UK TRADING UPDATE SUMMARY: Petra Strikes Deal With South African Union

(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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Petra Diamonds Ltd - operator of diamond mine in South Africa - Concludes one-year wage agreement with National Union of Mineworkers which covers operations in South Africa for year ending June 30, 2021. To make one-off payment to employees in A and B Paterson Bands grade of between ZAR5,000, about GBP232.86, to ZAR8,000. "In addition, employees in the A Paterson band will receive an increase of 5.5% in their cash earnings, effective 1 January 2021, with employees in the B Paterson band receiving 5%. Apart from wage increases, the agreement also covers various outstanding discussion points between Petra and the NUM, with clear timelines for finalisation of these, as well as a commitment to continue discussions on a wage agreement for the following financial year to 30 June 2022," Petra said.

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Strategic Minerals PLC - battery materials minerals company with asset in Australia - Reports "significant uplift" to economics at unit Cornwall Resources Ltd's project following updated mining scoping study. Internal rate of return rises to 29% and net present value with 8% discount at USD128 million, assuming consistent metal price assumptions.

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Galantas Gold Corp - owner of Omagh gold mine in Northern Ireland - Says underground mining operations at Omagh remain suspended but concentrate processing re-started on May 26. In third quarter ended September 30, 98 tonnes of concentrate was despatched, containing an estimated 386.2 troy ounces of gold. "Active discussions continue with a number of potential partners regarding funding to provide the investment required for additional mine development and exploration," Galantas said.

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Caledonia Mining Corp - St Helier-based miner - Signs agreement with government of Zimbabwe to evaluate mining rights, properties or projects in gold sector. "Caledonia believes Zimbabwe is a highly prospective region for gold discoveries. Caledonia has assessed and continues to assess investment opportunities in the Zimbabwe gold sector that are privately owned," Caledonia said.

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Castillo Copper Ltd - Australia and Zambia focused base metal explorer - Geochemical review finds Eldorado prospect at Mt Oxide project to be "prospective for structurally controlled copper and gold mineralisation". Commencing drilling at Mt Oxide among the next steps for company.

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Chaarat Gold Holdings Ltd - London-based gold miner focused on Armenia and Kyrgyz Republic - Refinances USD19.4 million of loans plus USD1.1 million of interest. Notes USD13.5 million of investor loan extended to December 31, 2024 with 9.5% interest. Reports USD7.0 million loan with same lender has option for maturity date extension to December 31, 2021. Interest rate increases to 14% from 13% and principal repayment rises to USD7.5 million.

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Tertiary Minerals PLC - Nevada-focused mineral exploration and development company - Toronto-listed Aurion Resources Ltd completes maiden drill programme at Kaaresselka Project in Finland, where Tertiary holds "various royalty interests".

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Blue Star Capital PLC - esports, payments and technology focused investor - Investee company Dynasty eSports Pte Ltd signed three software as a service agreements in third quarter, providing extra contracted SaaS revenue of USD2.8 million over the next year. Blue Star notes its 13% stake in Dynasty is valued at GBP1.3 million.

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Curtis Banks Group PLC - financial services firm - Expects to complete acquisition of Talbot & Muir Ltd on October 30 and said all preconditions have been satisfied.

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Supermarket Inc REIT PLC - UK-focused supermarket income trust - Increases initial issue size to up to GBP200 million from GBP150 million amid "strong level of support from investors".

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Altus Strategies PLC - Didcot, Oxfordshire-based mineral project royalty generator - Says 3,800 metre drilling at Lakanfla gold project, Mali begins. Programme funded by Marvel Gold Ltd, as part of joint-venture with Altus.

Panthera Resources PLC - Manchester-based gold explorer - Secured interest in Bido PRM licence with support of joint-venture partners and Ministry of Mines of Burkina Faso.

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Edenville Energy PLC - operating of the Rukwa coal project in southwest Tanzania - Says employee numbers at Rukwa have been chopped by 50%. Says anticipated handover date of operations at Rukwa to Infrastructure & Logistics Tanzania Ltd hit by administrative issues in Tanzania.

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Vast Resources PLC - mining company - Says Atlas Special Opportunities LLC gives notice that it wishes to convert bonds of USD500,000. "The company can confirm it has satisfied the exercise of conversion rights by making payment of the cash alternative amount of USD555,555," Vast said.

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SolGold PLC - Australian gold and copper mining company - Says drill rig arrives at Cerro Quiroz, Ecuador to begin drilling at Blanca project.

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Zenith Energy Ltd - Africa-focused oil and gas producer - Requests for shares to be suspended as yet to publish annual report for year to March 31.

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Good Energy Group PLC - renewable electricity supplier - Notes Zap-Map completes roll-out of new electric vehicle charging payment service with launch partner Engenie.

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Plant Health Care PLC - North Carolina-based agriculture firm - Reports four new PREtec peptide products patents issued by US Patent & Trademark Office. Expects to be granted additional patents before end of year and has filed more than 50 applications since 2012.

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Oncimmune Holdings PLC - immunodiagnostics company - Collaboration with Medicines Discovery Catapult awarded UK government funding which will go towards research tool for infectious diseases. "This collaboration represents a critical partnership in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and will focus on enabling better treatment selection for patients according to their immune profile," Oncimmune said.

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RBG Holdings PLC - London-based law firm - Says law fim Rosenblatt Ltd has continued to trade well, notes case volumes and value " significantly ahead year-on-year". Expects revenue and realised gains between GBP24 million and GBP26 million, improved from GBP23.7 million in 2019.

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St Peter Port Capital Ltd - investment company - Sells entire holding in Agriculture Investment Group Corp for USD176,474. Says 336,140 shares sold at 52.5 cents each. "The proceeds of the sale will be used for general corporate purposes," company says.

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Tetragon Financial Group Ltd - finance-focused investment firm - Says diversified alternative asset management business, TFG Asset Management enters into agreement with Brandon Baer. Tetragon says it will invest in Baer's newly-created company names Contingency Capital, an asset manager of litigation finance related investment funds. "TFG Asset Management will receive a significant minority equity interest in Contingency Capital and Tetragon will provide Contingency Capital with, among other things, working capital and a USD50 million commitment to Contingency Capital's first commingled investment fund, with Tetragon retaining the option to invest further amounts," Tetragon said.

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Augmentum Fintech PLC - fintech investment company - Investee Seedrs announces plans to merge with Crowdcube, "creating one of the world’s largest private equity marketplaces", Augmentum said. Investee Tide awarded GBP25 million grant from RBS Alternative Remedies Package to "strengthen the challenge to high street banks".

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Merian Chrysalis Investment Co Ltd - London-based investor in later stage private companies - Raises target result of placing to GBP75 million due to "significant demand".

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CareTech Holdings PLC - Potters Bar, Hertfordshire-based social care and education services provider - Completes deal to take majority stake in Smartbox Assistive Technology Ltd and Sensory Software International Ltd. Smartbox provides technology allowing disabled people without speech to communicated easier. CareTech pays GBP10.6 million to take 70% stake.

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Tribal Group PLC - education software and services provider - Wins GBP2 million contract for supply of SITS:Vision Student Management System to Arden University for five years. "There is an option to extend for an additional two years at the end of the initial contract period and then extend for a further two years beyond that," Tribal said.

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By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

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