RNS Hotlist: Alkemy, AMTE, Audioboom, Amur, Bradda, Castillo, Eurasia, i3, LoopUp, Open Orphan, Predator, Roquefort, Zephyr

Open Orphan (ORPH), the specialist contract research organisation with a recent stunning run of contract wins, announced its audited final results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2021. It revealed record revenues of £39.0m (2020: £22.2m), amounting to 76% growth, a £9m improvement in EBITDA generating £2.9m (2020: £(6.1)m), with cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December 2021 of £15.7m (2020: £19.2m). The company said that as at 1 June 2022, it had an order book of signed contracts worth £64.2m which is expected to be recognised across 2022, 2023 and 2024. This compares to the present market cap of £107m.

Zephyr Energy (ZPHR), the Rocky Mountain oil and gas company, updated on recent activity at its project in the Paradox Basin, Utah, U.S. The company said it is “ hugely excited” to embark on the next steps to open up the Paradox Basin resource play.  The plan announced today allows it to both accelerate near-term production and benefit from long term gas sales optionality should the economic returns from the co-located crypto-mining facility meet internal expectations.

Bradda Head Lithium (BHL), the North America-focused lithium development group with a pleasingly posh CEO, said that it has commenced the second stage of metallurgical testwork at Basin East, working towards producing a final battery quality lithium product, and associated economic co-products. Results of the work are expected in H2 2022.

Castillo Copper (CCZ), a base metal explorer primarily focused on copper across Australia and Zambia, provided a strategic update across its projects. The company said that with cobalt remaining over U$70,000/t, the priority is to extend known mineralisation across the BHA Project's East & West Zones. Similarly, with copper above US$9,000/t, it will apply the same formula for the Big One Deposit within the NWQ Copper Project.

i3 Energy (I3E), an independent oil and gas company with assets and operations in the UK and Canada, announced the publication of its inaugural annual ESG report on its website (www.i3.energy). The company said that having acquired a large and diverse asset base of operated well, pipeline and processing facilities in a series of transactions from a number of different operators over the course of 2020 and 2021, a considerable effort was required to acquire and consolidate emissions data for its portfolio.

Predator Oil & Gas (PRD), the Jersey-based Oil and Gas Company said that following the delivery by the Company of correspondence to FRAM on 23 March 2022 relating to the repayment of the Fram Loan and the settlement of other outstanding contractual matters under the Inniss-Trinity Well Participation Agreement, the Company has failed to receive from either FRAM or Challenger any firm proposals to allow an amicable settlement to be reached. The company has decided to initiate a litigation process.

AMTE Power (AMTE), the developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery cells, has signed a MOU with advanced powertrain developer Viritech Ltd. The MoU paves the way for the parties to establish an agreement to supply AMTE Power's Ultra High Power cells for use in Viritech's battery packs for high performance FCEV projects.

“Top Up” Tobin is at it again at Audioboom (BOOM). On 6 June 2022, Michael Tobin OBE, non-executive Chairman, bought 1,111 shares at 1,315p. He now holds 700,000 shares or around 4.3% of BOOM.

Roquefort Therapeutics (ROQ), the Main Market listed biotech company, updated on progress on its a pre-clinical Midkine targeting drug development programs. The company said It has been a very active start to the year during which it has made “significant” progress. The collaboration with Murdoch University is yielding encouraging results with the Company's lead oligonucleotide drug candidates.

Alkemy Capital (ALK) said that on Monday 30th May, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tees Valley Lithium Limited hosted London brokers VSA Capital and Shard Capital on a visit to the world-class Wilton International Chemicals Park and the Teesside Port facilities. The Wilton International Teesside Chemicals Park is one of the biggest in Europe and is host to Anglo American, SABIC, Alpec, Nippon Gas among others. Wilton are providing TVL with energy, development land, infrastructure, fibre, utilities and security at TVL's 20-acre plot.

LoopUp Group (LOOP), the cloud platform for premium hybrid communications, announces its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2021. Revenue was of £19.5m (FY2020: £50.2m) at a gross margin of 69% (FY2020: 71%). Adjusted EBITDA1 of £1.2m (FY2020: £15.3m) and adjusted operating loss of £6.1m (FY2020: £9.0m profit).

Amur Minerals (AMC), the exploration and resource development company, where shareholders recently voted against receiving tens of millions of Pounds, announced the completion of its TEO Project, approved by the Russian Federation State Committee on Reserves with regard to its Kun-Manie nickel copper sulphide project located in the Russian Far East. The company said The TEO Project feasibility study results generated by the GKZ expert commission indicates the Kun-Manie operation should be scaled up to as much as 12.4 million ore tonnes per year for a 19 year open pit operation.  This is a “more than doubling” of the previously anticipated capacity of 6.0 million ore tonnes per year.

Eurasia Mining (EUA), the multiple metals producing company, announced the expected timing for publication of the annual audited report and accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2021 and AGM. The company said due to geopolitical circumstances, the annual audit is running behind schedule. At present Eurasia still expects the report and accounts to be published and announced before the end of June 2022. An AGM notice will also follow in due course, with the statutory notice period for the AGM being observed.