Category: Market News

1Spatial plc (LSE:SPA) has obtained an extension to the formal deadline governing a potential takeover approach from VertiGIS Ltd, providing additional time for discussions around a possible acquisition.

The UK Takeover Panel has moved the “put up or shut up” deadline to 5:00 p.m. on 30 January 2026. By that point, VertiGIS—backed by Battery Ventures—must either announce a firm intention to make an offer or confirm that it does not plan to proceed. VertiGIS is currently evaluating a possible all-cash proposal of 73 pence per share for the entire issued and to-be-issued share capital of 1Spatial.

Under takeover rules, VertiGIS retains flexibility over the structure and terms of any offer it may ultimately submit. This includes the ability, in certain circumstances, to revise pricing or adjust for any dividends declared, leaving the outcome uncertain for shareholders while negotiations continue.

Operationally, 1Spatial continues to be supported by solid financial performance and positive technical indicators. However, valuation concerns persist, with a relatively high earnings multiple and the absence of a dividend weighing on the overall investment case.

More about 1Spatial plc

1Spatial plc is a UK-listed specialist in geospatial and location data software and services. The company helps organisations manage, validate, and optimise complex spatial data, serving sectors where data accuracy is mission-critical, including government, utilities, transport, and infrastructure. The group is quoted on AIM under the ticker SPA.

Halma plc (LSE:HLMA) has agreed to acquire Italy-based Safetec Srl for €72.5 million in cash, strengthening its position in high-specification industrial safety systems and broadening its exposure to complex, high-risk project environments.

Safetec specialises in bespoke fire and gas detection solutions for large-scale industrial developments, serving sectors that include power generation, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals. The business is expected to generate approximately €30 million in revenue in the year to 31 December 2025 and has established operations across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

The transaction will be completed on a cash- and debt-free basis, with Safetec continuing to operate as an independent company within Halma’s Safety sector under its existing management team. Halma said the acquisition enhances its engineering depth and provides a strong platform to support Safetec’s international expansion, while extending Halma’s reach in technically demanding industrial safety markets.

From an investment perspective, Halma continues to be supported by solid financial performance and constructive management commentary, reinforced by targeted acquisitions such as Safetec. However, its premium valuation and relatively modest dividend yield may temper near-term appeal for some investors.

More about Halma plc

Halma plc is a FTSE 100-listed global group of life-saving technology companies operating across safety, environmental, and healthcare markets. The group develops products and solutions designed to protect people and assets, address environmental and climate-related challenges, and meet growing healthcare needs. Halma employs more than 9,000 people worldwide, with operations spanning the UK, Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC (LSE:HUI) has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, Hydrogen Utopia KSA, in Saudi Arabia as it steps up plans to roll out InEnTec’s waste-to-hydrogen technology across the Middle East and North Africa.

The new Saudi-based entity is intended to support project development aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, particularly around waste management, recycling, decarbonisation, and the circular economy. The move is backed by engagement and endorsements from several Saudi government-linked organisations, including Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC), and the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA).

To support execution on the ground, the company has appointed Iman Ramani as Vice President. In this role, she will coordinate activities between London and Saudi Arabia, oversee regional stakeholder engagement, and help lead fundraising initiatives. Management said the appointment and local incorporation provide the group with a tangible operational base in a strategically important market, enhancing its credibility with regional partners and positioning it for long-term participation in Saudi Arabia’s emerging clean-energy and waste-to-value infrastructure.

Despite the strategic progress, the company’s financial profile continues to weigh on sentiment. Hydrogen Utopia remains pre-revenue, with ongoing losses, recent cash outflows, declining equity, and increasing debt levels. While technical indicators point to positive momentum in the share price, valuation remains constrained by loss-making fundamentals and the absence of dividend support.

More about Hydrogen Utopia International PLC

Hydrogen Utopia International PLC is a waste-to-energy company focused on converting non-recyclable waste streams—including mixed plastics, tyres, and hazardous materials—into hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels. Using waste as feedstock, its technology produces syngas that can be further processed into hydrogen, electricity, heat, and other gases. The group expects future revenues to be derived from energy sales and waste-processing fees, particularly in markets with strong private-sector demand and supportive public funding frameworks for alternative energy solutions.

