Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
Part 2 These companies either license the technology putting the LPLDL into their own products eg Stop and GO with Galenicum or Lactobact LPLDL with HLH. They then promote that product and of course the main active ingredient LPLDL in their specific territories at little to no cost to Opti building the global brand and sales.
As Opti have done with Go figure they have created their own brand LPLDL products such as Cholbiome & Cholbiome x3. It is not really possible for Opti to promote these products to the consumer so that the whole country knows about them without raising significant funds and completely changing the model and infrastructure.
The online website provides a business to consumer platform which allows the company to sell these products now. The main intention though is to show consumer goods companies and similar partners that want to pick up a finished product, promote the hell out of it (obviously promoting LPLDL that is in it as it is the active ingredient) and reap the profits along with Opti who would be building revenues, profits, brand awareness and technology value at a fraction of the costs.
In terms of the science, it is published in the reputable journal Plos one and I believe a number of others. They also promote the science in the biggest global events in this space eg Probiotia (winning awards for best science 2 years running 2017 & 2018). Also the international probiotic conference, the microbiome global engage conference Asia, US and Europe (Professor Glen Gibson talked in the US conference I believe on Optis own LPLDL strain. He’s regarded as the UKs top scientist in this field). You’ve also got the biggest industry exhibitions like vitafoods Asia & Europe (products also winning awards) and also Supply side west in US and health ingredients. These are the top events for the leading companies in this space.
Once you view the company as a distributor model instead of a business to consumer you’ll realise they’re doing an excellent job at promoting the science and products globally at minimal cost.
The chance of success far outweighs anything else, justifying the optimism shown by those who can see the wood for the trees. Once everyone else sees it it the biggest gains will be long gone. The microbiome space is a completely new one, look up a graph on the rate of investment increasing in this area. People can complain about other people not knowing enough about Optis products but this entire space has only just been born Optis at the forefront. Consumers are increasingly becoming educated and aware to it, 3 years or so ago the average joe would not have a clue about the microbiome, it is rapidly changing. Once the space really takes off all the developments I have outlined above will place this company perfectly to exploit the opportunities which in turn should make us all a very nice profit.
Part 1 - Richard, first, apologies for the essay but I have explained this all before and you still say the same things which are wrong....Opti are not selling to the consumer as their inherent model and strategy is business to business. Opti do not have the funding and/or infrastructure to mass promote specific products to the consumer.
You and some others need to get it out of their head Opti are a company selling products to people like you and I in the U.K.. This is a minuscule (< 5%) part of the overall operation for now. Optibiotix Online has the potential to be a relatively big earner for the company but they do not have the cash to throw at it just yet to promote on mass. Opti online main purpose is a shop window for partners. Once the products are in the high street retailer in the UK either directly via Opti with Gofigure or a U.K. distributor like John Morley/ consumer goods co, an advertising campaign aimed at the consumer would be far more beneficial seeing as the product will be available from multiple outlets.
The Optibiotix online store and the products on there are a means to show corporate clients ready made products for them to take on and inject their own funding to advertise to the consumer. Like we saw TATA who were attracted by the Go figure presentation available as a tangible offering. Companies like TATA will have extensive distribution channels and funds to promote a product in their respective territories. They’ll know the language and for obvious reasons be better placed to promote and advertise the product on mass in their market. Different markets will require different tastes etc. An example of this would be Coca Cola. Coke taste different in other countries as different cultures have varied preference of sugar levels. Also branding will be altered to suit eg in France Diet Coke is called coca light.
The global partners promote the products and Optis brand in their respected markets using their local knowledge and expertise for biggest impact. This is how Opti costs remain so low and do not significantly increase whatsoever even as the revenues build. The model allows for immense profitability as the majority of revenues are license arrangements and high value high margin ready made product agreements.
As with Sacco the model involves Opti signing agreements with a manufacturer for the ingredient. In this case LPLDL. They have a 50% profit share agreement. Basically having a manufacturing facility, a sales team and getting 50% of the profit without any of the costs. Sacco have an extensive network of global contacts of formulators and distributors that they sell the ingredient to. Opti then have a separate license/profit share with a formulator (eg nutrilinea who will produce and package the product into tablets, sachets etc to suit the distributors requirements). Then Opti sign a separate agreement with the distributor eg Galenicum, HLH, Alfa Sigma etc.
In Investors Chronicle today in article 'Revisiting the Themes of 2018.' I have not included all the piece on Xeros (XSG) - the other company which is negative - as irrelevant to us but good positive write up on OPTI. All helps!
