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  • Portmeirion H1 Revenue Falls 1.9% to £36.4 Million as Headline Pre-Tax Loss Widens

    Portmeirion H1 Revenue Falls 1.9% to £36.4 Million as Headline Pre-Tax Loss Widens

    Portmeirion (LSE:PMP) reported a 1.9% decline in first-half revenue to £36.4 million, while its headline loss before tax widened to £4.5 million as the homewares group continued to invest in its Elevated transformation programme and the onshoring of production to Stoke-on-Trent.

    Performance varied across the group’s markets during the period. Portmeirion reported revenue growth in the US, Malaysia and other international markets, while revenue declined in the UK, South Korea and its non-core Wax Lyrical business.

    The company is continuing to restructure its operations and invest in its brands as part of the Elevated programme.

    Portmeirion Raises £17.2 Million in Equity

    During the period, Portmeirion completed a £17.2 million equity fundraising and reduced net debt to £6.2 million.

    The group also secured a new £36 million asset-based lending facility.

    Management described the resulting financial position as a “fortress” balance sheet and said the funding would support operational restructuring and investment in the group’s brands.

    Group Changes Manufacturing Model

    Portmeirion is moving towards what it describes as a demand-led factory model as part of changes to its manufacturing operations.

    The company is also continuing the onshoring of production to Stoke-on-Trent and has expanded into Türkiye.

    Changes to the group’s management team have also been made as Portmeirion implements its transformation programme.

    Management Targets Return to Growth in 2027

    Portmeirion said its current priorities include investment in the business rather than dividend payments.

    Management aims to stabilise trading during 2026 and is targeting a return to growth in 2027. The company noted that its outlook remains subject to macroeconomic and political uncertainty.

    Portmeirion is also progressing a corporate rebrand to Spode Group PLC.

    The group owns homewares brands including Spode, Portmeirion, Royal Worcester and Wax Lyrical and sells tableware and related products across the UK, US, Asia and other international markets.

  • Critical Mineral Resources Reports 10.24% Copper and 5,390 g/t Silver at Agadir Melloul

    Critical Mineral Resources Reports 10.24% Copper and 5,390 g/t Silver at Agadir Melloul

    Critical Mineral Resources (LSE:CMRS) has reported assay results from 21 diamond drill holes at its Agadir Melloul copper-silver-gold project in central Morocco, including an intercept grading 10.24% copper and 5,390 grams per tonne silver.

    The result was recorded in drill hole BH 174 over an interval of 0.2 metres.

    According to the company, the latest drilling has extended near-surface stratiform copper-silver mineralisation eastwards within Zone 1 and towards Zone 2.

    Critical Mineral Resources is carrying out delineation and infill drilling as part of work intended to support a Mineral Resource Estimate for the project.

    BH 174 Returns 10.24% Copper and 5,390 g/t Silver

    Among the results reported from the 21 holes, BH 174 intersected 0.2 metres grading 10.24% copper and 5,390 g/t silver.

    Critical Mineral Resources said results from holes 174 and 175 may indicate the presence of a separate fault-controlled silver-bearing structure associated with a north-northwest trending fault.

    The company is treating the possible structure as an additional exploration target alongside the sediment-hosted copper mineralisation at Agadir Melloul.

    Further exploration will be required to establish the extent and characteristics of the structure.

    Drilling Supports Mineral Resource Work

    Recent drilling at Agadir Melloul has focused on delineation and infill work as Critical Mineral Resources progresses towards a Mineral Resource Estimate.

    Thousands of samples are currently undergoing laboratory analysis, according to the company.

    Additional assay results from drilling targeting sediment-hosted copper mineralisation are expected in the coming weeks. The company intends to use the drilling and assay data to further define the mineralisation and inform future planning for the project.

    Critical Mineral Resources Focuses on Morocco

    Critical Mineral Resources PLC is a mineral exploration company focused on copper, silver and gold.

    Its Agadir Melloul project is located in the Western Anti-Atlas region of central Morocco and covers a licence area of approximately 65 square kilometres.

    Exploration at the project is targeting mineralisation associated with early Cambrian and Infracambrian marine sedimentary units.

  • Ingenta H1 Revenue Falls to £5.1 Million as Adjusted EBITDA Reaches £0.7 Million

    Ingenta H1 Revenue Falls to £5.1 Million as Adjusted EBITDA Reaches £0.7 Million

    Ingenta (LSE:ING) reported revenue of £5.1 million for the first half of 2026, slightly below the prior-year period, as growth in its Commercial division was offset by lower Content revenue and foreign exchange movements.

    Gross margin declined to 48%, while adjusted EBITDA was £0.7 million.

