13th May 2025 13:20
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Eden Research PLC - Oxfordshire, England-based developer of biopesticides and formulation technologies for the crop protection, animal health and consumer products industries - Receives approval in California for flagship fungicide Mevalone, for the control of powdery mildew in grapes. Sipcam Agro USA, which already acts as Eden's exclusive distributor for Mevalone in the US, will now actively promote Mevalone for this new use, as this is further to the approval already received for Mevalone in California for the control of Botrytis cinerea. Eden believes the new approval increases its chance of achieving a greater market share among botryticides, but does not expect to change its revenue expectations in the near term. Eden estimates the total addressable market for Mevalone in the US at around EUR94 million, with California - as the country's largest grape producer - representing the largest share of this potential "by a substantial margin".
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Zinc Media Group PLC - London-based television production group - Reports two "new seven-figure commissions". One is for a documentary to air on the BBC and CNN named Live Aid at 40, which will "delve into the complex stories behind the historic event and its legacy". "The series will feature exclusive interviews with iconic figures such as Bob Geldof, Bono, Sting and Midge Ure, chronicling how they mobilised billions worldwide: first to answer a famine in Ethiopia, and later inspiring global leaders like George Bush and Tony Blair to begin to address the true causes of poverty in Africa," Zinc adds. The second commission, a six-part travelogue for National Geographic and Bloomberg, will follow mathematician and presenter Hannah Fry. Fry is to travel across six countries "to discover how the forces of geography, climate, history and culture make countries and their people so unique and distinctive". The travelogue has a working title of The Square Route with Hannah Fry. In addition, Zinc Media notes Rob & Rylan's Grand Tour, produced by Zinc's Rex Production label, was awarded a BAFTA for factual entertainment.
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Zenova Group PLC - London-based fire suppression and interdiction solutions company - Says factory facility in Albania "now fully operational and ahead of schedule". "Zenova now anticipates supplying its coating products almost immediately to local customer orders, generated following a successful sample program conducted recently. Based on the high levels of customer satisfaction from these small batch samples, the company expects local demand to continue beyond these initial orders," Zenova adds. "Zenova anticipates that revenue from this facility will exceed EUR2 million within the first 12 months of operations and grow steadily over time."
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Macfarlane Group PLC - Glasgow, Scotland-based packaging company - Reports profit in first quarter of 2025 lower on-year, amid weaker gross margins and duplicate costs related to the consolidation of East Midlands operations. However, sales were 14% higher on-year. "We anticipate the group's performance to improve in H2 2025 as we complete the East Midlands site consolidation, build on organic growth momentum in distribution, continue our progress on new business, maintain the strong performance of our manufacturing operations, and implement the benefits from Pitreavie synergies. Management is also taking actions to mitigate the impact of increases in national insurance and national minimum wage which took effect from 1 April 2025," it adds. Macfarlane says it will begin a share buyback of up to GBP4 million, with details to be announced this week.
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Genedrive PLC - Manchester-based point-of-care pharmacogenetic testing company - Reports the CYP2C19-ID kit will be used in a trial led by Manchester University Foundation Trust, in tandem with the Genotype Guided Primary Coronary Intervention programme and the British Heart Foundation Centre of Excellence. The probe aims to assess "the value and feasibility of rapid point of care CYP2C19 testing in cardiovascular disease to improve patient outcomes". The sales value of this order is around GBP120,000.
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Galileo Resources PLC - copper, gold and lithium mine development in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana - Signs royalty deal with Bronco Creek Exploration Inc to advance the Ferber copper-gold property in Nevada, US. Ferber is 100% owned by Galileo. "BCE will provide Galileo with exploration services, management and local technical knowledge based on extensive experience across the property and similar projects in Nevada and adjoining states," Galileo explains. "Galileo will fund a two-stage exploration programme with BCE providing technical input and oversight in return for up to a 1% net smelter return royalty interest in the property."
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East Star Resources PLC - Kazakhstan-focused copper exploration and resource development company - A survey at Rulikha in Kazakhstan finds "two distinct east-west striking high chargeability trends". "These anomalies are large, spanning approximately 1,550m west to east and 1,040m north to south and are open at depth," East Star adds. CEO Alex Walker continues: "We have all the permissions already in place to test the north and eastern parts of the target. I'm very much looking forward to getting the drill rig turning."
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Kefi Gold & Copper PLC - mining company with assets in Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia - Ethiopian Parliament ratifies Ethiopian country membership for Africa Finance Corp, one of the co-lenders for the Tulu Kapi asset. Membership was a "critical condition" for AFC's participation in the project. "Following AFC being formally granted Ethiopian country membership, Kefi will now continue with the remainder of the scheduled project launch steps, as pre-agreed with the Ethiopian government and the project syndicate," Kefi adds.
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Mercia Asset Management PLC - alternative asset manager focused on regional UK small and medium enterprises - Takes part in "significant funding rounds" for two investment portfolio companies, Warwick Acoustics Ltd and Axis Spine Technologies Ltd. "These investments reflect the continued commercial progress of both companies and the potential for their respective technologies. The funding rounds also underscore their ability to attract third-party co-investors," it adds. Audio systems creator Warwick Acoustics gets GBP6.2 million in new investment. "This includes a direct investment of GBP1.0 million, with the additional funding coming from Mercia's Northern VCTs, third-party investors and other existing shareholders," Mercia Asset says. Axis Spine, a medical device firm, seals a GBP6.6 million funding round. "This includes a direct investment of GBP2.0 million, with additional funding coming from Mercia's Northern VCTs and EIS managed funds, alongside other third-party investors. This additional investment will be used to support the company's sales growth," Mercia Asset says.
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By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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Related Shares:
EdenZinc MediaZenova GrpMacfarlane Grp.GenedriveGalileo ResourcEast Star ResoKefi Gold & CopperMercia Asset