The following is a round-up of earnings and trading updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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AssetCo PLC - London-based asset and wealth management firm - Deputy Chair Peter McKellar intends to retire from this role with effect from April 30, and will thereafter focus on his non-executive roles at other companies. Company says this is also in anticipation of its planned withdrawal from its infrastructure business River & Mercantile Infrastructure LLP. It has agreed to this withdrawal ‘in principle terms’ and expects to complete the exit by the time McKeller has left. Says withdrawal will allow it to prioritise its minority interest in Parmenion Capital Partners LLP and its listed equities business River Global Investors. Chair Martin Gilbert says McKellar ‘will remain a significant shareholder’.
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Chapel Down Group PLC - Tenterden, Kent-based wine maker - Notes that 2023 was characterised by an ‘exceptional harvest’. Gross sales revenue for 2023 rises 13% to £20.1 million from £17.7 million in 2022. Pretax profit surges 87% to £2.3 million from £1.2 million, and basic earnings per share soar 94% to 0.95 pence from 0.45 pence. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increase 87% to £5.4 million from £2.9 million. Company says current trading is in line with management expectations and ‘our outlook for 2024 remains positive’. Expects double-digit sales growth this year with underlying profitability returning to normalised levels.
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African Pioneer PLC - natural resource explorer and developer focused on Sub-Saharan Africa - Updates on exploration conducted and funded by joint venture partner First Quantum Minerals Ltd in the half year to December 31, over licences held by African Pioneer Zambia Ltd. Says drilling confirmed proof of concept that licences are in the right lithology confirming ‘Congo-style mineralisation’. Diamond drill holes are complete at the Turaco ‘with [copper] intercepts peaking at 1.18%’ and Ikatu targets ‘with no significant [copper] mineralisation’. Parties have agreed a ground relinquishment strategy ‘consistent with licence renewal required later in the year’.
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Kavango Resources - London-based, Southern Africa-focused metals exploration company - Reports updated resource estimate for tailings dumps at the Nara Gold Project in Zimbabwe. Says that tested together, the two tailings dumps contain indicated mineral resource of 221,934 tonnes at 0.65 grams of gold per tonne on average, with an upgrade of 77,664 tonnes at 0.54 grams per tonne and an inferred resource of 12,178 tonnes at 0.66 grams per tonne. Notes that previously identified upside potential remains, ‘highlighting the opportunity to increase tonnage at as-yet-untested depths’. Testing to assess the best processing route is currently in progress, including metallurgical testing to inform the final plant design.
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Plant Health Care PLC - manufacturer of peptides for agriculture - Signs distribution deal with AMVAC of American Vanguard Corp to support commercialisation of fertiliser products in China. Says AMVAC will distribute a new fertiliser incorporating Plant Health Care’s Harpinas technology for use in vegetable and row crops to improve crop health and yield. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Tweedy says: ‘There is a tremendous opportunity in China for the adoption of Harpinas-based products to support sustainable agriculture. AMVAC has proven they have the right strategy and the right team in China to drive new product adoption. We are excited about the upcoming launch later this year.’
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accesso Technology Group PLC - Berkshire-based provider of software for leisure, entertainment and cultural sectors - Pretax profit falls in 2023 by 51% to $8.8 million from $12.4 million. Revenue rises 7.0% to $149.5 million from $139.7 million. Basic EPS down 21% to 19.19 cents from 24.41 cents. Cash Ebitda falls 8.4% to $23.6 million from $25.8 million, but firm notes this is still ‘ahead of expectations’. Expects ‘another profitable and cash-generative year in line with current expectations’ with around $160.0 million in revenue for 2024 and a cash Ebitda margin of at least 17%.
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Porvair PLC - King’s Lynn, England-based environmental and specialist filtration technology company - Says its optimism for and beyond 2024 has not changed since its results statement in February. Expects a ‘quieter first half’ this year ‘to be followed by a stronger second half’. Says recent acquisitions, ‘strong’ laboratory and aerospace order books, and new product introductions have all been progressing as planned. Laboratory de-stocking ‘is easing and lead times are returning to more normal levels’, while order patterns are ‘steadier’ for industrial consumables. Says Chief Executive Ben Stocks has indicated his intention to retire in early 2025 once his successor joins and is ‘settled into the role’.
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Everyman Media Group PLC - London-based independent cinema chain - Revenue for year to December 28 rises 15% to £90.9 million from £78.8 million the year before. Adjusted Ebitda rises 12% to £16.2 million from £14.5 million. Says this was ‘despite the backdrop of a difficult consumer environment’. Pretax loss however widens to £5.5 million from £3.5 million. Financial expenses rise to £5.4 million from £3.9 million, mainly reflecting lease liabilities and interest charges on banking facilities. Notes positive momentum in the first quarter of 2024 ‘with strong trading driven by ’Dune: Part II’ and high-quality awards content’. Expects this year ‘to outperform 2023 due to a stronger slate, with more focus on original storytelling and quality content’.
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Equals Group PLC - London-based payment platform developer - Pretax profit for 2023 more than doubles to £9.1 million from £3.4 million. Revenue rises 37% to £95.7 million from £69.7 million. Adjusted Ebitda soars to £20.6 million from £12.1 million. Says current year ‘has started strongly’ with revenue up to Friday, April 12 reaching £31.9 million, up 30% from £24.5 million for the same period in 2023. Recommends final dividend of 1.0p per share, bringing the total maiden dividend for 2023 to 1.5p.
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United Oil & Gas PLC - London-based oil and gas exploration company with key assets in Jamaica and the UK - Announces receipt of receivables worth $1 million from the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. Says it will use the funds to ‘extinguish’ its debt while it finalises its withdrawal from the Abu Sennan concession. Expects to receive the remaining balance, worth around $500,000, ‘over the coming months’.
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