Proactive - Interviews for investors

Premier African Minerals Ltd (AIM:PREM, OTC:PRMMF) chief executive George Roach joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with the operational status of the processing plant at the company's Zulu lithium project in Zimbabwe.

Despite facing some setbacks, the major components of the plant are installed and functional, enabling production to proceed from front to back. Issues encountered during commissioning are considered normal by the plant suppliers and Roach believes they are resolvable within the commissioning process, emphasizing that no major equipment replacements are necessary.

Currently, the plant is producing concentrates from the Mica and Spodumene flotation sections, with analysis of these concentrates underway. Initial spot analysis suggests that spodumene is adequately liberated and recoverable at correct percentages, though attention is needed for managing pH levels during flotation—a challenge that is being actively addressed. Roach anticipates that the issues with pH management and control systems will be resolved within "hours or days," not weeks.

The next steps for the Zulu project include ensuring the spodumene produced meets grade requirements and ramping up production rates to design levels, expected to take a couple of weeks.

#PremierAfricanMinerals #ZuluLithiumProject #LithiumProduction #MineralProcessing #ZimbabweMining #SpodumeneFlotation #MiningCommissioning #LithiumMarket #ResourceExtraction #MiningIndustry #proactiveinvestors #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

HANetf head of research Tom Bailey discusses the launch of the Sprott Junior Uranium Miners UCITS ETF (URNJ) on the LSE and Deutsche Bourse, highlighting the growing demand for uranium due to the global shift towards nuclear energy for low carbon emissions and energy security.

Bailey explained that this demand, coupled with a decade of underinvestment in uranium mining, has created a supply-demand imbalance, boosting uranium prices significantly.

The Junior Uranium Miners ETF focuses on smaller-cap miners, which are poised to benefit more directly from the rising uranium prices compared to their larger counterparts. This is because larger mining companies often have long-term contracts at lower prices, whereas junior miners sell at current high prices. The ETF includes exploration companies, offering exposure to early-stage ventures that might bring uranium to market in the future.

Unlike HANetf's flagship uranium ETF, the Sprott Uranium Miners UCITS ETF (URNM), which is significantly influenced by a few large companies, the junior ETF aims to provide a more balanced exposure by excluding these major players and the spot price of uranium. It features 32 companies, excluding the five largest that dominate the flagship ETF.

In its first week, the junior ETF saw an 11-12% increase in price performance, outperforming the broader uranium ETF, which increased by 1% in the same period, indicating strong investor interest and market performance.

#proactiveinvestors #HANetf #UraniumMinersETF #NuclearEnergy #SprottJuniorUranium #Investing #RenewableEnergy #EnergySecurity #UraniumMarket #ETFs #MarketPerformance #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

The FTSE 100 opened lower as a quiet day of updates had the City readying itself for Wednesday’s spring budget.

The latest speculation is for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to announce further tax cuts in the statement, including to national insurance, which was lowered last autumn.

Aviva was among the few companies making headlines meanwhile, with news breaking that the insurance firm had agreed to acquire Probitas for £242 million.

Safety equipment group Halma also had news of an acquisition, this time of cancer diagnosis device maker Rovers Medical Devices for €85 million.

And finally, shipping services firm Clarkson rose early on after reporting a record underlying pre-tax profit of £109.2 million for the year.

#ProactiveInvestors #marketreport #ftse #ftse100 #footsie #chancellor #jeremyhunt #springbudget #aviva #probitas #halma #roversmedicaldevices #clarkson #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

Swoop Holdings Ltd (ASX:SWP) CEO Alex West sits down with Proactive’s Jonathan Jackson to detail the company's operations, half-year highlights, and future ambitions. Swoop, a player in the competitive telecommunications space in Australia, aims to stand out through innovative solutions and customer-focused services. West highlighted the company's financial growth, noting a 17% increase in revenue, a 9% rise in gross margin and a significant 16% growth in subscriber numbers. These achievements are attributed to Swoop's strategic initiatives and dedication to delivering exceptional service. With a robust cash balance, the company is poised for further growth in the second half of the financial year. Swoop is committed to enhancing connectivity across Australia, emphasising the company's unique approach in a crowded market.

