Author: Fiona Craig

Currys plc (LSE:CURY) has reported impressive financial growth for the fiscal year ending May 3, 2025, with group adjusted profit before tax rising by 37% to £162 million and group free cash flow surging 82% to £149 million. The company ended the year with a net cash balance of £184 million, its strongest financial position in over ten years. Revenue in the UK and Ireland increased by 6%, driven by market share gains and key strategic initiatives, while profitability in the Nordics improved despite tough market conditions.

Currys remains focused on expanding its high-margin, recurring revenue services and targets growing its iD Mobile subscriber base to at least 2.5 million by the end of the year. The company is optimistic about its growth trajectory and plans to reinstate dividend payments, underscoring its commitment to providing steady and growing returns to shareholders.

About Currys plc

Currys plc is a leading technology retailer offering a broad portfolio of consumer electronics, home appliances, and tech services. Operating primarily across the UK, Ireland, and the Nordics under the Currys and Elkjøp brands, the company emphasizes enhancing customer experience through value-added services such as credit, installation, repairs, and connectivity. Known for integrating AI-driven technology solutions, Currys is positioned to capitalize on evolving consumer demands in its markets.

UK Oil & Gas PLC (LSE:UKOG) has completed the sale of its fully owned subsidiary, UKOG (GB) Limited, to Servatec Holdings Limited for £400,000. This move supports UKOG’s strategic realignment toward clean energy, with a particular emphasis on hydrogen storage and production projects. The funds generated from the divestment will be reinvested to advance its hydrogen storage developments.

This transaction underscores UKOG’s commitment to shifting away from conventional hydrocarbon operations, focusing instead on sustainable energy solutions, which may influence its future market positioning and stakeholder engagement.

About UK Oil & Gas PLC

UK Oil & Gas PLC operates within the energy sector, with a growing focus on clean hydrogen storage and production. The company is actively developing hydrogen storage projects in salt caverns located in Dorset and Yorkshire, marking its transition from traditional oil and gas activities toward renewable energy technologies.

Supermarket Income REIT plc (LSE:SUPR) has declared an interim dividend of 1.53 pence per ordinary share for the April to June 2025 period. This payout, made as a Property Income Distribution, highlights the company’s dedication to delivering reliable, inflation-linked returns to its investors. Notably, there will be no scrip dividend option this quarter, reflecting a focus on preserving cash distributions, though alternative options may be considered in the future.

The dividend announcement reinforces Supermarket Income REIT’s prudent financial approach and its strong position within the grocery property sector.

About Supermarket Income REIT Plc

Supermarket Income REIT is a real estate investment trust specializing in grocery retail properties essential to the food supply chain. The company invests primarily in omnichannel supermarkets that cater to both online and physical shoppers, leasing to major supermarket operators across the UK and Europe. Its portfolio generates long-term, inflation-linked income, supporting a strategy of progressive dividends and potential capital growth. Despite some profitability challenges, the company’s attractive valuation, solid balance sheet, and strategic initiatives make it a compelling choice for income-oriented investors.

Ascent Resources PLC (LSE:AST) has achieved a favorable ruling in its arbitration case against former Slovenian joint venture partner Geoenergo d.o.o. The tribunal awarded Ascent Slovenia Limited nearly €5 million plus accrued interest for unpaid revenues. However, the actual recovery of these funds hinges on the outcome of Geoenergo’s ongoing administration process, which may affect the total amount receivable.

In parallel, Ascent has been invited to mediation with Geoenergo’s administrator to address jurisdictional issues, while continuing legal disputes with Petrol Geo d.o.o. are expected to advance in the near term.

About Ascent Resources PLC

Ascent Resources is an energy company specializing in oil and gas exploration and production. It focuses on leveraging joint ventures and partnerships to develop and manage hydrocarbon assets efficiently, with a strategic presence in Central and Eastern Europe.

Blackbird PLC (LSE:BIRD) has launched a fundraising round targeting approximately £2 million through a mix of placing, subscription, and retail offers. The capital raised will be dedicated to advancing and speeding up the market rollout of elevate.io, its browser-based content creation platform. This funding supports elevate.io’s expansion within the rapidly growing Creator Economy, projected to double in value by 2027, and aims to solidify its position as an innovative video editing solution.

Since launch, elevate.io has demonstrated promising growth, with rising paid user numbers and lower customer acquisition costs, indicating strong momentum toward achieving product-market fit.

About Blackbird PLC

Blackbird PLC is a technology company specializing in cloud-based video editing software. Its flagship product, Blackbird®, is a leading cloud video editing platform, while elevate.io offers online collaborative video editing and content creation capabilities. The company focuses on serving the Creator Economy and corporate clients, delivering cutting-edge tools to simplify and enhance video production workflows. Despite current profitability and cash flow challenges, Blackbird’s solid equity base and strategic growth initiatives position it well for future expansion.