    The publishing software and services provider ended the period with cash balances of £4.6 million and no debt. Recurring revenue represented 92% of total revenue during the first half.

    Ingenta maintained its interim dividend at 1.75 pence per share and said it remains on track to meet its full-year adjusted EBITDA expectations.

    Ingenta Secures More Than £2 Million of Multi-Year Contracts

    During the first half, Ingenta secured more than £2 million of new multi-year contracts across its product lines.

    The contract wins included agreements with a US record label and a US university publisher.

    The company said it continues to have a sales pipeline heading into the second half of the year.

    FirstAida Acquisition Expands AI Activities

    Ingenta is also developing artificial intelligence capabilities through internal initiatives and the acquisition of FirstAida, which was completed after the end of the reporting period.

    The acquisition expands Ingenta’s activities into legal and rights management markets and adds to its existing publishing-focused operations.

    The company is developing AI-related tools alongside its existing software and managed services products for publishers and other rights holders.

    Ingenta Provides Publishing Software and Services

    Ingenta is a UK-based provider of software and services to the publishing industry.

    The group operates through two principal revenue streams. Ingenta Commercial provides publishing management and intellectual property systems for print and digital publishing as well as markets including music, television and film.

    Ingenta Content provides technology that enables publishers to manage, distribute and monetise digital content online.

    The group’s services include managed services, intellectual property management and software tools for publishers and related rights holders.

  • NeoTerra Extends Catalyse Capital Debt Facility to October 2027

    NeoTerra Extends Catalyse Capital Debt Facility to October 2027

    NeoTerra Group (LSE:TERA) has agreed an extension of its debt facility with Catalyse Capital Limited to 30 October 2027, while retaining the facility’s fixed interest rate of 15%.

    Under the revised terms, NeoTerra will pay a £50,000 reprofiling fee. Catalyse Capital’s existing right to convert the debt into shares has also been cancelled and replaced with 25 million warrants exercisable over a two-year period.

    The extension provides the company with an additional year before the facility’s revised maturity date.

    Conversion Right Replaced With 25 Million Warrants

    As part of the amended financing arrangement, Catalyse Capital will no longer have the right to convert the debt facility into NeoTerra shares.

    Instead, the lender will receive 25 million warrants, which can be exercised during a two-year period.

    The facility will continue to carry a fixed annual interest rate of 15%, alongside the £50,000 fee associated with the reprofiling.

    NeoTerra Advances Monte Muambe Programme

    NeoTerra said it is using existing cash resources to advance its fluorspar programme at the Monte Muambe project in Mozambique.

    The company is also progressing its rare earths activities with support from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

    NeoTerra’s portfolio covers several critical raw materials, including rare earths, fluorspar, gallium and copper-silver.

    NeoTerra Holds Projects in Mozambique and Botswana

    NeoTerra Group is a London Main Market-listed exploration and development company focused on critical raw materials projects in Africa.

    Its Monte Muambe project in Mozambique contains rare earths, fluorspar and gallium and is covered by a 25-year mining licence. Work on the project is also supported by a U.S. Trade and Development Agency grant.

    The company’s portfolio additionally includes the Sesana copper-silver project in Botswana.

  • Tritax Big Box Completes 1 Million Sq Ft Amazon Facility at Kettering

    Tritax Big Box Completes 1 Million Sq Ft Amazon Facility at Kettering

    Tritax Big Box REIT (LSE:BBOX) has completed a 1 million square foot logistics facility for Amazon at Symmetry Park in Kettering, with a 20-year lease now commencing.

    The facility will generate annual rental income of £9.8 million for Tritax Big Box. The company said the development achieved a yield on cost at the upper end of its 6% to 8% guidance range.

    The building is Amazon’s largest cross-dock warehouse in the UK, according to the information provided by Tritax Big Box.

    Symmetry Park Reaches 1.6 Million Sq Ft

    Completion of the Amazon facility marks the delivery of all three committed buildings at the 136-acre Symmetry Park development.

    The logistics park now comprises 1.6 million square feet of completed space, including facilities occupied by Iron Mountain and Greggs.

    Tritax Big Box said the Amazon development meets specified sustainability standards and is expected to support around 2,000 jobs in the region.

    Amazon Begins 20-Year Lease

    The commencement of Amazon’s 20-year lease adds £9.8 million of annual rental income to Tritax Big Box’s portfolio.

    The development forms part of the company’s strategy of using its logistics land portfolio to develop assets for occupiers and generate rental income from completed properties.

    Tritax Big Box Invests in UK Logistics Properties

    Tritax Big Box REIT invests in and develops logistics warehouse properties across the UK and operates a logistics-focused development land platform.