#ProactiveInvestors #SwoopHoldings #ASX #telecommunications

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Compumedics Limited (ASX:CMP) CFO and company secretary David Lawson joins Jonathan Jackson in the Proactive studio to discuss CMP’s strong H1 FY24. The company leaped back to profitability and growth in the half, with sales invoiced and shipped up 38% to $26.4 million for H1 FY24, compared to H1 FY23. Sales orders taken were up 75% at $30.4 million, profits return with EBITDA was $2.2 million for H1 FY24, compared to a $(4.8)million loss for H1 FY23. Revenues for the core business grew 13% to $21.7 million for H1 FY24, compared to $19.2 million for H1 FY23. Lawson discusses the drivers of the turnaround, including with OrionMEG, Somfit and eHealth. Finally, he discusses the forward outlook and what to expect from the company in terms of growth opportunities.

#ProactiveInvestors #Compumedics #ASX #biotech

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Propanc Biopharm CEO and executive chairman James Nathanielsz joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with more on the company's focus on developing a novel proenzyme therapy for treating and preventing metastatic cancer.

The treatment, known as PRP, targets metastatic cancer across various origins by converting cancer cells back to a benign state, thus causing them to die off naturally. Currently, PRP is advancing towards its first clinical study in patients with solid tumours, described as a phase 1B study, aiming to test the formulation at high dosages directly injected into the bloodstream.

Additionally, Nathanielsz highlighted a compassionate use study led by chief scientific officer Dr Julian Kenyon, which involved 46 patients treated with proenzymes via suppository. This study reported no severe side effects, with up to 19 patients significantly exceeding their life expectancy despite having failed conventional treatments.

Propanc Biopharma is also expanding its intellectual property portfolio, having recently secured a patent grant from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. This is part of a broader strategy to safeguard its PRP formula, contributing to an extensive IP portfolio encompassing 87 patents and growing.

To fund its phase 1B study and future clinical developments, Propanc is exploring strategic investment opportunities, having raised $23 million to date and planning for a Series A financing round. Upcoming milestones include the commencement of the phase 1 study, followed by phase 2 studies targeting pancreatic and ovarian cancers, focusing on aggressive and rapidly spreading tumours.

#PropancBiopharma #JamesNathanielsz #CancerTherapy #MetastaticCancer #ProenzymeTherapy #ClinicalStudies #InnovationInOncology #PRPTreatment #PatentPortfolio #StrategicInvestment #proactiveinvestors #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

MicroSalt PLC (AIM: SALT) CEO Rick Guiney tells Proactive's Stephen Gunnion that the recently listed company specialises in innovative food technology that enhances the flavour of salt with significantly less sodium through patented technology. This technology changes the salt crystal's size, increasing its surface area for a fuller flavour without excess sodium intake, a major global health concern.

The company targets food manufacturers, offering a product with the same functionality as traditional salt but processed differently. Additionally, MicroSalt aims to enter consumer markets, with products already available on Amazon in the UK and in about 500 stores in the US.

MicroSalt's technology is distinguished by an exclusive patent, marking a significant advancement in efforts to reduce sodium consumption over the past two decades. The company's strategy includes expanding into the UK retail market, engaging with major supermarket groups to offer MicroSalt on shelves and incorporate it into their own brands, aiming for products like crisps to retain their taste while having 50% less sodium.

The decision to list on the AIM market reflects London's receptivity to small food technology firms and its strategic importance in the food and ingredients sector. MicroSalt's IPO aims to raise public awareness about its low-sodium solution and the broader health issues related to sodium intake. Regulatory support for low sodium initiatives is significant, with governments recognizing the health and economic benefits of reducing sodium consumption.

MicroSalt has also announced an export collaboration with American Trading International (ATI), facilitating access to 90 markets through ATI's distribution network, and enhancing the company's growth prospects.

Looking ahead, MicroSalt anticipates significant developments in 2024 and 2025 as it expands its reach to consumers and large food manufacturers.

