Hybridan Research: Sector Review: Artificial intelligence in UK cybersecurity: the human uplift 17/04/2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a double-edged sword in cybersecurity. Whilst new AI models, architectures, and innovations are emerging to protect the security posture of organisations, attackers are also benefiting from deepfakes, sophisticated phishing, and automation of malicious codes. To ensure the impact of AI on cybersecurity to be a net-positive, we need to pit good AI against bad AI. Point solutions enhanced with machine learning: Global cybersecurity has been built with point soluti

Zeus: Software and Services Quarterly review - February 2024

Top subsector price performance: There were price gains across the board this quarter with all but Location & Sensing software posting positive aggregate movements

Zeus: Software and Services Sector Quarterly review - November 2023

Top subsector price performance: Three of the nine subsectors recorded aggregate share price gains over the last quarter, with Security up the highest at +10.7% for the three months to 13 November 2023. Corero and Intercede are gaining contract momentum, partly driven by high-profile attacks. Similarly, GB Group’s Fraud location revenue grew strongly in H1, whilst NCC Group’s restructuring is achieving cost efficiencies. Bytes, which has broad exposure to the technology sector, highlighted parti

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 01 Nov 23

1st November 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

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 26 Jun 23

26th June 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 objecti

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 17 Apr 23

17 April 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 objectiv

SysGroup (SYS LN) - Resilient product portfolio

SysGroup has released H1 results to 30 September 2022. The company delivered single digit organic growth in line with management expectations. Its services are proving to be resilient, as SMEs seek to invest in technology to increase competitiveness and improve margins. Operationally, the company’s investments in sales, application software and cloud platform have increased scale, efficiency and sales opportunities. Its recent acquisitions have added strong teams, complementary services, cross s

Zeus Technology Quarterly review - November 2022

This quarter’s key observations • Subsector performance: UK Software was the only saving grace in the technology sector during the three months to 10 November, with an aggregate share price movement of +8.1% vs. an average of -12.0% for the other five subsectors. This was largely driven by strong performances from Microfocus International (+70%, following an announced $6bn takeover by Canadian software provider OpenText) and WANdisco (+52%, after strong interim results in September and a po

SysGroup (SYS LN) - Strong execution in a tough macroeconomic environment

SysGroup has released a strong trading update, demonstrating the robustness of its business model in the face of a challenging macroeconomic environment. In addition, its recent acquisitions are performing well, its pipeline continues to grow and its investments in sales and marketing are progressing well. Despite the Company’s continued strong performance, shares trade at only 3.3x FY23 EV/EBITDA and 5.6x PE. We see significant share price upside, with our average valuation estimate 185% ahead

Zeus: Technology Quarterly review - August 2022

This quarter’s key observations • Subsector performance: Marketplaces was by far the best performing subsector from an aggregate share price perspective (up 19.9%) vs. an average –5.2% for the other five subsectors. UK Digital Media was the worst performing subsector with a -12.4% aggregate share price move. • Valuation trends: UK Managed Services saw the largest EV/ EBITDA derating (-2.1x) and is now on the lowest EV/Sales multiple (1.5x FY1) and second lowest average EV/EBITDA (11.3x FY1

SysGroup (SYS LN) - Initiation of coverage

SysGroup is an award-winning provider of managed IT services, cyber security, cloud hosting and IT consultancy. The Group offers investors an attractive business model with high recurring revenue and a diversified customer base. SysGroup is competitively well positioned to benefit from sector trends and is investing in sales capacity to take advantage of cross-selling opportunities and a recovering market. In addition, the company has opportunities to make highly accretive acquisitions and its s

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 29/10/2021

Joiners No joiners today. Leavers No leavers today What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen? Katoro Gold plc (AIM: KAT), the AIM listed gold and nickel exploration and development company, announced that the Company and Target Mine Consulting (Pty) Ltd have agreed to seek admission for 100% of the Blyvoor Joint Venture project (BV) by vending each of their separate interests into a new company to be listed on the Standard List of the London Stock Exchange. Katoro will look to recover its total cash exp

Small Cap Feast

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