Proactive - Interviews for investors

Chill Brands Group PLC CEO Callum Sommerton discussed the company's response to the UK government's proposed ban on disposable vaping products in an interview with Proactive.

While the specifics of the ban remain unclear, Chill Brands is already pivoting towards a post-disposable product landscape. Sommerton highlighted the company's focus on compliance and innovation, emphasizing their development of a fully compliant, reusable pod system, which is being accelerated in response to the proposed regulations.

Chill Brands' new product, aimed at aiding nicotine cessation, reflects a shift towards reusable and rechargeable vaping solutions. Sommerton expressed confidence in the company's agility and ability to adapt within the provided timeframe, citing a significant lead time until the expected implementation of the ban in early 2025. He acknowledged the evolving vaping landscape as an opportunity for companies focused on sustainability and long-term growth, contrasting with those seeking short-term profits.

Sommerton also raised concerns about the potential unintended consequences of the ban, such as the growth of a black market for disposable vapes and a possible resurgence in tobacco use. Citing studies and opinions from health and industry organizations, he argued for regulation over outright prohibition.

Despite the looming UK regulations, he said Chill Brands remains committed to its existing markets in the US and select European countries, and to the development of its non-vaping business segment.

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Oriole Resources PLC CEO Tim Livesey joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with news that the company has received part of the signature bonus payment for the earn-in agreement for its Mbe gold project in Cameroon, adding to the December signature bonus for its Bibemi project.

This includes a $1 million total for Mbe, with $50,000 paid upfront and the remaining $950,000 split into two payments. The funds will bolster Oriole's treasury, distinct from the $8 million earn-in for exploration in Mbe and Bibeme.

Focusing on the Cameroon projects, Livesey shared plans for the Mbe project, including detailed analysis of identified gold systems through infill soil sampling, mapping, trenching, and potentially drilling, post-wet season. For Bibemi, efforts will concentrate on expanding the existing resource at Cassie Zone 1, with additional exploration planned for other zones.

Oriole's portfolio, enriched by these funds, includes nine other licenses in Cameroon. They aim to elevate these licenses to attract further investment, leveraging the 75 km long and 15 km wide gold mineralization corridor in Central Cameroon.

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KEFI Gold and Copper PLC executive chairman Harry Anagnostaras-Adams joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with news of another discovery on the Jibal Qutman Gold project in Saudi Arabia by its minority-owned joint venture GMCO.

KEFI's GMCO joint venture partner, ARTAR, has agreed to fund the ongoing programme at present to ensure swift progress continues.

Anagnostaras-Adams also provided a comprehensive update on the company's progress and future strategies.

With a 15-year journey in frontier markets, KEFI has discovered around 5 million ounces of gold, attributing 2 million ounces to its account at a remarkably low cost of $32 per ounce. This achievement aligns well with the company's long-term strategy of targeting low-cost, high-yield opportunities, significantly under the industry benchmark of 10 times that amount.

KEFI has established strong local alliances in Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia, overcoming numerous security, regulatory, and property rights challenges. These efforts have recently paid off, with both countries now actively encouraging the development of their mining sectors. Notably, KEFI announced a gratifying new discovery in Saudi Arabia, marking a major milestone after overcoming an eight-year regulatory setback.

Financially, Anagnostaras-Adams said KEFI's projects are robustly supported. The Tulu Kapi gold project in Ethiopia, for example, has secured a $320 million financing package, led by Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank and African Finance Corporation. The Ethiopian government and multinational corporations' subsidiaries also contribute, highlighting diverse and strategic funding sources.

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hVIVO PLC chief executive Yamin 'Mo' Khan joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with details of the company's strong financial results for 2023, which reflect a period of robust growth and strategic expansion.

Khan highlighted record revenue of £56 million, a 15% year-on-year increase. He attributed the growth to the successful execution of their existing human challenge trial models and the expansion of their clinical consulting services.

The company's EBITDA margins stand at 22%, with an overall EBITDA increase of over 30% compared to the previous year. Khan stressed the importance of hVIVO's subsidiaries in contributing to these strong financial outcomes. Despite challenges posed by MHRA issues impacting clinical trials in the UK, the company's performance remained resilient.