Speculative capital
What happens when one throws all traditional investment criteria out of the window? We tested this approach (‘Sink or swim’, June), and tried to identify Alternative Investment Market (Aim) stocks with high-growth potential but which might have been eliminated via a normal vetting process.
We devised a new, counterintuitive form of analysis – looking for businesses with zero, or low, revenues; those for which analysts expected huge revenue growth; and those operating in particularly niche fields.
Then we considered the pros and cons of a number of stocks within these categories. Could they really achieve their anticipated heights? Given the enhanced risk arguably tied to these small-caps, we eschewed our typical ‘buy’, ‘hold’ and ‘sell’ stamps – instead employing the terms ‘sink’ and ‘swim’.
Two of those companies highlighted the risks of a definitive call either way, and just how unpredictable ‘all-or-nothing’ investments can be.
"Xeros (XSG), a developer of polymer beads.....
Conversely, our doubts over OptiBiotix (OPTI) – a developer of compounds to modify the human microbiome’s response to certain diseases – proved overly sceptical. At the time, we were concerned by house broker FinnCap’s lack of future financial estimates, and analyst comments that the early-stage nature of OptiBiotix’s contracts made it “difficult to forecast with any degree of certainty”. However, the group successfully raised cash in May, implying shareholder enthusiasm. But we perceived the potential for diversification, with OptiBiotix having various specialist tech platforms. It had already floated SkinBioTherapeutics (SBTX) separately, retaining a stake.
Half a year on, and 2018 can be said to have been a success. OptiBiotix has signed 18 agreements this year, including a US manufacturing and supply deal with US Pharma Lab Inc – which the company says gives it strategic access to the world’s largest probiotic market. It has also created another wholly owned subsidiary, ProBiotix, which could ultimately list. We’re still wary about the absence of forecasts and, on that basis, wouldn’t buy into OptiBiotix at this stage. But for current shareholders with high risk thresholds, it could be interesting to hang on as OptiBiotix pursues its transition from development to commercialisation. The shares are up around 30 per cent in the year to date. HC"
Thanks Primal - great news - those interviews are always insightful and will be good to judge the mood - both SOH and Per are very calm and almost humble/understated when talking about news and the future potential of the company. They know how this is quietly building in the background and when it all comes together it will eventually explode and we will all benefit.
This is creeping back up - could be £1 by end of the week. Looking out for an update from proactive investors - there is usually an interview with SOH or Per Rehne shortly after news and this is biggest news we've had ever, or at least for a while. Feeling confident that this is now a game changer.
SlimBiome® granted medical device status and CE mark
OptiBiotix Health plc (AIM: OPTI), a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol and skin care, announces that its award winning SlimBiome® has been granted medical device status and a CE mark. This allows SlimBiome® to be :-
i. Freely marketed as a medical device to all countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) and markets with mutual recognition agreements (e.g. Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand)
ii. Follow shortened medical product registration procedures in other international markets (e.g. China, United Arab Emirates)
iii. Make medicinal or medical claims supported by clinical studies
iv. Extends the application of SlimBiome® from food products into high value medical products
CE marked products will be manufactured in Europe and sold in boxes of 30 single dose sachets as SlimBiome® Medical to pharmacies and major retailers as a clinically proven solution to promote weight loss. Independent clinical studies at a number of universities have shown that when compared to a control group, consumers who took SlimBiome® :-
· Feel fuller and are less hungry
· Experience less food cravings
· Change their food choice to eat less sweet and fatty foods
In addition to clinical studies, independent consumer surveys have shown that 100% of customers who used SlimBiome® in OptiBiotix's GoFigure® products lost weight, on average 2-3lbs per week, but most importantly they experienced a relief from hunger pangs, leading to easier and more successful dieting.
SlimBiome® has attained two industry awards: Weight Management Ingredient of the Year (Vitafoods 2018) and the award for 'Best Functional Ingredient for Health and Well Being' (Food Matters 2017).
Stephen O'Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix, commented: "We are excited that after two years of working with manufacturers and European regulatory bodies, SlimBiome® has been granted medical device status and a CE mark. This is a significant achievement as it extends the application of SlimBiome® from food products into high value medical products and opens up access to consumer healthcare and pharmaceutical markets. SlimBiome® Medical can be used by itself, or as part of a calorie restriction diet to reduce hunger and food cravings to improve compliance, and help users achieve sustainable weight loss. We are delighted that we now have a number of clinical studies showing SlimBiome's® effectiveness, a large IP portfolio, two industry awards, and now a medical device registration and CE mark. These are clear differentiators from other weight loss products which we hope will contribute substantive revenues to OptiBiotix's growth in the months and years ahead."