Life Science REIT plc (LSE:LABS) has reported a sharp decline in asset values, with its property portfolio valued at £332.6 million as at 31 December 2025, representing a 7.8% reduction over the period. Unaudited EPRA net tangible assets fell by 13% to £201.8 million, equivalent to 57.7 pence per share, reflecting weaker property valuations alongside higher leverage used to fund development activity.

The downturn was largely attributed to outward yield movements across the estate, compounded by softer demand for laboratory space. Management pointed to reduced venture capital availability and lower levels of follow-on funding for life science companies as key factors weighing on occupier demand. The most pronounced impact was seen at the Cambourne Park Science and Technology Campus, where ongoing vacancies and capital expenditure requirements led valuers to reassess the site as an office or business park rather than a core life science asset.

Elsewhere in the portfolio, valuation declines were more moderate. Improving tenant demand and rising estimated rental values at Oxford Technology Park provided some support, while a lease regear at Herbrand Street in Bloomsbury was cited as a positive contributor. The company said further detail will be provided with the release of its full-year results, scheduled for April 2026.

Looking ahead, sentiment around the group remains cautious. Financial pressure, negative valuation trends, and proposed managed wind-down and asset disposal plans are weighing heavily on the outlook, overshadowing any near-term operational improvements.

More about Life Science REIT plc

Life Science REIT plc is a UK-listed real estate investment trust focused on the ownership and development of life science and technology-focused real estate. Its portfolio is concentrated in established innovation clusters, including assets within the UK’s “Golden Triangle,” and comprises science parks, laboratory-led campuses, and technology-oriented business parks.

Zoyo Limited (LSE:ZOYO) has appointed advisory firm KSA Catalyst to help advance its expansion plans across the Middle East, with an initial focus on Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf region.

Under the engagement, KSA Catalyst will provide support on market entry strategy, regulatory engagement, partnership development, and commercial positioning. The mandate is designed to help accelerate Zoyo’s regional growth ambitions across digital assets, trading platforms, tokenisation, and related financial technology offerings, while strengthening connections with regional institutions and strategic partners.

The move reflects Zoyo’s intention to establish a stronger footprint in the Middle East as demand increases for regulated digital asset infrastructure and next-generation financial services in the region.

More about Zoyo Limited

Zoyo Limited operates within the digital assets and financial technology sector, with a focus on trading platforms, tokenisation solutions, and supporting fintech infrastructure. The company is pursuing a platform-led growth strategy aimed at addressing rising demand for advanced digital and financial asset services, with an emphasis on building long-term institutional and regional partnerships.

International Consolidated Airlines Group (LSE:IAG) has confirmed a planned transition at group chief financial officer level, with Nicholas Cadbury scheduled to step down in June 2026 and José Antonio Barrionuevo named as his successor.

Barrionuevo currently serves as Chief Financial and Transformation Officer at British Airways and will assume the group CFO role following Cadbury’s departure. A long-standing executive within the group, he has previously held CFO positions at Iberia and brings earlier experience from JPMorgan and McKinsey & Company. His appointment reflects IAG’s internal succession planning and emphasis on leadership continuity.

Cadbury, who has held the CFO position since 2022, is credited with reinforcing the group’s balance sheet, improving profitability, and supporting shareholder returns. He will remain with the business for a six-month transition period to facilitate an orderly handover as IAG continues to prioritise transformation initiatives, customer performance, and long-term value creation.

From a market perspective, the group continues to demonstrate a strong post-pandemic financial recovery. Strategic actions such as share buybacks and improving earnings momentum underpin a constructive fundamental outlook, although mixed technical indicators suggest a degree of near-term caution.

More about International Consolidated Airlines Group

International Consolidated Airlines Group is a leading international airline holding company with a portfolio that includes British Airways and Iberia. The group operates across global passenger aviation markets and is focused on delivering sustainable long-term growth, strong profitability, and shareholder value through disciplined capital allocation and ongoing transformation across its airline businesses.

Newmark Security plc (LSE:NWT) has announced that it will publish its interim results for the six months ended 31 October 2025 on 15 January 2026, alongside a live online presentation aimed at both existing and potential investors.

On the day of the results, Chief Executive Officer Marie-Claire Dwek and Chief Financial Officer Paul Campbell White will host a webcast through the Investor Meet Company platform. The session will provide management commentary on recent trading, strategic priorities, and the outlook for the business. Participants will be able to submit questions either ahead of time or during the live event.

