Category: Market News

Aberdeen Group (LSE:ABDN) said it has agreed to acquire the management of approximately £1.5 billion of US closed-end fund assets from MFS, strengthening its position as the world’s fifth-largest manager of closed-end funds. The transaction forms part of the group’s strategy to expand its US closed-end fund platform.

Under the agreement, nine MFS-managed funds and one Aberdeen-managed fund will be combined into two larger vehicles. The consolidation is expected to deliver improved scale, enhanced liquidity, and operational efficiencies for investors. Aberdeen said the acquisition also aligns with its focus on leveraging capabilities in areas such as fixed income and private credit to support future growth.

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Aberdeen Group is a global Wealth & Investments business managing and administering around £542 billion of client and customer assets across its interactive investor, Adviser, and Investments divisions. Aberdeen Investments operates as a specialist asset manager with expertise spanning public and private markets, including credit, specialist equities, and real assets.

ECR Minerals plc (LSE:ECR) said recent drilling at its Blue Mountain project in Central Queensland has delivered encouraging results, supporting the potential for near-term, low-cost alluvial gold production. The programme identified visible coarse gold and extended gold-bearing creek flats, which the company said may point to a nearby primary source.

In addition, wash-plant trials conducted at the Lower Patterson area were described as successful, further demonstrating the technical and commercial viability of a potential start-up operation. Management said the results strengthen the case for progressing Blue Mountain as an alluvial gold development in North Queensland.

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ECR Minerals plc is an exploration and development company focused on gold projects in Australia. The group’s strategy centres on identifying and advancing cost-efficient alluvial gold opportunities with the potential for near-term production.

Orosur Mining Inc. (LSE:OMI) said it has made continued progress across its exploration portfolio in Colombia and Argentina, with advances reported at both the Anzá and El Pantano projects. At Anzá, the company is close to completing the Pepas resource drilling programme, with assay results to date described as encouraging.

The group said work is underway to complete a Mineral Resource Estimate for Pepas, which is targeted for January 2026. In Argentina, exploration at the El Pantano project has confirmed the presence of a low sulphidation epithermal mineral system. Recent drilling results have highlighted additional exploration potential, supporting further evaluation of the project’s development prospects.

More about Orosur Mining Inc.

Orosur Mining Inc. is a gold exploration and development company with operations focused on Colombia and Argentina. Its principal asset is the Anzá project in Colombia, which includes the Pepas, APTA and El Cedro prospects, alongside the El Pantano project in Argentina. The company is advancing its portfolio through ongoing exploration and resource definition programmes.

Iofina plc (LSE:IOF) said it has appointed Tim Hughes as a Non-Executive Director, with the appointment set to take effect from 1 January 2026. Hughes brings extensive experience from the specialty chemicals sector, having previously held senior roles at companies including Synthomer plc and Chemtura Corporation.

The board said Hughes’ background in iodine-related businesses and corporate development is expected to support Iofina’s strategy to expand its iodine production capacity and broaden its customer base. The appointment is intended to strengthen the company’s leadership as it continues to invest in growth across its operations.

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Iofina plc is a vertically integrated producer of iodine and specialty chemical products. The company is the second-largest iodine producer in North America and operates through its Iofina Resources and Iofina Chemical subsidiaries. Using its proprietary WET® IOsorb® technology, Iofina develops and runs iodine extraction facilities, primarily in Oklahoma, while Iofina Chemical manufactures a range of high-quality halogen-based specialty chemicals.

Haydale Graphene Industries PLC (LSE:HAYD) said it has agreed to acquire Intelligent Resource Management Limited, trading as SaveMoneyCutCarbon, as part of a strategy to build a graphene-enabled clean-technology platform with enhanced commercial reach. The acquisition is intended to provide Haydale with a nationwide customer acquisition channel and a scalable operating platform to support faster market penetration.

Alongside the transaction, the company plans to raise up to £6.41 million through a combination of placing, subscription, and retail offer. The proceeds are expected to fund the acquisition and support the group’s broader growth strategy, enabling Haydale to capitalise on new commercial opportunities within energy efficiency and decarbonisation markets. Both the acquisition and fundraising are subject to shareholder approval, and the company also intends to adopt a new name to reflect its expanded strategic focus.

More about Haydale Graphene Industries PLC

Haydale Graphene Industries PLC operates in the clean-technology sector, specialising in the development and commercialisation of graphene-based materials. The company’s patented materials platform underpins a range of energy-efficiency and sustainability solutions designed to deliver practical decarbonisation outcomes.