Hi Primal - BBC making a big thing of microbiome. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09zgykv/episodes/player Heard part of the middle episode today but all three are available - all very relevant I believe and positive for Optibiotix - our day will come soon (I hope). Will have a listen to the others when I get some time - not sure if we are mentioned. Good luck all - just a bit of patience required.
Follow link below - from around 33 minutes discusses climate conference generally then shipping specifically. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09hp2hx
Here is full article: We need to spread the word!! Regards Ambience African iron ore glows Created: 9 February 2011 Written by: Martin Li Australia and Brazil currently dominate the global iron ore trade. But Africa has big ambitions too. Major diversified miner Xstrata has exercised its option to acquire a 50 per cent controlling interest in Alternative Investment Market (Aim)-traded Zanaga's iron ore project in the Republic of Congo. In return, it will fund a feasibility study up to at least $100m (£62m) and could acquire the entire project following the study's completion. Zanaga has a resource of 3.3bn tonnes and is the latest of several iron ore projects in Africa to be targeted by major investors. African Aura Mining also impressed the market last week with a maiden resource of 1.04bn tonnes at its Nkout iron ore project in Cameroon, where management is targeting a total resource of 4bn tonnes. It has also more than doubled the resource at the Putu iron ore project in Liberia (in which it holds a 38.5 per cent interest alongside partner Severstal) to 2.4bn tonnes. The keen interest in Africa's iron ore is being driven by surging demand from China as it urbanises its economy, and Africa's openness to foreign investors. Analysts at Fairfax expect iron ore prices "will soar as the market remains tight over the coming months". But a large resource isn't the only crucial requirement for an iron ore project. Given the vast tonnage that has to be moved, infrastructure availability is just as vital. The need to build railways or roads over hundreds of kilometres, and deepwater ports from which to ship product, usually pushes capital costs into billions of dollars. Such financing is beyond most Aim miners. Many end up joint venturing with major partners - like Xstrata - who undertake to finance the mine and infrastructure in return for an equity stake and finished product. These deals can underscore the quality of projects such as Zanaga, Putu and Bellzone Mining's Kalia project in Guinea. In contrast, Shandong Iron & Steel's drawn-out completion of its $1.5bn investment in African Minerals is posing questions about the 13-bn tonne Tonkolili project in Sierra Leone. Given their scale, iron ore projects take years to develop. The presence in deposits of 'direct shipping ore', which doesn't require processing - such as at African Aura's Putu project and Bellzone's Forecariah project in Guinea - provides near-term cash flow and can greatly enhance project economics. IC VIEW: African Aura Mining (253p), Bellzone Mining (82p) and London Mining (408p) are our preferred African iron ore plays, and all three remain buys.
The coverage gets better - only one way this is going - I'm a holder from around 60p in Mano River as a result of initial recommendation in IC around Feb 09. This has to start getting noticed. Regards Ambience http://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/MarketsAndSectors/Sectors/article/20110209/9d332548-3438-11e0-83d7-00144f484ebe/African-iron-ore-glows.jsp?utm_campaign=IC%2BDaily%2B-%2BFree&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_medium=email
Predators are circling as Goldfields glitters EUROPEAN Goldfields will reveal as early as this week that it has received $300 million (£185 million) of funding to begin mining in Greece, raising the prospect that it may become a bid target. Sources close to the miner said acquiring the debt facility and expecting a permit for the Skouries project by the end of the year would make it attractive to a number of buyers. Anglo American, Freeport-McMoRan and Eldorado Gold Corporation are thought to be circling what is expected to become Europe's biggest gold miner. The expectation of an offer for the company, coupled with the continued rise in the world gold price, has seen European Goldfield's share price more than double since the summer to close at 921p on Friday, giving it a market valuation of £1.67 billion. The spot price of gold hit a record high of $1,394 an ounce on Friday. Chief Executive Martyn Konig said European Goldfield's, the largest company on the junior Aim market, would seek a full market listing next year. He said the company was still waiting to get a date for a public hearing on the Skouries project, as well as for its smaller Certej gold and silver project in Romania. 'We expect the permits to be granted by the end of the year' he said. Konig added that European Goldfield's already has a committed loan of $135 million out of a required $190 million investment needed to fund the Certej project. In March, the company said it had won an environmental permit for the Romanian project taking it a step closer to production. Very positive - speaks for itself As always DYOR Ambience