#MicroSalt #LowSodium #FoodTechnology #HealthEating #SodiumReduction #AIMListing #UKMarket #FoodManufacturing #HealthyLifestyle #SustainableFood #ProactiveInvestors #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

Greencoat UK Wind's Stephen Lilley discusses the company's full-year results for 2023, highlighting significant financial achievements and strategic initiatives. The company reported over £406 million of net cash generation and a coverage ratio of 2.1 times.

Due to its strong cash flow, the trust, which is one of the UK’s largest wind farm operators, has remained resilient despite rising interest rates and a higher discount rate.

Lilley said Greencoast has focused on capital allocation, particularly as shares have been trading at a discount to net asset value (NAV), leading to an increase in the dividend for 2023 from 8.76 pence to 10 pence per share, resulting in an additional £29 million paid to shareholders. The dividend for 2024 has been increased by 14.2%, achieving a 6% return on NAV, surpassing the Retail Price Index (RPI) increase of 5.2%.

Greencoat UK Wind completed £821 million in acquisitions, contributing significantly to NAV accretion. The company also reached a milestone of distributing over £1 billion in dividends over the past decade.

Additionally, Greencoat UK Wind generated 1.5% of the UK's electricity demand, owning approximately 7% of the UK's wind capacity.

Looking ahead, the company aims to support the expansion of wind capacity in line with government targets for 2050, focusing on owning and operating existing capacity while recycling capital into new projects.

Despite some limitations due to trading at a discount to NAV, the company sees ample growth opportunities and may consider disposals to manage its capital effectively. Lilley remains optimistic about the company's performance in 2024, with stable operations and a positive outlook for February's production capacity.

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Immunic Inc CEO Dr Daniel Vitt joins Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with details of data from the Phase 2 CALLIPER and CALVID-1 trials of vidofludimus calcium the company will present at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida, from today.

Vitt highlighted the significant potential of the drug in treating multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in relation to Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) reactivation.

The CALLIPER study focuses on the effects of 45 milligrams of vidofludimus calcium in patients with progressive MS, emphasising the importance of progression independent of relapse activity. October's interim biomarker data, specifically neurofilament light chain (NFL), which is related to neuronal death, was mentioned as a key aspect of the first poster. This data aims to correlate NFL reduction with the likelihood of future disability outcomes in progressive MS patients.

The overlap between the CALLIPER study and the Phase 2 CALVID-1 trial, outlined in the second poster, explores the role of EBV reactivation in MS and fatigue symptoms. Vidofludimus calcium's potential to prevent EBV reactivation and reduce fatigue in MS patients is a significant finding, with implications for post-COVID syndrome as well.

The CALVID-1 study also examined Vidofludimus calcium's effects on fatigue in patients treated for SARS-CoV-2, revealing a positive impact.

Presenting at the ACTRIMS Forum 2024, an important scientific conference for MS research, underscores the relevance and potential impact of Immunic Inc's findings in the MS and broader medical communities.

#ImmunicInc #MultipleSclerosis #MSResearch #EBVReactivation #VidofludimusCalcium #ProgressiveMS #Neurology #ClinicalTrials #MedicalResearch #ActionsForum #proactiveinvestors #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews

London's FTSE 100 is ending a mixed week on the front foot after another night of new records on Wall Street.

Reflecting that, London’s blue-chip index was up 48 at 7,678 shortly after the opening bell.

ITV jumped 12% on news it had sold its half stake in the BritBox streaming service to BBC Studios for £255 million with the proceeds used to fund a share buyback programme.

Announcing the disposal, the broadcaster said the move would allow it to focus on enhancing its domestic streaming platform, ITVX, and expand its global Studios division.

Nationwide’s House Price Index rose by 1.2% year-on-year in February, breaking a 12-month streak of declines while smashing market expectations of a 0.7% increase.

Online estate agent Rightmove meanwhile increased underlying profits by 8% to £258 million, ever with the housing market volatility of the past twelve months.

Pearson also increased its underlying profits and reiterated guidance for this year, with the education group commenting AI will be a boost to its business rather than a threat.

#proactiveinvestors #marketreport #ftse #ftse100 #footsie #ITV #britbox #bbc #bbcstudios #itvx #nationwide #rightmove #pearson #invest #investing #investment #investor #stockmarket #stocks #stock #stockmarketnews