Tern Plc (LSE:TERN) said it has been issued approximately £230,000 of new unsecured convertible loan notes by Talking Medicines Limited, following the cancellation of around £180,000 of existing short-term loans. The transaction increases Tern’s total holding of convertible loan notes in Talking Medicines to roughly £0.52 million, while its equity interest remains unchanged at 23.8%.

Talking Medicines is seeking to raise up to £1.0 million through the issue of similar convertible loan notes, with the funding intended to support further development of its data science and artificial intelligence capabilities. The company is targeting growth opportunities within the healthcare advertising market, where it aims to deliver more effective, insight-driven engagement.

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Tern Plc is an investment company focused on backing early-stage, high-growth technology businesses, particularly those operating in the Internet of Things (IoT) sector.

Tribal Group plc (LSE:TRB) said it expects to report full-year results for the year ended December 2025 ahead of market expectations, supported by strong performance from its Student Information Solutions division and continued growth in its Etio platform. The company said both revenue and adjusted EBITDA are anticipated to exceed current forecasts.

The improved trading performance is expected to significantly strengthen the balance sheet, with Tribal moving from a net debt position of £3.2 million to net cash of at least £5 million. This financial flexibility has enabled the declaration of a special dividend and further progress in embedding its recurring revenue model, following the successful roll-out of subscription-based pricing across its higher education customer base. Management said these developments support the group’s transition towards a full-service SaaS model.

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Tribal Group plc is a global provider of education software and services, with a strategic focus on building a pure-play EdTech SaaS business. Its offering includes Student Information Systems, education services such as quality assurance and benchmarking, and student surveys. The group operates in more than 55 countries, supporting higher education, further and tertiary education institutions, schools, government organisations, training providers, and employers.

Blencowe Resources Plc (LSE:BRES) said drilling at the newly identified Iyan deposit within its Orom-Cross project has delivered encouraging results, with the first deep hole intersecting continuous high-grade graphite mineralisation from near surface to around 100 metres depth. The company said the findings point to meaningful upside potential for the overall resource.

Management noted that the Iyan discovery appears to link geologically with the nearby Northern Syncline, suggesting a broader mineralised system across the project area. The results support the long-term scale of Orom-Cross and may contribute to future updates of the project’s JORC-compliant resource, reinforcing its credentials as a globally significant graphite development.

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Blencowe Resources Plc is a graphite exploration and development company focused on advancing the Orom-Cross project in Uganda. The project is recognised for its high-quality graphite, including a substantial proportion of large flake material. Blencowe holds a 21-year mining licence at Orom-Cross and has completed a Definitive Feasibility Study, positioning the project for progression towards first production.

Firering Strategic Minerals plc (LSE:FRG) said it has concluded a US$1 million settlement agreement with Ricca Resources after all related resolutions were approved at Ricca’s Extraordinary General Meeting. The agreement brings to an end all outstanding debts and claims owed by Ricca to Firering, which owns a 10.6% stake in the company.

As part of the outcome, Ricca is also expected to distribute net proceeds arising from the sale of a subsidiary asset. Firering may benefit from this distribution, potentially providing additional upside alongside the settlement. Management noted that the resolution is expected to strengthen Firering’s financial position and improve its standing within the sector.

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Firering Strategic Minerals plc is an emerging quicklime producer and critical minerals explorer. The company is advancing production at the Limeco quicklime project in Zambia, supplying copper producers in the Central African Copperbelt and other regional markets. In parallel, Firering is developing the Atex lithium-tantalum project in Côte d’Ivoire, which offers exposure to lithium and tantalum-niobium, key materials supporting the global transition to clean energy technologies.

Roquefort Therapeutics PLC (LSE:ROQ) said it has amended its exclusive licensing agreement with Coiled Therapeutics, Inc. and A2A Pharmaceuticals, Inc. relating to its AO-252 programme, extending the long stop date to 16 March 2026. The revision follows continued progress in the ongoing Phase I clinical study.

The trial has been broadened to cover patients with all solid tumours, while placing particular emphasis on prostate cancer. Management said this prioritisation is underpinned by encouraging pre-clinical results and constructive engagement with potential commercial partners, reflecting growing interest in new oral treatment options for prostate cancer. The amended agreement provides additional time for upcoming clinical data readouts and includes revised commercial terms, notably an increase in the number of consideration shares, highlighting the perceived value of the AO-252 asset.

More about Roquefort Therapeutics PLC

Roquefort Therapeutics PLC is a biotechnology company listed on the Main Market and focused on the development of novel cancer therapies. Its pipeline is centred on oral, targeted treatments for solid tumours, with a strategic focus on prostate cancer.