Traders Cafe with Zak Mir: Audioboom, Avast, Castillo, Horizonte, Immedia, Iofina, Nuformix, Panthera, Serinus Energy

Podcast company Audioboom (BOOM) announced the launch of AdRip, a new proprietary advertising technology tool that enables the re-monetisation of a network's back catalogue of content. AdRip automates the removal of historic 'live-read' advertising that has been previously embedded into shows and is no longer providing revenue. The tool replaces the embedded advertising with new ad-breaks, which then allow Audioboom to sell and insert new ads each time an episode is downloaded in the future.

It is always interesting when an apparently known unknown, simply surprises the market. This is something which appears to have happened at Immedia (IME). The multi-media content and digital solutions specialist said that following the company's announcement on 26 March 2021, the company has terminated talks with Sprift Technologies with immediate effect. Immedia said that this as a result of due diligence and subsequent valuation discussions the negotiations have now been terminated. Immedia shares will now return from suspension.

Brazil focused nickel group Horizonte Minerals (HZM) delivered an operational update for its Araguaia Nickel Project. It said significant progress had been made on key project execution preparation activities. An Operational Readiness Plan is also well advanced with all key permits in place for commencement of construction. The company also said financing discussions remain on track, with credit committee approval for the senior debt facility expected in Q3 2021 as previously announced.

Diversified gold exploration and development company Panthera Resources (PAT) announced that the drilling programme at the Bassala Project in Mali has now ended with all samples shipped to the assay laboratory. The company said a total of 13 targets have been drill tested with a further nine targets planned to be drill tested after the wet season later in the current year. The geology logged in drill holes completed is encouraging and includes several broad zones of quartz veining with associated silica-chlorite-sulphide alteration. It is expected that first results will be reported within the next four weeks.

Base metal explorer Castillo Copper (CCZ) reported significant copper mineralisation from drilling at its Big One Deposit in the Mt Isa copper-belt district of north-west Queensland. The latest drill holes complement the results announced in June. Drill-hole BO_318RC intersected significant visible copper mineralisation in two distinctive zones - 11m from 89-100m and 34m from 153-187m. The company said massive copper sulphide mineralisation was clearly observed, with all seven drill-holes completed in the campaign so far have appeared, through visual inspection, to intersect copper mineralisation. Castillo said that the drilling campaign continues at Big One Deposit with a further 19 drill-holes to complete.

There is nothing like a juicy bid approach to liven up the dog days of summer, especially when it has been triggered by press speculation. This is what we have heard at digital security group Avast (AVST). The company said it notes the recent press speculation concerning the possibility of an offer being made for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Avast. It confirmed that it is in advanced discussions regarding a possible merger with NortonLifeLock. It will be interesting to see whether there is now a possible read across to the share price of other stocks in the cybersecurity space, which have thus far tended to be under rated by the market.

Pharmaceutical development company Nuformix (NFX) announced its results for the year ended 31 March 2021. Net assets at year-end of £5,686,261 (2020: £4,742,520) including £1,669,780 cash at bank as at 31 March 2021 (31 March 2020: £543,772). The company said successful fundraises during the year are enabling it to perform further R&D on it proprietary assets, focussing on NXP002 and NXP004. Nuformix targets unmet medical needs in fibrosis and oncology via drug repurposing.

Iodine manufacturer Iofina (IOF) provides an update on the first half of 2021. The company has been able to boast a strong sales period with demand for Iofina iodine and halogen derivative products increasing as customer markets reopen. H1 production of 249.4MT of crystalline iodine, is in line with revised forecast of 250MT. Iofina said expansion plans are progressing well and IO#9 construction is expected to begin by year end.

Serinus Energy (SEN), an upstream oil and gas company that owns and operates projects in Tunisia and Romania said that the drilling of the Sancrai - 1 well has discovered gas. The drilling of the well has now concluded achieving the total planned drilling depth of 1,600 metres. The well was drilled five days ahead of schedule and approximately 19% below budget. This newly discovered gas field lies approximately 7.8 km to the south of the Moftinu Gas Development project and provides Serinus with a high value, high return development opportunity similar to the Moftinu Gas Development project.