The latest Investing Matters Podcast with Jean Roche, Co-Manager of Schroder UK Mid Cap Investment Trust has just been released. Listen here.
PC: Is it possible that the market is expecting RiverFort to cash in on the shares they obtained back in late January from the warrant conversion? Or maybe they are selling anyway as not in the business of speculation. As you say PC a lot of shares traded with no price movement so obviously an arranged marriage of some sort. Once these are out of the way there is no reason to believe that the price will not rise again.
DOE announcement on Twitter yesterday:
Home » DOE Announces $24.5 Million for Manufacturing Innovation to Build a Clean, Resilient Electric Grid
Next-Generation Batteries and Electricity-Conducing Materials Can Help Deliver Clean, Affordable Power to Communities Nationwide
WASHINGTON D.C. –The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $24.5 million to support improvements in domestic manufacturing to build resilient, modern electricity infrastructure and address the climate emergency. The two funding opportunities will back research and development (R&D) for the materials and technologies needed to expand the grid with new, clean-energy sources, deliver affordable electricity to disadvantaged communities, and help reach the Biden Administration’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“By investing in American-made, clean-energy technologies, the Department of Energy is harnessing our country’s innovative spirit to build an equitable and sustainable energy system,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “These funding opportunities will help manufacture the next-generation energy storage systems and power lines that support President Biden’s climate goals, create and sustain U.S. jobs, and build a strong, secure, and efficient electric grid.”
“The key to unlocking the full potential of solar and wind energy is to store it for use around the clock,” said U.S. Representative Diana DeGette. “Flow battery technology can help us utilize the full potential of these clean-energy resources, and investing in this important new technology now is vital to our overall effort to combat the climate crisis.”
Today’s announcement includes funding opportunities designed to bring manufacturable technologies from the lab to the marketplace:
Enhancing Flow Battery Systems Manufacturing
The “Flow Battery Systems Manufacturing” funding opportunity will award up to $20 million for R&D projects focusing on flow battery systems. Flow batteries are electrochemical batteries that use externally stored electrolytes, making them cost less, safer, and more flexible and adaptable.
While lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in electric vehicles and portable devices for various applications, flow batteries are particularly well-suited for grid storage needs. By partnering with industry to address flow battery challenges, this opportunity can help position the United States as a world leader in the next-generation energy storage technologies.
Muckled: Aim stocks in general took quite a hit in February when the FTSE fell as bond prices perked up. The FTSE recovered quickly but good Aim stocks are only just recovering. I am invested in VLX because of strong management with a proven track of organic growth and profitable bolt on acquisitions. Their products are first class addressing the electric vehicle market, medical equipment and the growth in data centres. The acquisition of the low cost manufacturer in Turkey will open the door to further increase in sales to OEM’s so what’s not to like about it. Oh and let’s not forget Stifel’s recent upgrade!
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#VLX rec'd tweets re Volex.Downdraft earlier in week was caused by changes to margin on 100 other stocks at IG whereby clients req to put 100% collateral by Friday and sold this to cover elsewhere. We'd promised to share 3pg interview with Nat Rothschild https://mailchi.mp/eb09f554a0e8/latestvolexcoverage-4848785
A month ago when the price was similar to today, I considered selling enough shares to make use of my CGT allowance before April 5th. My plan was to buy back before the year end and hopefully before the results announcement at a similar price. Because the SP was rising so fast, I calculated that if the price rose by 10% before I could buy back it would have been a futile exercise. In the end I stuck fast and held with no regrets after what has happened this week.
If any other holders thought along the same lines as me then we are approaching the deadline for them to be able to buy back before the announcement so possibly this is also a contributing factor to the hopefully temporary fall. Sales of electric vehicles are growing strongly so no need to jump ship in my opinion.
That’s an interesting point. I don’t know of any installations that have been running that long so no idea what happens to the electrolyte after that length of time. In some ways it is of little consequence because the key adoption will be in areas where lithium is just not suitable but nonetheless an interesting point.
13thmonkey: Your understanding is correct and the vanadium will not degrade over the life of the flow battery (20years+) regardless of the number of charge/discharge cycles.
Take a look at this article, one of the best I have seen concerning the advantages of vanadium over lithium in high energy applications.
https://energypost.eu/can-vanadium-flow-batteries-beat-li-ion-for-utility-scale-storage/
That is a very interesting summation of MF Mark. There was a caveat at the end of the article which listed the greatest risk factor as major dependence on one supplier. Whether true or not if I was the Chairman of a company in that situation I would not be frequently increasing my shareholding.
Only time will tell but the hi tech markets VLX address are rapidly increasing in volume and the recent addition of the Turkish cable company will IMO spread the geographic manufacturing risk stir further.
Potentforce Yesterday 11.08:
"I fear you may be right there KJHu. The 'pipeline' sales that have been announced do seem very small and not worth much.
It is interesting to find the same people promoting the 'pipeline' of orders for years. None have ever happened. I have an example here-
"A question for the AGM. In the light of the recent positive news concerning Gen 3 and the increasing pipeline of identified business, do the BOD plan to buy any shares in the Company before the rise in SP?"
That post was from Sahid in 2018.
Quite how long is the pipeline?"
What is your point here PF?
If you think I am a ramper then think again and get your facts straight. My post back in 2018 was in answer to a post from Jimbobtechstock saying that he planned to go to the AGM and asked for questions from the board he could ask at the meeting.
Regardless of what you perceive me to be, little that is posted on BB's has an effect on SP's and any one who thinks otherwise is an idiot.
Doyezee: As you undoubtedly know 55% of the stock is held by institutions, high worth net individuals and directors. And that is what we know from IES records. It is possible that more is held by institutions that does not need reporting. The level of trading is not uncommon given these circumstances. Personally I find it a comfort to know that Schroders are involved with a 15% stake. They have a good record backing technology companies and you can bet your life that they are true believers in flow battery technology. That said investments in this type of company are always a risk so not for the faint hearted. Then again if they succeed the returns will justify the risk. Personally speaking I had written my investment off before IES was born. As I have said before, I am underwater but due to recent buying in the open offer I will now break even when and if the SP reaches £5. I do not expect that to happen with the publication of the results whenever that happens. They are somewhat immaterial when we know that all of the sales have been for developments and proof of technology. However a couple more RNS advising of new orders however small should see the rise start again. All IMHO
If you look at LSE rules there is nothing to say that members cannot have multiple aliases. As to whether it is common I don’t know but I have suspected it many times. I also remember several contentious posters removed one of whom was the legendary Bolgas.
Most posters on this board appear genuine and helpful. We are all in the same boat concerning the Redt days but it does no good looking backwards. IES’s record in less than a year and during a major epidemic is nothing short of remarkable in my opinion and as the recovery in the worlds GDP begins we will be in a very different place a year from now. Whether it continues to be a positive board depends on whether the disappearances are permanent or whether they are reincarnated.
I think it possible they were one and the same. I assume that if LSE ban anyone they block the IP address which would work unless through a VPN. They always appeared around the same time and always with an off the wall viewpoint on any news the Company put out.
The appointment of Amelia Murillo as a Non Exec but currently a VP at a Management Consultant Company and Treasurer at Carlisle Interconnect Technologies poses quite a few questions.
Carlisle address the high end Mil/Aerospace markets with interconnect products and would appear to be a perfect merger target if Volex were looking. Sale, purchase or merger an excellent way to carry out due diligence?