Peel Hunt Limited (LSE:PEEL) has reported a robust start to its financial year, driven by growth in its Institutional and Execution Services divisions alongside solid contributions from M&A activity. The firm continues to build an active pipeline of mergers and acquisitions, underpinning its strategic growth plans. To support its global ambitions, Peel Hunt has opened a new office in Abu Dhabi, aiming to broaden its reach to international investors and enhance support for UK-based companies.

Despite encouraging revenue growth and strategic expansions, Peel Hunt faces a mixed outlook due to ongoing profitability challenges, bearish technical signals, and valuation pressures. Positive corporate developments provide some balance, but investor sentiment remains cautious.

About Peel Hunt Limited

Peel Hunt is a leading UK investment bank focused on mid-cap and growth companies. It delivers a comprehensive suite of services including equity and private capital markets, M&A advisory, debt financing, investor relations, and corporate broking. Supported by strong research capabilities and an execution services hub, Peel Hunt plays a vital role in providing liquidity to UK capital markets. The company is listed on AIM and operates offices in London, New York, and Copenhagen.

Alien Metals Limited (LSE:UFO) has revealed a promising new exploration target at its Hancock Iron Ore Project, estimating up to 27 million tonnes of high-quality iron ore grading 62% Fe. This target, supported by recent geological mapping and sampling efforts, significantly enhances the project’s value amid strong global demand for premium-grade iron ore.

In addition, Alien Metals has secured an Access Agreement with BHP, enabling further exploration and development activities across its tenements. These strategic moves reinforce Alien Metals’ position in the competitive Pilbara region, a key hub for iron ore production.

About Alien Metals Limited

Alien Metals is a minerals exploration and development company specializing in high-grade iron ore assets. With a primary focus on the Pilbara region of Western Australia, the company aims to advance its portfolio of iron ore projects to capitalize on the sustained global appetite for quality iron ore.

Helium One Global Limited (LSE:HE1) has appointed Nishant Dighe as a non-Executive Director, bringing a wealth of engineering and commercial expertise to the board. This addition is part of the company’s strategic push to enhance leadership capacity as it advances its helium exploration and development initiatives in Tanzania and Colorado, USA.

Dighe’s experience is expected to support Helium One’s efforts in transitioning key projects, such as the Rukwa development, toward commercial viability. The appointment signals the company’s commitment to strengthening its governance and technical oversight amid broader ambitions to become a key supplier in the increasingly constrained global helium market.

About Helium One Global Limited

Helium One Global is an AIM-listed exploration company focused on unlocking helium resources critical to global industries such as healthcare, technology, and aerospace. With operations spanning East Africa and North America, including a 50% stake in the Galactica-Pegasus project in Colorado, the company’s portfolio is strategically positioned to address growing supply shortages. Despite financial headwinds and early-stage revenue challenges, Helium One continues to progress its flagship Rukwa project through appraisal and development phases.

Cel AI Plc (LSE:CLAI) has expanded its footprint in the decentralized artificial intelligence landscape by acquiring a dedicated subnet on the Bittensor network. This strategic move enables the company to integrate its AI agent technology into a decentralized framework, enhancing its core offering of personalized beauty recommendations through improved real-time indexing and AI-generated content.

The newly acquired subnet will also allow Cel AI to earn TAO rewards, which can be converted into Bitcoin—strengthening the company’s treasury and operational flexibility. By entering the decentralized AI sector, Cel AI aims to capture value through emissions and agent-driven services, positioning itself at the intersection of blockchain and consumer AI applications.

About Cel AI Plc

Formerly known as Cellular Goods Plc, Cel AI operates in the AI sector with a focus on deploying smart agents across decentralized networks. The company offers AI-powered beauty recommendation tools and is exploring blockchain integration to broaden its technological capabilities and market reach. While facing ongoing financial challenges, Cel AI is pursuing innovation-driven growth through strategic adoption of Web3 technologies.

Vinanz Limited (LSE:BTC) has officially rebranded as London BTC Company Limited, effective July 3, 2025. Despite the name change, the company will retain its existing ticker symbol ‘BTC’ on the London Stock Exchange. The new name aligns more closely with its strategic focus on Bitcoin investment and operations, signaling a stronger commitment to regulated Bitcoin exposure and expanding its profile in North American mining operations.

This rebranding underscores the company’s intention to solidify its identity within the digital asset space while reinforcing its presence on a globally respected exchange.

About London BTC Company Limited

Formerly known as Vinanz Limited, London BTC Company is a publicly traded Bitcoin treasury and mining business. Listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the US OTCQB, the company is focused on acquiring and holding Bitcoin as part of its treasury strategy. It also operates Bitcoin mining facilities across the U.S. and Canada, aiming to offer investors a transparent and regulated pathway to participate in the Bitcoin ecosystem.