    The FTSE 100 real estate investment trust focuses on modern logistics facilities, including properties leased to institutional occupiers under long-term agreements.

    The group is also developing a pipeline of potential data centre projects.

  • Tungsten West Signs Eight-Year Hemerdon Offtake Agreement With Elmet Technologies

    Tungsten West Signs Eight-Year Hemerdon Offtake Agreement With Elmet Technologies

    Tungsten West (LSE:TUN) has signed an eight-year offtake agreement with U.S.-based Elmet Technologies covering 1,000 tonnes per year of contained tungsten trioxide (WO₃) from the Hemerdon mine in Devon.

    The company said the agreement has an indicative nominal value of more than £1.4 billion based on current tungsten prices. As the contract uses variable pricing, the amount does not represent a fixed value for the agreement.

    Under the arrangement, material from Hemerdon will enter tungsten processing and manufacturing supply chains in the U.S. and UK.

    Agreement Covers 1,000 Tonnes of WO₃ Annually

    Elmet Technologies has agreed to take 1,000 tonnes per year of contained WO₃ from Hemerdon over the eight-year term.

    The agreement also provides for Elmet to use commercially reasonable endeavours to process an additional 500 tonnes annually to support UK government strategic requirements.

    According to Tungsten West, this provision is intended to preserve processing capacity for potential UK demand.

    Elmet has received U.S. defence-related funding, according to the information provided by Tungsten West.

    National Wealth Fund Plans Investment of Up to £71 Million

    The offtake agreement comes alongside a planned investment of up to £71 million in Tungsten West by the UK National Wealth Fund.

    The National Wealth Fund also has an option covering up to half of Hemerdon’s output.

    Tungsten West said these arrangements are intended to establish a supply chain connecting production at Hemerdon with tungsten processing and manufacturing in the UK and U.S.

    Tungsten West Owns Hemerdon Mine in Devon

    Tungsten West Plc is a UK-based mining company that owns the Hemerdon tungsten and tin mine in Devon.

    Hemerdon contains tungsten and tin resources, with the company seeking to supply tungsten concentrates from the UK into industrial, defence and advanced manufacturing supply chains.

  • Judges Scientific H1 Revenue Falls 21% to £55.7 Million, Maintains Full-Year Guidance

    Judges Scientific H1 Revenue Falls 21% to £55.7 Million, Maintains Full-Year Guidance

    Judges Scientific (LSE:JDG) reported a 21% decline in first-half revenue to £55.7 million, while adjusted pre-tax profit fell 75% to £3.2 million.

    The scientific instruments group also recorded a statutory loss and lower cash generation during the period.

    The company attributed the reduction in first-half performance to lower research funding in the US, delays in China, the postponement of offshore wind projects and the absence of a Geotek coring expedition.

    Despite the first-half decline, Judges Scientific maintained its full-year earnings guidance and increased its interim dividend by 10%.

    Order Intake Improves in Early Second Half

    Judges Scientific said order intake improved during the early part of the second half and was running close to the levels recorded in the corresponding period last year.

    The improvement follows the factors that affected demand during the first six months, including conditions in the US and China and delays to offshore wind-related activity.

    The company has maintained its earnings guidance for the full year.

    Banking Facilities Extended to 2030

    Judges Scientific has also extended its multibank facilities to 2030, providing the group with longer-term financing arrangements.

    The company announced a 10% increase in its interim dividend despite the year-on-year reduction in first-half revenue and adjusted pre-tax profit.

    Separately, the group is preparing for a change in its senior management team. Chief Financial Officer Brad Ormsby is due to step down from his position next year.

    Judges Scientific Owns 25 Scientific Instrument Businesses

    Judges Scientific is a UK-based group focused on acquiring businesses operating in the scientific instruments sector.

    The group owns 25 predominantly UK-based businesses whose products are sold internationally to customers including universities, research institutions, manufacturers and regulators.

    Its acquisition model combines the operation of its existing businesses with further acquisitions, while its stated financial objectives include profit and cash generation, debt reduction, organic growth and dividend payments.

  • Boku H1 Revenue Rises 11% on Underlying Basis to $66.5 Million

    Boku H1 Revenue Rises 11% on Underlying Basis to $66.5 Million

    Boku (LSE:BOKU) reported group revenue of $66.5 million for the first half of 2026, representing an 11% increase on an underlying basis, as growth in bundling, digital wallets and account-to-account services offset delays to some merchant launches.

    Underlying adjusted EBITDA increased 7%, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 29.4%, while direct carrier billing revenue recorded more modest growth during the period.

    The payments company ended the first half with $84.6 million of its own cash and no debt after completing share buybacks during the period.

