(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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Henry Boot PLC - Sheffield, England-based construction and property development business - Wins GBP47 million urban development scheme in York, UK named The Cocoa Works. It is located in York's city centre. "The group's construction business, Henry Boot Construction, has been selected as the contractor to refurbish York's historical Rowntree Factory into 279 high-quality, characterful apartments, which is being delivered by Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group," Henry Boot explains. Work to conclude in fourth quarter of 2023. Company adds: "Henry Boot Construction's order book for 2022 is now 100% secured, as the group continues to grow its opportunity pipeline within its three focused markets: industrial and logistics, residential, and urban development."
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Sativa Wellness Group Inc - Vancouver, Canada-based therapeutic life science company - Teams with cosmetics, beauty and health products retailer Superdrug Stores PLC to offer "extensive range" of blood tests. Pact includes 40 Superdrug sites which have trained nurses to take blood for tests including pre-diabetes, thyroid function, cholesterol and organ health. "The customer orders the test they require from the Goodbody clinic website and can choose whether to use a personal blood testing option, select a Superdrug clinic or use one of the participating Goodbody stores to take the blood sample," Sativa says.
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Chill Brands Group PLC - Grand Junction, Colorado-based cannabidiol products - Updates on US retail presence. Says distribution partner BettermentRS, a Texas-based wellness firm, stocks Chill's CBD Flavour Pouches and other CBD products into 343 stores across several US states.
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Yourgene Health PLC - Manchester, England-based diagnostics products firm - Notes publication of Spanish research paper focused on dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, an enzyme. Research highlights benefit of using a DPYD genotyping test to identify cancer patients with deficiency of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase. A lack of the enzyme could suffer from severe and sometimes lethal reaction to chemotherapeutic drug 5-Fluorouracil. Yourgene launched Elucigene DPYD assay back in September 2019. It has since received screening recommendations in Germany, Wales, NHS England and Belgium.
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Finsbury Food Group PLC - Cardiff-based cake and bread baker - Says "resilient" trading continues in new financial year. Revenue in four months since June year end up 8.3% to GBP106.2 million. Says UK retail performance "stable", foodservice in "robust recovery" and overseas showing "vert strong". Company adds: "Like many others in the manufacturing, distribution and retail sectors, we continue to manage challenges around inflation, skilled labour, driver shortages and other supply chain disruptions. We have responded quickly to mitigate much of the impact of these challenges through commercial negotiation and other initiatives. Whilst there is uncertainty around how long they will persist, Finsbury has a track record of successfully navigating challenging market conditions, as proven throughout the Covid-19 pandemic."
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Mobile Streams PLC - London-based mobile content provider - Says LiveScores Argentina service generates over USD14,000 revenue in October. The platform provides live sports results as they happen. "This is significantly more than the company expected for its first month of service. The higher than expected revenue arises from greater take up than anticipated in the market. The company believes this is extremely encouraging as it continues to grow the service," Mobile Streams says.
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Eagle Eye Solutions Group PLC - London-based marketing solutions provider - Makes "positive" start to new financial year, with revenue rising 35% in first quarter, accelerating from fourth quarter's 27% hike. Expects adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for year to June 30 to be "comfortably ahead of management expectations". "This strong performance has principally been driven by the significant customers won in prior periods moving into the transactional phase, including Woolworths, Staples US Retail and Virgin Red. The group's broadening client base has delivered revenue growth across all of its major geographical regions of North America, UK & Europe and Australia & New Zealand," Eagle Eye says.
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Mirriad Advertising PLC - London-based in-content advertising technology - Works with French media producer CANAL+ to allow advertisers to insert products or brands "seamlessly" into finished video content. The deal is a first for French cinema, Mirriad says. "Starting with feature films, it is hoped that the partnership will extend across CANAL+'s diverse content library in due course," Mirriad says.
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Aferian PLC - Leeds-based media and entertainment technology company - Subsidiary 24i successfully assists streaming service Cinessance's launch in US and Canada on iOS and Android platforms. Cinessance is French film's answer to Netflix Inc, Aferian says. "France is the second largest exporter of movies in the world, but only 3% of Netflix's catalogue features French films, according to What's on Netflix and a recent study from Unifrance. French expats, Francophiles and cinema-lovers have had no option to access the award-winning and globally recognized catalogue of French cinema," Aferian adds.
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Begbies Traynor Group PLC - Manchester-based corporate restructuring specialist - Says revenue in six months ended October 31 rises 39% to GBP52 million from GBP37.5 million a year earlier. Adjusted pretax profit is up 60% to GBP8 million from GBP5.0 million. Insolvency market picking up, Begbies says. "The insolvency market has been suppressed since March 2020 due to government support measures during the pandemic. However, since May 2021, the insolvency service has reported month on month increases in insolvency appointments nationally as these support measures have been removed," company explains. Company expects to meet full-year market expectations, "which will represent a year of significant growth". Current range of analyst forecasts for adjusted pretax profit is GBP17.0 million to GBP18.5 million. Adjusted pretax profit in financial 2021 amounted to GBP11.5 million, so Begbies may post growth of up to 61%.
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PCF Group PLC - parent of PCF Bank Ltd, serving individuals and small businesses - Embattled company reports on work taken to improve financial reporting and "control environment". Says independent probe on accounting records completed. "The assessment of the group's financial control framework, reporting processes, governance structures and its suitability to be a listed company is nearing completion," PCF adds. "With expert external assistance, the group has initiated a programme of cultural change focussing on the identification and management of risk, active listening and speaking up." PCF shares remain suspended pending completion of assessment, as well publication of interim results for period to March 31, as well as annual results for financial 2020. On trading, PCF adds: "The group continues to receive levels of inflows in respect of its deposit taking activity in line with its business and liquidity plan and continues to manage its loan originations at a reduced year on year level, as well as manage its capital and liquidity position in a conservative and prudent manner taking account of the position of the group and the wider macro-economic situation in the UK."
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Cohort PLC - defence and security markets-focussed technology company - Wins EUR8.5 million deal to provide Portuguese Army with Dismounted Soldier System to infantry forces. Deliveries start in 2022 and continue through to 2026. "The Dismounted Soldier Communications System encompasses a full range of high-tech voice and data communications equipment, including personal and handheld radios, data terminals, and Dismounted Soldier Integrator," Cohort explains. "This is an important step in the process of modernization of the Portuguese Army."
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Good Energy Group PLC - Chippenham-based renewable energy utility - Says Connected Kerb becomes latest charge point operator to join Zap-Pay platform, operated by Good Energy electric vehicle charging point mapping unit Zap-Map. "Connected Kerb will become the eighth charge point operator to be added to Zap-Pay. The charging network - which will have deployed 1,000 chargers, with contracts signed for 10,000 this year and secured for 30,000 more by the end of 2022 - was formed to solve the problem of where to charge an electric vehicle for those in the UK without off-street parking," Good Energy says.
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Thor Explorations Ltd - Vancouver-based mineral explorer with assets in west Africa - Outlines maiden resource estimate for Makosa asset in Senegal. Asset has 730,000 ounces of gold, at 1.5 grammes per tonne grading. Meanwhile at Mansa prospect, Thor notes a "new mineralised discovery". Mansa is five kilometres along strike from Makosa.
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By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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