(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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STV Group PLC - Glasgow-based television broadcaster - Says recovery of advertising revenue exceeds expectations, running 10% ahead of forecasts. "STV-controlled advertising continues to outperform the wider market, with regional advertising revenues up 12% in the first four months of the year," company adds. Video on demand service advertising also grew, up 26% annually and posts eight successive months of growth. Online viewing grew 73% in first quarter. Expects viewing figures in June as delayed Euro 2020 football championships kick off.
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In The Style Group PLC - e-commerce womenswear fashion brand - Says sales momentum since March float top expectations. Revenue for year ended March 31 to soar to GBP44.5 million from GBP19.3 million. "In light of the strong trading performance, prior to the year end the group returned financial support previously claimed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme," company adds.
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Inspecs Group PLC - eyewear design house and manufacturer based in Bath - Says first quarter revenue amounted to USD67 million. "This performance was achieved despite nationwide lockdowns in the UK, Germany and France and a variety of state lockdowns in the USA," Inspecs says. "Whilst this performance marks a positive start to the year, the board remains cautious on 2021 as Covid-19 remains prevalent across the world."
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Appreciate Group PLC - Liverpool-based multi-retailer - Pretax profit for year ended March 31 in line with market expectations range of GBP4.1 million an GBP4.8 million. Group billings down 3.2% to GBP406.5 million from GBP419.9 million.
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City Pub Group PLC - operates 48 pubs in southern England and Wales - Acquires 49% stake in Barts Pub Ltd, owner of Kensington Park Hotel in London's Ladbroke Grove, for GBP750,000. "It has large trading areas on the ground and first floors, benefits from seven hotel letting rooms and has potential for a further four letting rooms on the top floor. Ladbroke Grove is a prime residential area in London and the Company trades very successfully at the Cock & Bottle, Notting Hill, which is located close by," City Pub says. Increases stake in Mosaic Pub & Dining Group to 24% for GBP1.2 million. "The company acquired a 14% stake in the Mosaic Companies in September 2020 and this transaction takes its total investment to GBP2.4 million," company adds. Mosaic owns nine "prominent pubs" and largely operates in London and Birmingham.
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Arricano Real Estate PLC - developer and shopping mall operator in Ukraine - In separate announcements notes the easing of restrictions in Ukraine and an altered loan facility in country. Says Kiev retail shopping centres to reopen on May 1 but says its City Mall in Zaporizhzhia closed until further notice. Also says unit LLC Comfort Market Luks alters debt arrangement with State Savings Bank of Ukraine. Debt now carries 6.5% annual interest, down from 7.5%.
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Symphony International Holdings Ltd - Hong Kong-based investor - Asset Value Investors, which holds 15% stake in Symphony, takes aim at management of investment firm. Pens note to shareholders labelled "Save Symphony". "The poor performance of Symphony International Holdings Ltd has gone on long enough. We have two key aims and we need the support of our fellow shareholders to make them a reality," Asset Value Executive Director Tom Treanor says. Company wants to gather enough support to requisition extraordinary general meeting to replace directors. Also wants all shareholders to be "fully informed as to our concerns regarding the stewardship of SIHL and the independence of the board".
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LMS Capital PLC - London-based investment firm - Net asset value at end of first quarter slips 0.8% to 58.9 pence per share from 59.4p at end of December. Sees GBP300,000 unrealised gains on investment portfolio, but GBP200,000 million foreign exchange hit and GBP500,000 of running and investment costs.
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FastForward Innovations Ltd - investor in life sciences and technology businesses particularly within the medical cannabis field - Says 5.1%-owned Yooma Wellness Inc's CBD food products from its MYO Plant Nutrition and Blossom brands added to UK Food Standard Agency's novel foods list. "This approval represents a significant milestone for the MYO and Blossom brands," Yooma Chair Lorne Abony says.
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Hutchison China Meditech Ltd - Hong-Kong-based pharmaceutical company - Initiates registration-intent Phase II clinical trial of HMPL‑689, a PI3Ko inhibitor and can be used to treat forms of cancer. Trial focused on patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma. On Wednesday, shareholders backed company's name change to Hutchmed (China) Ltd. Name change effective only Registrar of Companies issues certificate.
