(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Friday and Thursday not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Mattioli Woods PLC - Leicester-based asset manager - Says clients onboarded in the first four months of financial year ending May exceeded prior year. Company adds: "This combined with underlying growth in our core pensions consultancy and administration and investment management segments has delivered organic growth in excess of 10% in the first four months of the year which is pleasing given the volatile markets that we have experienced." In addition, company says it plans to propose final dividend of 13.5 pence per share, up from 12.7p, taking payout for year ended May 31, 2021 to 21.0p, up from 20.0p the year prior. "The further easing of lockdown restrictions and continued roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme are supporting improved investor confidence and we expect the increased client inflows and new business enquiries seen in both the prior and current financial year to continue," Mattioli Woods adds.
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Grand Vision Media Holdings PLC - Hong Kong-based digital media company - Says results in first half of 2021 "continue to be adversely impacted by the pandemic". Market for outdoor advertising is weak, Grand Vision says. "We continue with our ongoing cost cutting measures and have maintained a minimum but adequate staffing level in China. Our Hong Kong based digital marketing team is stable and developing," company adds. "We continue to explore other opportunities including the marketing of PPE products. Although we have had some success, we have been adversely affected by the global logistics crisis which has delayed the completion of the deals on hand and hence collection and recognition of our revenue, which we believe will catch up in the second half of the year." Promisingly, it adds some delayed overseas projects are planned to be resumed in second half of year, as it anticipates some relaxation of travel curbs in Asia.
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Pioneer Media Holdings Inc - Vancouver, Canada-based e-sports and mobile games investment company - Boosts private placement due to "strong demand". Increases non-brokered private placement to CAD1.5 million, about GBP885,136, from CAD1.0 million. "The company intends to use the funds raised to acquire additional investments in the eSport, on-line gaming and related sectors (including NFT related investments), and for general working capital purposes," Pioneer adds.
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VR Education Holdings PLC - Waterford, Ireland-based virtual reality software - Gets ISO27001 certification for proprietary software platform ENGAGE. ISO27001 is a management security standard. "The certification will speed up the process of procurement that larger companies and organisations are required to go through before adopting ENGAGE," VR says. "The ISO27001 certification is a major milestone for the group and is expected to be a major help in accelerating adoption of the new metaverse by corporate users."
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Arix Bioscience PLC - London-based venture capital investor in biotech firms - Portfolio firm Aura Biosciences Inc prices initial public offering of 5.4 million shares at price of USD14.00 each. To raise USD75.6 million. IPO results in GBP3.7 million, or 2.8 pence per share, increase in value of Arix's existing Aura holding.
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OTAQ PLC - Lancaster-based producer of marine technology for aquaculture and offshore oil and gas industries - Says one customer of its acoustic deterrent devices in Scotland gives required notice to terminate two-year agreement ending in April of next year. "OTAQ, at the request of Marine Scotland, has participated in a trial programme in the Moray Firth with OTAQ being the only ADD manufacturer working on this project. Marine Scotland regulates all entities with activities within Scottish waters. The trial phase of this programme has now concluded, and the data collected is being processed with an expectation of results before the end of 2021. The board believes that this processed data will support and better inform the EPS (European protected species) licensing process required to enable the future operation of acoustic deterrent devices within Scottish waters," OTAQ adds.
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Arricano Real Estate PLC - developer and shopping mall operator in Ukraine - Enters into a loan agreement with JSC Alfa-Bank for five-year term loan of USD18 million. Proceeds largely in line with an existing loan. Will be largely used to repay USD11.2 million existing loan with Taskombank JSC and JSC "Universal Bank". Also to finance construction of Arricano's new shopping mall Lukianivka, Kiev.
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EP Global Opportunities Trust PLC - Edinburgh-headquartered investor in quoted equities globally - Says tender offer will be for up to 20% of shares in company and will be priced at 2% discount to net asset value. Tender offer needs approval at a general meeting, "due to take place in January 2022".
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MaxCyte Inc - Maryland, US-based biotechnology company - Says all motions pass at annual general meeting on Thursday, with exception of proposal relating to approval of 2021 equity incentive plan.
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By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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Mattioli Woods (MTW)
MaxCyte (MXCT)
Grand Vision (GVMH)