Market sentiment around Newmark Security continues to be influenced by constructive corporate developments and supportive technical indicators. While the company has delivered revenue growth, this progress is partially offset by ongoing cash flow pressures. Valuation levels are described as reasonable, with potential scope for further improvement as profitability metrics strengthen.

More about Newmark Security plc

Newmark Security plc is a global provider of secure people-data solutions for human capital management systems. The company delivers integrated hardware and cloud-based software that support identity management, access control, and time and attendance across both physical and digital workplaces. Its technology generates actionable workforce data to improve security, compliance, and productivity for large enterprise customers, including major retailers and public sector organisations, and is distributed in partnership with enterprise platforms such as Oracle, SAP, and Workday.

Helios Underwriting plc (LSE:HUW) has appointed Jen Tan as Chief Underwriting Officer, promoting her from Head of Portfolio Strategy as the group sharpens its underwriting and capital allocation approach across the Lloyd’s market.

In her new role, Tan will take responsibility for portfolio underwriting strategy, syndicate capacity deployment, and ongoing portfolio management. She previously led portfolio construction and capital allocation across the company’s Lloyd’s platform and brings more than 16 years of insurance industry experience. Her career includes senior positions at Hiscox and Willis Towers Watson.

Management highlighted Tan’s data-led decision-making and underwriting discipline as central to improving portfolio quality and managing earnings volatility. Working closely with the board and syndicate partners, she is expected to play a key role in optimising capital deployment through the underwriting cycle, particularly as market conditions at Lloyd’s of London remain supportive.

While the company continues to face challenges around revenue consistency and cash flow volatility, management noted that valuation metrics and recent corporate actions—including leadership strengthening and shareholder-focused initiatives—offer potential upside over the medium term.

More about Helios Underwriting plc

Helios Underwriting plc is an AIM-quoted specialist insurance investment company providing limited liability exposure to the Lloyd’s of London insurance market. Through a diversified portfolio of established Lloyd’s syndicates, the company offers investors access to US and international wholesale and reinsurance business, positioning itself as the only publicly listed vehicle providing broad, direct exposure to the Lloyd’s market.

InvestAcc Group Limited (LSE:INAC) has confirmed that director Vinoy Nursiah has stepped down from his role with immediate effect, while the board moved quickly to reassure shareholders over the company’s financial governance and reporting standards.

The board said it continues to have full confidence in InvestAcc’s financial reporting framework, internal control environment, and the capability of its finance team. It added that the business remains on course to meet current market expectations for the full year and intends to release its financial statements in line with the established timetable.

To ensure continuity, the company has initiated a process to identify both an interim director and a permanent appointment. The board indicated that the transition is being managed with a focus on maintaining operational stability and consistent oversight of financial matters following the unexpected departure.

More about InvestAcc Group Limited

InvestAcc Group Limited is a UK-based financial services business operating through a group structure. The company focuses on delivering investment-related products and services, supported by an in-house finance function and established financial reporting, governance, and internal control systems.

Pulsar Helium Inc. (LSE:PLSR) has confirmed its highest-pressure gas encounter so far at the Jetstream #5 appraisal well within the Topaz Project in Minnesota, marking another technical milestone for the helium-focused explorer.

The new gas influx was intersected at approximately 2,857 feet and is estimated to carry a bottom-hole pressure of about 1,292 psi. This exceeds all previous pressure readings across the project and adds to multiple gas-bearing zones already identified at shallower levels within the Jetstream well sequence.

Drilling operations at Jetstream #5 are ongoing, with the company targeting a total depth of up to 5,000 feet. Once completed, the drilling rig is expected to move directly to Jetstream #6, continuing the step-out appraisal strategy at Topaz.

In parallel, the company is preparing a multi-well flow and pressure build-up testing program covering Jetstream wells #3, #4, and #5. Scheduled to begin in early February 2026, the campaign is designed to improve understanding of reservoir continuity, pressure dynamics, and gas composition. The results are expected to support future resource estimates and inform longer-term development planning at the Topaz helium asset.

More about Pulsar Helium Inc.

Pulsar Helium Inc. is a publicly traded primary helium exploration and development company with listings on AIM in London, the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada, and the OTCQB in the United States. Its flagship asset is the Topaz Project in Minnesota, complemented by the Tunu helium project in Greenland. Pulsar focuses on discovering and developing primary helium resources that are not associated with hydrocarbons, targeting jurisdictions and markets seeking secure, non-hydrocarbon-linked helium supply.