A notable achievement for hVIVO is its burgeoning order book, valued at £80 million at year-end, the highest in the company's history. This figure represents a weighted estimate, ensuring a more prudent and accurate forecast of revenue recognition. This strong order book provides over 90% visibility for 2024, with revenues already booked for 2025.

Looking ahead, hVIVO forecasts a revenue of £62 million for 2024. The company plans to introduce three new challenge models and relocate to a new facility in Canary Wharf. These steps, along with a diversified product and service offering, position the company for further growth.

Khan also announced the launch of an annual dividend, following the company’s first special dividend of £3m in 2023, backed by a healthy cash balance of £37 million. The company's short and midterm goals include strategic mergers and acquisitions to leverage current business and tap into new revenue streams.

hVIVO aims to achieve a revenue target of £100 million by 2028, primarily through expanded human challenge trials and early clinical development consulting services.

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Kromek Group PLC CEO Arnab Basu joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with a breakdown of the company's first-half financial and operational performance.

The company reported increased revenue, improved gross margin, and a notably reduced loss in the first half of the year. Basu attributed this progress to a focus on profitability through cost control and enhanced business margins. He emphasized the growth in advanced imaging and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear defense) segments as key drivers.

In Advanced Imaging, Kromek is gaining traction in medical imaging, particularly in SPECT (nuclear medicine modality) and CT (diagnostic imaging). The company has seen a shift towards the adoption of its CZT material in these sectors, enhancing digital spectrums and CT capabilities. This advancement is marked by new product launches and significant partnerships, including with a CT Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Additionally, Spectrum Dynamics, a key customer, launched a new product that enhances market and user capabilities.

The CBRN segment is growing due to heightened global security concerns and the demand for handheld radiation detection tools. Kromek has secured contracts and developed strong pipelines in this area, including partnerships for biosecurity projects with the US and UK governments.

Looking ahead, Basu remains optimistic about Kromek's growth trajectory, expecting record revenues and continued focus on cost control and margin improvement for the full year 2024.

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UKV International is a Swiss-headquartered alternative asset manager with a dedicated team of industry specialists in rare whisky and wine investments.

With some £90 million in assets serviced for over 2,000 investors, UKV International is a leading investment firm that prides itself on consistently generating returns that exceed those of traditional asset classes.

UKV International is on the cusp of launching a new whisky-focused special-purpose vehicle for which it is aiming to raise in the region of £20 million.

The fund, which UKV International plans to launch this year, is designed to enhance the firm’s buying power while offering existing and new investors increased access to the burgeoning global whisky market.

In return for a minimum investment of just £20,000, private investors can obtain commoditised access to premium casks alongside larger institutional investors.

As a result, private investors will own equity in a fund underpinned by premium, tangible whisky assets that could otherwise be inaccessible.

In this interview with Proactive Investors, Alex Triggs and Zack Sekha sit down to discuss the fundamentals of the new fund and why now is a compelling time to invest in this booming market.

Find out more here: https://ukv-international.com/contact/

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London markets lacked direction early as investors mulled the decision by the US central bank not to cut interest rates last night.

The Bank of England makes its decision at lunchtime today and a similar outcome is widely expected.

The Footsie was up six points at 7,637 in early trading with Shell’s US$3.5bn buyback, higher dividend and better-then-expected quarterly fourth quarter profit lifting the shares around 1%.

BT did even better on new chief executive Allison Kirkby’s first outing. The telco eked out gains in both revenue and underlying profits in its third quarter putting it on track to hit full-year targets.

A new round of North Sea oil licences sees BP and Shell, again, among the big winners. Minnow Deltic Energy also picked up two confirmed licences and might be in line for a third.

And finally a rarity on AIM today, an IPO. Microsalt, a low-salt food additive group, raised £3m and started trading with a value of £18.5m

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At the Proactive One2One Investor Conference, Hercules Site Services PLC showcased a remarkable year of growth in 2023, with CEO Brusk Korkmaz and CFO Paul Wheatcroft detailing record financial achievements and forward-looking growth strategies. The UK-based, technology-enabled labour supply company, specialising in the infrastructure sector, reported a revenue increase of 71% to £84.7 million and a significant rise in EBITDA by 79% to £4.1 million. Their earnings per share soared by 119%, reflecting strong operational success across their labour supply and construction services divisions.

