Trader’s Cafe with Zak Mir: Amala, Argo Blockchain, Catenae, Guild, Microsaic, Open Orphan, San Leon, Shanta, Supply@Me, Zephyr

It would appear that the contract flow at Catenae Innovation (CTEA), the AIM quoted provider of digital media and technology is starting to ramp up. Last week it unveiled a new partnership with medical sample technology specialist ProMake. This week it announces that it has received an order from Shetland Space Centre, a satellite launch site and ground station in Unst, Shetland. The order covers Phase One of a three phase project to deliver a digital dashboard solution to enable SaxaVord to monitor live satellite operations remotely from anywhere in the world. Catenae will capture and aggregate data from multiple sources including NASA, the European Space Agency and SaxaVord's own systems.

Mass spectrometry instruments specialist, Microsaic (MSYS) is also on the front foot, saying that it has signed non-binding Heads of Terms with a manufacturing partner, to support the China Distributor HoT (RNS announced on 4 May 2021) for Microsaic's micro-engineered MS technology. Under the newly signed HoT, production of the point of care MS medical device is expected to commence this year in Shanghai for the hospital diagnostics monitoring system for the Chinese market. Clearly, anything related to the world most populus country is always significant.

Independent oil and gas production, development and exploration company focused on Nigeria, San Leon Energy (SLE) provided an update in relation to its investment in Energy Link Infrastructure (ELI), the company which owns the Alternative Crude Oil Evacuation System project. San Leon said it has agreed with ELI that, should these further investments be made in the company, then the First Instalment will be offset from any investment monies payable to ELI by San Leon. Pending any further investment in ELI, the First Instalment will continue to accrue interest at 14% per annum.

Prior to the pandemic last year, the COVID 19 of many countries in warmer climates was Malaria. Therefore, it is highly significant that pharma services group Open Orphan (ORPH) has revealed that its subsidiary, hVIVO, has developed a Controlled Human Malaria Infection challenge model. Open Orphan said that this development strengthens and further diversifies the company's world leading portfolio of viral challenge study models. The Malaria challenge model will assist in the advancement of antimalarial drug and vaccine candidates from November 2021. Results from CHMI modelling of drug and vaccine efficacy have previously shown good translation into the field.

East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer Shanta Gold (SHG) provided an exploration update for its West Kenya Project in Kenya. The update relates to 3,369m of drilling across 13 holes conducted in May and June 2021 at the Isulu and Bushiangala deposits. The company said encouraged by the intersections which are the first results from this second phase. Shanta remains on track to complete 35-40% of total planned drilling at West Kenya by the end of 2021 with visible gold identified already.

Inventory monetisation group Supply@Me Capital (SYME) unveiled the first full $40m of funding secured for its Global Inventory Monetisation Fund. The company said the launch of its Global Inventory Monetisation Fund and TradeFlow's latest funds issuance underline the strength of the SYME business model and the benefits which the acquisition is starting to deliver.

Amala Foods (DISH), the former BigDish, provided a business update. In June that it signed a term sheet to extend the £200,000 loan to the first quarter of 2022 and to receive the remaining balance of the £540,000 convertible loan. Amala has now received the remaining loan balance. This will enable it to achieve commercial traction and fund operations into the first quarter of 2022. As far as BigDish is concerned, Amala is monitoring the continuing effect of the pandemic on the hospitality industry in the United Kingdom and is considering a variety of strategies to adapt the BigDish technology to a business-to-business (B2B) platform for restaurants.

Commercial stage pharmaceutical company Shield Therapeutics (STX) noted the recent on-line publication in the American Journal of Kidney Disease showing positive 16 week and long-term results from a study comparing the effectiveness of ferric maltol 30 mg bid with placebo over 16 weeks (2:1 randomization), and long-term up to 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in haemoglobin at week 16.

Netcall (NET), the intelligent automation and customer engagement software group, said it has signed a global framework agreement with a leading multinational financial services firm with operations spanning 120 countries. The customer is using the Liberty platform to build and deploy powerful business applications across its global operations, with the first application live in one country and additional applications currently being rolled out across other countries of operation.

Esports group Guild (GILD) announced it has reached an aggregate "owned-audience" of more than one million across all social channels, two months ahead of schedule. The owned audience figure covers the total number of Guild's fans who actively subscribe to or consume content produced directly by the company. Guild added that it has also seen strong growth in its overall "network audience" which currently totals 16,032,546 million, up from approximately 8 million followers as at 31 March 2021. Guild is an investee company of Blue Star Capital (BLU).

Rocky Mountain oil and gas company Zephyr Energy (ZPHR) provides an update on its flagship project in the Paradox Basin, Utah, U.S.A. The company reported that State 16-2LN-CC drilling operations, which began on 13 July 2021, have concluded successfully and safely. The well reached Total Depth at 14,370 feet, at which point a full suite of wireline logs was run and production casing was set.

Argo Blockchain (ARB) announced its results for the six months to 30 June 2021. Revenues increased by 180% to £31.1m reflecting increase in production, and helped by a rise in Bitcoin prices (H1 2020: £11.1m). EBITDA was up by 332% to £16.0m (H1 2020: £3.7m) despite a £6.2m downward revaluation of digital assets and a £1.6m share based payment charge. On the mining infrastructure front. Argo had previously committed to an initial purchase of US$8 million of mining rigs from ePIC Blockchain Technologies. However, based on "limitations of technology", the $5 million deposited with ePIC, in whole or in part, can be applied to the purchase of ePIC mining machines or ePIC common stock or repaid in full.