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(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Novacyt SA - Surrey-based biotechnology group focused on clinical diagnostics - Launches research-use-only monkeypox assay, as cases of the viral disease rise in non-endemic nations. "The launch of this assay expands Novacyt's genesig real-time PCR diagnostic product portfolio and is in line with the Company's strategy to maintain its position as a global first responder in infectious diseases," company explains. Company had previously developed Covid-19 assays.
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Tribal Group PLC - Bristol, England education software and services - Wins three further cloud contracts with University of Sunderland, Birmingham City University and University for the Creative Arts - all existing customers. Tribal will migrate their current Tribal Student Management Systems SITS:Vision to the Tribal:Cloud, offering an "improved student experience and delivering operational efficiencies for the universities". The deals range from three to five years and have a total value of GBP5 million. In addition, company signs new five-year SITS:Vision contract with the British University of Vietnam. Pact has total value of GBP1.7 million. Tribal now expects revenue for 2022 to be ahead of current board expectations and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation "broadly in line". "H1 Ebitda will be lower than the prior year due primarily to increased costs associated with a major customer implementation, following the extension of project timelines as a result of earlier Covid-19 related travel restrictions. However, Ebitda performance is expected to recover through the course of the second half, reflecting the group's continued focus on improved operational performance," Tribal adds. Will release interim results on August 16.
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Christie Group PLC - provider of professional and financial services, stock and inventory services to several sectors - Instructed to sell portfolio of 111 freehold care homes on behalf of Four Seasons Health Care Group. The properties are located in England, Scotland and Jersey and are trading under either Four Seasons Health Care or brighterkind brands. "This is the Four Seasons Health Care Group's remaining freehold property portfolio and associated care home business, thus being a key milestone in the group's ongoing restructuring process," Christie says. Process to be conducted by agency and advisory unit Christie & Co. "Christie & Co expects the portfolio to be of interest to a range of buyers, including corporate buyers and investors, regional groups, and SME operators all of whom are looking for growth opportunities via acquisition," company adds.
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Creo Medical Group PLC - Chepstow, Wales-based medical devices for surgical endoscopy - Expects high vaccination rates in US and Europe to lessen impact of Covid on operations in 2022, as Creo's commercialisation of endoscopy devices "continues at pace". Endoscopy procedures look at the inside of a patient's body. They are inserted into organs or orifices in the body. "Our momentum from 2021 has carried over with strong trading in the year to date, and the group continues to innovate, educate clinicians and to commercialise. The board looks forward to further updating shareholders during 2022 on important product advancements and meaningful commercial progress. The solid progress made over the past year underpins the board's continued confidence in the group's opportunities in 2022 and beyond," Chair Charles Spicer says.
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Firering Strategic Minerals PLC - operator of Atex dual lithium-tantalum project in Ivory Coast - Begins diamond drilling at "potentially lithium bearing pegmatite targets" at Atex asset. Chief Executive Yuval Cohen says: "This first phase of our diamond drilling programme, we believe, will confirm the presence of lithium bearing pegmatites and assist us in our goal to achieve a maiden resource estimate for Atex once all the drilling phases have been completed." Cohen continues: "With the price of lithium remaining robust, now is the time to push ahead at Atex, to meet the forecasted demand for lithium-ion batteries to fuel the [electric vehicle] and energy storage revolution." Ltihium-ion batteries are key components of electric vehicles.
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Hamak Gold Ltd - British Virgin Islands-based gold exploration firm focused on Liberia - Says rock chip samples from Nimba asset in Liberia are "positive". Two samples return grades of 45.5 grammes per tonne gold and 37.3 g/t gold. "The positive rock samples are located where significant gold in soil anomalies were recently reported from Nimba Block-1 and confirm the presence of bedrock gold," Hamak says.
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Getech Group PLC - Leeds, England-based green hydrogen company - Signs five-year extension to geospatial services contract with customer of its transitional petroleum division. New pact has total value of GBP1.7 million. "Services provided by Getech will include the design, implementation and management of geospatial operating systems that are essential for aboveground safety, environmental protection, and security on a large and complex asset," Getech says. "Adjusting the end-2021 order book position for contracts that have since converted to revenue in H1 2022, this new contract delivers significant growth in the value of Getech's current total order book - adding material recurring revenue over the next five years."
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CleanTech Lithium PLC - Jersey-based lithium exploration and development company focused on Chile - Applies for 119 new exploration licences in northern Chile, which constitute the Llamara project. "The Llamara project is located within the highly prospective Lithium Triangle in Chile, 600 kilometres north of the company's two flagship projects, Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin," CleanTech says. "The projects relatively low altitude of 1,100 metres allows for year-round exploration which can continue during the winter break in site operations at Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin." Says initial work programme, which will include geophysics, will determine drilling targets.
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Hydrogen Utopia International PLC - London-based waste-to-hydrogen company - Says design of waste plastic to hydrogen system reaches "advanced stage" and programme of testing to begin. Firm has been working with Electron Technologies BV in the Netherlands since May of last year on design of unique thermal processing system for conversion of waste plastics to hydrogen. "Electron and HUI have considered the thermochemistry of the entire process from basic principles and the equipment design has been developed accordingly," Hydrogen Utopia adds. "Electron, with HUI's help, is currently sourcing suitable plastic material to use in the tests, which are expected to take place next month."
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By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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