    Management maintained its full-year guidance and said previously delayed merchant launches are expected to contribute during the second half of 2026.

    Total Payment Volume Reaches $8.6 Billion

    Boku reported a 16% increase in total payment volume to $8.6 billion during the first half.

    The company added 47 payment connections to its network and introduced 10 additional local payment methods.

    Boku also launched integrations using Brazil’s PIX and India’s UPI payment systems as it continued to expand the range of local payment methods available through its network.

    Boku Adds Stripe Channel Partnership

    During the period, Boku established its first channel partnership with Stripe and expanded its direct sales activities into additional sectors.

    The company also invested in automation, artificial intelligence and infrastructure supporting cross-border foreign exchange services.

    Boku made a number of leadership appointments during the period, which management said were intended to support the execution of its strategy.

    The company reiterated its full-year guidance and said it expects contributions from merchant launches that had previously been delayed to move into the second half.

    Boku Expands Local Payments Network

    Boku, Inc. operates a global network of local payment methods for digital merchants.

    Its services include direct carrier billing, digital wallets, account-to-account transfers and bundling. The group’s network connects more than 200 local payment methods with digital platforms and service providers, providing access to consumer payment accounts across multiple markets.

  • BSF Enterprise Subsidiary Receives U.S. Patent Notice of Allowance for ETSYL Technology

    BSF Enterprise Subsidiary Receives U.S. Patent Notice of Allowance for ETSYL Technology

    BSF Enterprise (LSE:BSFA) said its subsidiary 3D Bio-Tissues has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for patent protection covering its ETSYL-branded collagen production technology.

    The patent relates to proprietary methods using the bioactive peptide palmitoyl pentapeptide-87 to stimulate collagen production in cells.

    According to the company, the patent is expected to be formally issued following the completion of routine administrative procedures.

    Patent Covers Collagen Production Methods

    The Notice of Allowance provides for U.S. patent protection for technology associated with ETSYL, which BSF is developing for applications including tissue engineering and cosmetics.

    Management said the patent would expand the company’s intellectual property protection in the U.S. market for anti-ageing skincare and formulations incorporating bioactive peptides.

    The development also relates to BSF’s commercial arrangements for ETSYL. The company has an exclusive global commercialisation and supply agreement with SCHAKAU Managementberatung covering the use of ETSYL in luxury cosmetics.

    BSF said the intellectual property could support product sales and potential licensing opportunities, as well as applications of the technology in lab-grown tissues and cosmetic ingredients.

    BSF Enterprise Develops Tissue Engineering Technologies

    BSF Enterprise operates in biotechnology through its wholly owned subsidiary 3D Bio-Tissues.

    The group develops tissue engineering technologies, lab-grown materials and bioactive products, including collagen-enhancing compounds intended for applications in anti-ageing skincare, dermocosmetics and other cosmetic products.

  • AstraZeneca’s Trixeo Aerosphere Wins EU Approval for Asthma Treatment

    AstraZeneca’s Trixeo Aerosphere Wins EU Approval for Asthma Treatment

    AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) has received European Commission approval for Trixeo Aerosphere as a maintenance treatment for asthma in patients aged 12 years and older whose disease is inadequately controlled with standard dual inhaled therapy.

    The approval makes Trixeo Aerosphere the first triple-combination inhaler therapy authorised in the European Union for this patient population.

    The fixed-dose treatment combines an inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist (ICS/LABA) with a long-acting muscarinic antagonist.

    Trixeo Aerosphere is marketed under the name Breztri in the US, China and Japan.

    Phase III Trials Support EU Approval

    The European approval was supported by results from the Phase III KALOS and LOGOS trials.

    According to the trial data cited by AstraZeneca, the triple-combination treatment improved lung function, had a rapid onset of action and reduced the rate of severe asthma exacerbations compared with dual therapy.

    The company also reported that no new safety signals were identified.

    Nearly 43 million people in Europe have asthma, according to the information provided by AstraZeneca, and the new authorisation covers patients aged 12 and over whose condition remains inadequately controlled on dual inhaled treatment.

    Trixeo Expands Beyond COPD

    The European Commission decision extends the use of Trixeo Aerosphere into asthma. The treatment is already approved for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, in more than 90 countries.

    The asthma authorisation provides AstraZeneca with an additional approved indication for the triple-combination inhaler within its Respiratory & Immunology portfolio.

    AstraZeneca’s Respiratory Business

    AstraZeneca is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, UK, focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines.

    The company’s operations include Oncology, Rare Disease and BioPharmaceuticals, encompassing Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism and Respiratory & Immunology.

    Its respiratory portfolio includes inhaled therapies, biologics and other treatments targeting chronic respiratory and immune-mediated diseases.