareholder value. Sure if it decided to switch off the ‘expansion button’ today, then earnings would immediately flow through. However, what we’re talking about here is a much bigger opportunity – disru
World class companies have one thing in common. They are all totally committed about delighting their customers. Knowing that this can create a powerful feedback loop, and likewise trigger more client wins, higher hit rates, positive referrals and follow-on work. Today we saw this virtuous circle in action again at ClearStar, a specialist in background & medical screening solutions. Announcing that it had secured a new 3 month $350,000 contract. Both extending and expanding the services it alrea
Long term value creation is all about customer focus, profitable growth and 1 st class execution. Concentrating on what clients want today and in the future - and doing it better than anyone else. We think that Clearstar, a technology-rich background employment and medical (MIS) screening provider, has this in spades. Saying this morning, that its strong growth in 2018 (+13% to $20.1m) had continued into Q1’19 - posting record turnover, up 11% LFL to $5.1m ($4.6m LY).
Many day traders think they know better than the market, yet get royally ‘tumbledryered’ whenever the FTSE goes into ‘psychosis mode’. For long-term value investors though, volatility means ‘opportunity’.
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 mediumsized
Companies: BLOE SOG HAT HW/ ESC EMR SCLP 9537 HOTC EYE
Research Tree provides access to ongoing research coverage, media content and regulatory news on CLEARSTAR. We currently have 32 research reports from 2 professional analysts.
An in-line update for FY21E means that losses have been contained by management's action on the cost base. Losses are not materially higher than in FY20A and sequential growth shows that revenues are recovering rapidly. With an identifiable pipeline of commercial opportunities, we see capacity for upside risk to financial forecasts to emerge this year.
Companies: Kromek Group Plc
Ahead of today’s AGM, Luceco raises guidance due to further share gains in WA & an earlier than expected demand improvement for LED projects from the commercial construction sector. The group expects 1H21 sales of £105m up 43% and a doubling of & adj OP to £18m, 5% above prior forecasts, supported by robust action on cost inflation. We now expect a stronger 2H21 and raise our FY 22 estimates by 8%. Accordingly, we raise our TP to 350p.
Companies: Luceco PLC
Highlights of FY21 are 43% c/c ARR growth at SwipedOn, routes to market for Space Connect signed and delivering, and significantly reduced burn. Q1 trading looks promising, with SwipedOn ARR 9% since year-end and Space Connect’s pipeline doubling to £1.2m. Looking forward, SMRT’s desk and meeting room booking tools are ideally suited to the emerging hybrid workplace (more employees than desks). We also note initiatives to narrow the price discount with competitors and target customers with more
Companies: Smartspace Software Plc
Today's news & views, plus announcements from MRW, CPI, UAI, MGP, BGO, JOUL, ANG, THG
Companies: Bango plc
Semper Fortis Esports* recently announced its intention to IPO onto the Access Segment of the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market. Semper is a multi-operational Esports organisation focusing on gaming technology solutions, brand enhancement and high growth team infrastructures. The company plans to raise £2.5m to develop their three core areas of establishing an esports team, forming partnerships with brands for sponsorship and B2B consultancy services. The Board are highly experienced in spor
Companies: ADME RTC SAV DFCH HUW TEG ANIC KOO MIRI SPSY
Belluscura plc intends to seek admission of its entire issued and to be issued share capital on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange towards the end of May. The company will be seeking to raise £15m in a conditional placing of shares at a price between £0.42-0.48/shr, which is expected to translate to a post-money valuation of £50-55m.
Companies: Tekcapital Plc
After a quiet 1 st half (p/e Oct’21) due to the pandemic, Kromek is now enjoying a powerful rebound for its next generation, radiation detectors from existing & new medical (eg BMD, SPECT), nuclear (D3S) & security screening (Airport baggage/bottles) customers. Saying today that FY’21 results would be “in line with expectations”, with the Board equally being “excited” about the near-term prospects for its ground-breaking, biological threat detector. These mobile or static devices continuously te
Amino has completed a £9.4m placing at 140p, boosting the strength of the balance sheet in anticipation of acquisitions to deliver the route to the financial targets of “Amino 2025”. The auction for the trade and assets of MobiTV, in Chapter 11 proceedings in the US, resulted in Amino’s selection as the reserve bidder, effective if the successful bidder’s transaction does not complete by 31 May. Amino’s ability to respond quickly to future acquisition opportunities, with balance sheet strength a
Companies: Amino Technologies plc
Nanoco has signed an extension to its development project with a major European customer, under which it is working on a range of materials for a number of sensing applications, which could potentially lead to volume production in calendar H222 (FY23). Importantly, securing this contract gives management the confidence and cash to retain its nanomaterial development and production capability rather than cutting back to focus on the litigation case against Samsung.
Companies: Nanoco Group PLC
The UK market showed a continued recovery in the first quarter albeit the indices are still well short of their all-time peaks, unlike many of their international peers. The FTSE 100 has risen by 1,186 points (21.4%) since the end of October and the FTSE 250 by 4,304 points (25.0%). The comparable performance since the start of the year is less spectacular- the FTSE 100 has risen by 253 points (3.9%) and the FTSE 250 has risen by 1,070 points (5.0%). The factors behind the sustained rally are fa
Companies: AMYT ARBB BPC BAG BVC BEG BONH BLVN BRSD CML CWK CRPR EYE ECHO FDM FAR FA/ GPH GSF HUW INSE JDG KAPE KP2 MACF MPAC MNZS NESF NBI OTMP OBD PREM QFI RUA SCS SEN SOS SUR TON TOU TXP TGL TCN UEM VLS WYN
FY20 results were broadly as expected at the January prelims with sales up 2.4%, a 510bp margin expansion to 16.8%, and adj. EPS of 15.5p (7.7p). The revenue outlook is ahead of January expectations; 1H21 was previously expected to increase +25% vs new expectations for +40% due to ongoing share gains. Management announced new through-cycle EBIT margin guidance for 15-20% vs 10-15% previously. We expect FY22 margins to progress towards the upper-end of the new range, with near-term inflation head
Amino has announced that it has been selected as the reserve bidder in the auction of the trade and certain assets of MobiTV, the US-based TV platform provider. The group has also confirmed a (gross) £9.4m fundraise to fund future acquisitions and that trading since the FY 20A results announcement has continued in line with management’s expectations. We see several positives in this week’s announcement. Although so far unsuccessful, Amino’s involvement in the MobiTV auction process is in our vie
During H121 Nanoco successfully delivered on the technical and commercial milestones for its programme with a major customer to develop new nanomaterials for sensing applications. Management implemented further restructuring actions, cutting cash-burn to £0.4m/month and extending the cash runway to calendar H222.
NFT Investments plc is an investment company that specialises in non-fungible tokens (NFT). Has applied for admission to the Access segment of the AQSE Growth Market. No funds being raised. Due 16 April. Thor Explorations (TSXV:THX) seeking a secondary listing on AIM. The Company is targeting Admission during Q2 2021. Segun Lawson, President & CEO, stated: “Thor Explorations has advanced significantly, in both project development and capitalisation since the acquisition of Segilola in 2016. T
Companies: RCN NCCL PRIM ORR AVCT TLY RENX CMCL ARO
Companies: KIBO ROCK VRCI K3C TOU ADT PCA ATYM IOM MJH