Korkmaz highlighted Hercules’ pivotal role in supplying labour for major infrastructure projects, including highways, rail, utilities, and energy, emphasising a future focus on further penetrating these areas due to increasing demand and a current skills shortage. The acquisition of Future Build Recruitment is set to bolster their white-collar recruitment capabilities, responding to client needs for specialised management and engineering roles.

The CFO, Wheatcroft, introduced the company's ambitious plans for a Construction Academy to tackle the skill gap directly, aiming to upskill the workforce to meet burgeoning infrastructure project demands. This initiative is expected to harness available grants and create new revenue streams while contributing to the company's organic growth.

Hercules Site Services PLC also plans to continue its expansion through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, carefully navigating market conditions to avoid diluting share value. With a solid foundation laid in 2023, the company is positioned for sustained growth, leveraging its comprehensive service offerings and strategic initiatives to capitalise on the UK's significant infrastructure investment plans.

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In a recent presentation at the Proactive One2One Investor Conference, Sapan Ghai Chief Commercial Officer of Sovereign Metals Limited, outlined the company's ambitious goals and significant achievements.

Sovereign Metals, dual-listed on the ASX and AIM, aims to become the world's largest and lowest-cost producer of two critical minerals, titanium (in the form of rutile) and natural graphite, with minimal emissions. The company's project in Malawi, Cassia, boasts the world's largest rutile deposit and the second largest flake graphite resource globally.

A significant milestone was the acquisition of a 15% stake by Rio Tinto in July 2023 for $14 million, aiding in advancing the definitive feasibility study of Cassia. The pre-feasibility study completed in September 2023 revealed Sovereign's potential to be the top producer of rutile and graphite at the lowest cost, projecting an average annual EBITDA of $415 million over an initial 25-year mine life, utilizing only 30% of the known resource.

The Cassia project, unique for hosting both rutile and graphite, is notable for its saprolite hosted mineralisation, allowing easy extraction without extensive drilling or blasting. The company enjoys strong government and community support in Malawi, along with excellent infrastructure.

The Rio Tinto investment, besides financial support, offers operational and market access advantages, particularly in qualifying graphite for lithium-ion batteries.

Guy highlighted the importance of rutile, a high-purity and scarce form of titanium, in various industries including defense, medical, and technology. The global titanium market, worth $25 billion, heavily relies on ilmenite; however, rutile's scarcity is increasing, with major suppliers nearing the end of their resources.

Sovereign Metals, with its significant rutile and graphite deposits, stands to capitalise on this growing market gap. The company's stock price, currently around 23p, is perceived as undervalued given its potential and the scale of its resources.

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Dr. Markku Jalkanen, CEO of Faron Pharmaceuticals Limited, delivered a pivotal presentation on the company's groundbreaking work in cancer treatment, focusing on the reprogramming of myeloid cells to combat cancer at the Proactive One2One Investor Conference.

Myeloid cells, originating from bone marrow and exhibiting high plasticity, play a crucial role in cancer, especially in forming tumour-associated macrophages that suppress immunity within tumours. Faron's innovative approach involves reprogramming these cells to support the immune system instead of cancer cells, potentially leading to an immune system attack against cancer cells.

The company's leading product, an antibody named Bexmarilimab, demonstrates promising results in controlling tumour environments in solid and haematological cancers. Jalkanen highlighted Bexmarilimab's exceptional safety profile and its ability to convert immunosuppressive macrophages into immune activators. The treatment has shown a significant increase in overall survival rates in cancer patients, particularly in those with no other treatment options.

Faron Pharmaceuticals has patent protection until 2037 and has garnered significant interest from big pharma companies. The company is also exploring the potential of Bexmarilimab in treating myeloid leukemia by targeting the Clever-1 molecule on cancerous cells, disrupting their energy production, and reducing their viability.

Dr. Jalkanen emphasised the impressive clinical trial results, including a 100% response rate in high-risk myeloid dysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. The company is now focusing on this patient group, recognising the substantial market opportunity. The trials are ongoing, with expansion plans in the U.S. and Europe.

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