TRADING UPDATES: Jet2 in bumper Airbus order; Strix China factory live

(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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Jet2 PLC - Yeadon, England-based airline and package holiday operator - Enters into deal with Airbus SE to buy 36 new Airbus A321 neo aircrafts. Deal includes flexbility to boost order by up to 60 aircrafts. At current list prices, order has total value of USD4.9 billion, with total transaction value for up to 60 aircraft of roughly USD8.1billion. Jet2 adds: "The company has negotiated significant discounts from the list price. The company will retain flexibility in determining the most favourable method of financing the aircraft, which will be through a combination of internal resources and debt."

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Strix Group PLC - Isle of Man kettle safety controls supplier - Says new facility in hina fully operational. Factory is located in Zengcheng district in Guangzhou. Strix adds: "The new factory will double the group's current manufacturing capacity enabling it to grow the business and deliver its stated strategy of doubling revenues over the next five years. Efficiencies and further in-sourcing arising from the new manufacturing facility are expected to have a positive effect on margins."

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Velocys PLC - Oxford, England-based fuels technology company - Partner Toyo Engineering Corp kicks off advanced engineering and design phase of commercial scale biofuel refinery in Japan. During the phase, Toyo will integrate Velocys' Fischer Tropsch technology.

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GCM Resources PLC - London-based mining company - Agrees deal with Sion Corp, Versatech Energy Innovation Ltd and AC Biode Co Ltd for suitable and effective environmental management of waste produces by Phulbari coal and power project.

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Rambler Metals & Mining PLC - Canada-focused copper and gold producer - Updates on debt financing package from Newgen Resource Lending Inc. Says due diligence completed and parties now working on legal documents, including loan agreement. "The proceeds of this financing will be used to continue funding mine development including contractor development required to set up the Lower Footwall zone, which will support operations for the balance of 2021 into 2022 and beyond, to repay outstanding indebtedness, and to provide additional working capital," Rambler adds.

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Jadestone Energy PLC - oil and gas producer in Asia-Pacific region - Working with OMV New Zealand Ltd to seal 69% acquisition of Maari asset in New Zealand. Current longstop date extended past August 31.

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88 Energy Ltd - Alaska-focused oil exploration and appraisal company - Proposes placing to raise AUD20 million, about GBP10.6 million. Shares to be placed at AUD0.028. 88 Energy adds: "This net proceeds of the Placing, together with the company's existing cash reserves, will strengthen the company's balance sheet and will provide the company with sufficient capital to finance the drilling and logging of the Merlin-2 appraisal well in Q1 2022, targeting 652 million barrels in the N20, N19 and N18 horizons, fund lease acreage payments and enable identification and execution of potential new project opportunities."

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Premier African Minerals Ltd - southern Africa-focused miner - Says existing loan agreement with Otjozondu Mining Pty Ltd to now be funded by Premier African Chair Neil Herbert. "This allows both Premier and Otjozondu to proceed with alternative negotiations intended to improve the existing arrangements and to secure advance funding to support planned expansions in mining operations," Premier African says.

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BlueRock Diamonds PLC - owner and operator of Kareevlei diamond mine in South Africa - Says 58.6 carat diamond sold for USD585,000. In addition, company sells a 21.6 carat stone for USD268,000 and a 14.3 carat stones for USD236,000. Executive Chair Mike Houston says: "We are delighted with the price achieved for each of these high-quality diamonds, which brought the total sales proceeds for the August tender to USD2.1 million, far exceeding the previous highest monthly sale of approximately USD900,000. The average price per carat for the whole parcel was approximately USD800."

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Beowulf Mining PLC - developing Kallak iron ore project and the Aitolampi natural flake graphite project - Submits concluding comments to Sweden's Ministry of Enterprise & Innovation in regards to UNESCO letter related to Kallak iron ore project. The letter states the Kallak project will not have "direct effects" on Laponian area. Beowulf adds: "The fact that the company has already committed to take precautionary measures that will minimize the impact on reindeer husbandry and commits to fully compensate Saami villages."

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Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas Ltd - oil and gas exploration company focused on Guyana and Namibia - Says Sapote-1 well on Canje Block, offshore Guyana has been spudded. Eco holds indirect interest at project through 10% holding in JHI Associates Inc.

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Mosman Oil & Gas Ltd - New South Wales, Australia-based exploration & production firm - Says drilling of Winters-2 well in Texas expected to begin a soon as a contracted drill rig is available. Mosman adds: "The rig contractor has advised of the current challenges to secure rig crew due to the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in the USA. As soon as a firm drill date has been confirmed, further announcements will be made in regard to the commencement of drilling."

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Belluscura PLC - London-based oxygen enrichment technology developer - Welcomes statement from American College of Chest Physicians which advises on rationale for home use of oxygen, beyond cluster headaches. Cluster headaches are severe attacks of pain on one side of head. It follows US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposing use of oxygen for cluster headaches. Belluscura Chief Executive Robert Rauker says: "This CHEST rationale, following on so closely from the CMS proposals, highlights the expanding demand for home oxygen, and the increasing opportunity for Belluscura's novel oxygen concentrator technology. Shareholders will be kept fully updated on developments from CHEST and CMS."

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Genedrive PLC - Manchester, England-based molecular diagnostics firm - Updates on launch of MT-RNR1 assay which detects antibiotic-induced hearing loss. Says large scale trial of product used in 750 newborns in hospitals in Manchester and Liverpool was completed in November 2020. Genedrive adds: "The results of this innovative trial have now been submitted by the study team for publication. Extensive feedback was taken from over 150 nurses who performed AIHL testing over the trial period and this has resulted in a number of refinements being made to the Genedrive unit design principally to further enhance usability in a NICU setting." Genedrive says improvements have been made to interface and data management of product. Genedrive adds: "The company will be seeking CE mark clearance for the new Genedrive system in the coming weeks prior to commercial launch."

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Verici Dx PLC - Cardiff-based firm developing and commercialising tests of response to organ transplant, initially focused on kidney transplants - Says patient enrolment for its lead products concludes ahead of management expectations. Company adds: "Early completion of enrolment supports that the company remains on track to complete the validation study for these products by the end of 2021, in line with expectations set out in the company's admission document."

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Oxford BioDynamics PLC - Oxford, England-based biotechnology company - Afforded US Foundation for the National Institutes of Health grant for EpiSwitch diagnostic platform. Grant is worth USD910,000. The platform is able to predict a patient's response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy drug. Company adds: "In Q4 2021, OBD expects to launch the 'EpiSwitch ICI Response Test' as a laboratory developed test to allow access for oncologists who want to use it immediately and to start shaping the market."

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Sealand Capital Galaxy Ltd - financial and strategic support provider to entrepreneurs - Lands distribution pact with ITP Bulgaria Ltd. Sealand will be sole distributor of ITP's Living Garden Honey brand in Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China.

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By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

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