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Verici Dx PLC - clinical diagnostics developer for organ transplant - Signs lease in Tennessee, US for site it plans to use as Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-certified laboratory. "I joined the company in January this year to help expedite the CLIA approval strategy and signing the lease to this space marks the first step towards achieving these CLIA approvals necessary for commercial launch of the company's leading products, Clarava and Tuteva," Vice President of Quality & Regulatory Affairs David Schultenover says.
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InnovaDerma PLC - London-based developer of beauty, personal care and life science products - Raises GBP500,000 from open offer, taking total fundraising to GBP4.5 million. Non-Executive Chair Ross Andrews says "macroeconomic environment is set to remain uncertain" this financial year but notes UK vaccinations and government lockdown easing roadmap going according to plan. "We've just entered the peak tanning season and the exact speed of a return to historical consumption levels will only be known over the coming months," Andrews adds.
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Yourgene Health PLC - Manchester, England-headquartered molecular diagnostics firm - Says revenue for year ended March 31 to rise 10% to GBP18.3 million from GBP16.6 million. "This is in line with recently issued guidance and reflects strong performances for European core revenues and for Covid-related testing products and services focused on the UK, more than offsetting the pandemic headwinds affecting international sales," Yourgene adds.
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Silence Therapeutics PLC - novel RNA therapeutics developer with offices in London and Berlin - Says first patient dosed in Gemini Phase I clinical trial of SLN124, a treatment for a rare pediatric disease. "Today's announcement is an exciting milestone in the development of SLN124. It is the result of many years of hard work," Chief Medical Officer Giles Campion says.
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Danakali Ltd - Colluli potash project developer - Raises AUD20.3 million, to fund work at Colluli asset, Eritrea. Says early works programme will begin "immediately".
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Greatland Gold PLC - precious and base metals exploration and development in Western Australia and Tasmania - Notes Newcrest Mining Ltd's quarterly update which refers to progress at Havieron gold asset. Says new assay results show four holes intersect "significant mineralisation". Results from wider growth drilling "continue to support the potential for resource expansion of the Havieron".
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Salt Lake Potash Ltd - Western Australia focused organic sulphate of potash miner - Receives new portion of environmental approval for Lake Way project. Says permit enables firm to construct pond trains 4-6. "Receiving final environmental approval over the full Lake Way project will enable our team to commence construction of the remaining on-lake infrastructure and deliver the full scope of the Lake Way project. We look forward to commencing work shortly on this final phase," Chief Executive Officer Tony Swiericzuk says.
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Ariana Resources PLC - exploration and development company operating in Europe - Reports promising findings from drilling results at Arzu North portion of Kiziltepe mine in Turkey. Says over 450 metres of "potentially open-pittable extensions confirmed". Adds that revised JORC exploration target now includes addition 7,000 ounces to 25,000 ounces of gold and 150,000 ounces to 250,000 ounces of silver, representing a more than four-fold resource hike. "This is an excellent set of results from the recent drilling at Arzu North. Collectively these results confirm the potential to extend the Arzu North open pit both to the northwest and to the southeast," Managing Director Kerim Sener says.
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Condor Gold PLC - gold exploration and development in Nicaragua - Says all infill drilling and assay at La India starter pits completed. "The drilling results received to date support, and add considerable confidence to, the geological model," Condor Gold says. Drilling underway for remaining 1,142 metres of work in La India open pit shell.
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Horizonte Minerals PLC - nickel company focused on Brazil - Hands environmental & social impact assessment at Vermelho nickel and cobalt project to consultancy firm Ramboll. "Ramboll's Impact Assessment services are based on both commercial understanding and technical rigour to deliver projects that are advanced, sustainable and provide value to society. Horizonte has previously worked with Ramboll on the hydrology for its flagship Araguaia ferronickel project," Horizonte adds.
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Gaming Realms PLC - London-based mobile games developer - Begins trading on OTCQX Best Market in US. "Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their US investors," company notes.
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By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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