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Aptamer Group progresses partnership with Unilever plc ("Unilever")
- Successful Optimer® development for fast-moving consumer goods
- The partnership has advanced to warrant the patenting of the new binders
Aptamer Group plc (AIM: APTA), the developer of novel Optimer® binders to enable innovation in the life sciences industry, today announces the successful progression of its long-standing development partnership with Unilever for identification of Optimers capable of supporting the development of novel fast moving consumer goods ("FMCG") applications.
Following formation of a partnership with Unilever in FY2023, Aptamer has successfully developed the required Optimers and demonstrated their performance through in-house assays. After being shipped to Unilever, the Optimers delivered highly positive and reproducible results in their laboratories, indicating their potential for use in downstream products. In parallel, Aptamer has streamlined the Optimers to improve their function and manufacturability and is working to transfer these to Unilever for further evaluation.
Based on the successful progress of this scientific work, Aptamer and Unilever are now drafting patent applications to protect these developments and downstream commercial applications.
Steve Hull, Chairman of Aptamer Group, said: "We are delighted to support our partners at Unilever with Optimer technology that is providing novel solutions in multiple areas, now including fast-moving consumer goods. Over the past two years, we have worked closely with the team at Unilever, to develop successful binders and are pleased to see the promising results the binders are delivering in their laboratories, further validating our technology and leadership position in the affinity ligand market. With such strong results and the continued progression of this partnership, we are pleased to begin patenting these binders and allow the next stage of advances. I look forward to updating you on this project as it develops."
Ivanhoe one of the big names involved in this;
Saudi Arabia started a US$182 million exploration incentive program, officials said during the event. State mining operation Ma’aden is keen to explore the region’s Arabian-Nubian shield of Precambrian rock straddling the Red Sea. The country has been offering foreign investors full ownership of projects, co-funding of up to 75% of capital spending, five years free of royalties, a 20% corporate tax and 30% discounts on local processing.
“I like to think of the kingdom as a connector connecting countries that are today challenged with finance, challenged with logistics, being landlocked in Central Asia, but also our brothers and sisters in Africa who also have their own challenges in accessing all of this,” Saudi Minister of Investment, Khalid Al-Falih, told the conference. “The kingdom can be a partner to countries in the region and of course with our private sector.
basically straddling our projects.....
He said previously that, once the second bank said yes (imminently!), there would be a scramble for investors to get in to this, literal, gold mine. That's when we will know what percentage of the company we get to keep - at least 70% hopefully - and no placing :)
The second bank approval seems more like a formality now
Whilst we await the drawdown of the US$320 million Project funding, KEFI has started the requisite low-cost launch-preparations to enable the Project to move forward safely and efficiently. These include:
· Personnel being dispatched into the field to brief the community and carry out required site works;
· Dismantling the old exploration camp (on the planned open pit) and installing new communication and staging bases along our transport route as part of the upgrading of safety systems; and
· Works by contractors. including:
o process-plant contractor completing Front End Engineering and Design;
o mining contractor establishing its local corporate entity and clearing its work rosters with the department of labour;
o electricity contractor procuring all (and taken delivery of most) of the equipment required for connection to the mains grid; and
o road contractor completing upgrades to some bridges on existing routes, as well as the surveys of the new additional all-weather access road.
well done everyone who bought in sub 0.6p. Mainly me :)
Bought back today after previously selling at 4p a long time ago. I remember my finger hovering over the sell button at 20p after the license was awarded but thinking it should be 30p. Anyway bought first thing today at 1.39p so happy with direction of travel...
We don't need to contribute to Saudi until we have funding for TK. That's what the rns was about...
These GMCO joint venture refinements continue a longstanding pattern of refinement and reinforcement of the relationship between KEFI and ARTAR in order to facilitate GMCO's progress. It also enables KEFI to allocate its capital principally to the finance-closing and launch in H1 2024 of its Ethiopian gold project at Tulu Kapi, whilst ARTAR supports GMCO's continued rapid progress.