Traders Cafe with Zak Mir: Amur Minerals, Brandshield, Catenae, i3 Energy, Infrastrata, Powerhouse Energy, Rambler, Zephyr Energy

While we are currently being treated to almost daily stories of online breaches and hacks, the stock market has apparently still not fully grasped the opportunities for companies in the space. A further reminder has arrived today from BrandShield Systems (BRSD), the cybersecurity solutions group which specialises in external online threat hunting for corporates. It has just announced another contract in the European pharmaceutical industry, following contracts with the Pharmaceutical Security Institute and Bristol Myers Squibb. This is one of a number of additional clients secured in June over and above the 18 new clients BrandShield secured between January and May 2021 which the Company revealed alongside the publication of its 2020 Accounts on 21 June 2021.

Those wondering why shares of i3 Energy (I3E) were up by 17% yesterday, did not have to wait too long to find out. The oil and gas group said that the final confirmation hearing in the High Court was held yesterday and the court approved the cancellation of i3 Energy's share premium account. With the predicted timing of the above registration by the Registrar of Companies, i3 expects the Ex-dividend date to be during the week commencing 12 July 2021. On an operational level, the company said it has now executed a binding sales and purchase agreement to acquire 230 boe/d of Wapiti production, a non-core asset to the seller, whereafter i3 intends to conduct six well reactivations to production to an estimated 310 boe/d at a total acquisition and capital cost of $410k.

Russia focused nickel-copper sulphide exploration and resource development company Amur Minerals (AMC) announced an update to the Mineral Resource Estimate for its 100% owned Kun-Manie project. The JORC Mining Ore Reserve now consists of 148.3 million ore tonnes containing 1.11 Mt nickel (averaging 0.75% nickel) and 0.31 million tonnes copper (averaging 0.21% copper). There is also an additional 29.4 Mt Inferred ore tonnes averaging 0.69% nickel (204,000 nickel tonnes) and 0.20% copper (58,000 copper tonnes). The company said the newly released JORC resource estimate on Kun-Manie is a major step in the update to all future study work associated with western market and funding, with the resource categories suited for the definition of JORC mining reserves also having been increased by as much as 25%.

It was two for the price of one from technology group Catenae Innovation (CTEA), with half year and final results unveiled on the same day. The company said it product set retains significant value and, with support from Nick Delacamp, its recently appointed Chief Commercial Officer, has a healthy pipeline of non-COVID-19 related opportunities that will allow it to leverage its technology for use in other markets. The latest acquisition of Hyperneph expands the Group's product offering, and the ongoing consultation with DCMS in the development of the Digital Identity and Trust Attributes Framework Policy was also said to reflect Catenae’s standing in the sector.

Waste plastic to energy group Powerhouse Energy (PHE) revealed its final results to the end of last year. Of chief interest here perhaps is what has been going on post period in terms of the building of the first commercial plant. This is being facilitated by advice from Ian Crockford whose former assignments include responsibility for project delivery at the 2012 Olympic Delivery Authority. He started advising both Powerhouse and Peel NRE in April 2021. The technical team will be led by Paul Emmitt, Powerhouse’s newly appointed Chief Technical Officer, who has been very closely involved in the development of its DMG technology.

Copper and Gold producer Rambler Metals and Mining (RMM) said it has agreed financing terms sufficient to fund the completion of its underground development and mine remediation via a combination of a senior secured term loan and an unsecured, subordinated convertible note in an aggregate amount of up to $50 million. The Company has signed a binding term sheet for a 3-year senior secured loan in the amount of $20 million and said the funds will enable it to continue the underground development in the lower footwall zone of the Ming Mine and that it provides the necessary flexibility in mine production sources going forward.

Rocky Mountain oil and gas play Zephyr Energy (ZPHR) revealed an updated evaluation of its Paradox resource base, saying that it may have a wider viable development alternative to the natural fracture play in the Cane Creek reservoir. It concluded there is the potential for substantially increased resources on the Paradox project as results suggest multiple viable scenarios for considerable upside - from the exploration potential of the overlying reservoirs to the hydraulic stimulation of targeted reservoirs, or from a combination of both.

There was an encouraging trading update from strategic energy infrastructure group Infrastrata (INFA). Here the company said it continues to make solid commercial progress and is building a significant pipeline of opportunities with a near-term focus on renewables, defence and cruise & ferry. It added that the Saipem fabrication contract is a real “game changer” and provides a solid platform for it to grow the renewables side of our business. The stated goal is to increase organic cashflows so as to be in an annualised cash break-even position by the end of the current calendar year.