RNS Hotlist: Angle, Bens, Blue Star, Enwell, Genflow, Hurricane, Oriole, Petrotal, PetroNeft, Poolbeg, Roquefort, Quetzal, Spinnaker, Vela

We have a high flyer joining Quetzal (QTZ) to start the week, as it announced the appointment of Tony Quirke as a Non-executive Director with immediate effect. Quirke is the founder and CEO of ‘The Payments Practice’, an FCCA qualified accountant and an FCA approved person.  He has founded, co-founded and led the M&A activity on several FCA regulated fintech businesses. His arrival comes in the wake of QTZ’s recent Tap Global deal.

There is a new and unique entrant to the stock market. Genflow Biosciences (GENF), is a UK-based biotechnology company focused on longevity and the development of therapies to counteract the effects of aging and diseases associated with advanced age. Share dealings will commence on the main market of the London Stock Exchange from 8am today. The Company has been admitted to the standard segment of the Official List following an oversubscribed placing of £3.7 million. Genflow Biosciences is the first longevity biotechnology firm to list in Europe and to join the London Stock Exchange.

Poolbeg Pharma  (POLB), a clinical stage infectious disease pharmaceutical company, has in-licenced a novel, first-in-class RNA-based immunotherapy for respiratory virus infections developed at the University of Warwick. Poolbeg has secured an exclusive licence to this dual antiviral prophylactic and therapeutic candidate, which is at a late-pre-clinical development stage. In vivo data confirms that this immunotherapy asset targets pan-respiratory virus infections, which could include influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), SARS-CoV-2 and others.

Roquefort Therapeutics (ROQ), the Main Market listed biotech company focused on early-stage opportunities in the biotechnology sector, provided an update on progress with its wholly-owned subsidiary, LYRAMID, a pre-clinical biotech company focused on developing first-in-class Midkine inhibiting RNA therapeutic drugs for the treatment of cancer, chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, as well as lung diseases such as COVID-19. The company said it has reached an important stage in our development and are pleased to have identified the lead compounds to progress with in vitro experiments in cancer cells, a key part of preclinical research.

ANGLE (AGL), a liquid biopsy company, announced the publication of breakthrough research undertaken by the world-class team at the University of Southern California Norris Cancer Center. The research demonstrates the potential of circulating tumour cells harvested from a simple blood draw using the company's Parsortix® system to be used as an alternative to invasive metastatic tissue biopsy for metastatic breast cancer patients.

Spinnaker Acquisitions announced its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange. It has conditionally agreed to acquire the entire issued share capital of HomeServe Labs Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of FTSE250 quoted public company HomeServe Plc, by way of a reverse takeover. A placing to raise £5,000,000 will be followed by admission to listing on the Standard Listing segment of the Official List of the FCA and Admission to trading on the Main Market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange.

PetroTal (PTAL) provided a Q4 and year-end 2021 operations and liquidity update. The company said it is excited to start the new year with record production of 20,000 bopd, a solid base for ongoing growth.  PetroTal will continue to manage our business to maximize cash flow and support stable operations for shareholders while always placing safety above all else. The company is very supportive of community efforts and the active dialogue engagement that led to the reopening of pump stations 1 and 5.

Enwell Energy (ENW), the AIM-quoted oil and gas exploration and production group, said that the Ukrainian Government has issued governmental decrees to impose temporary and partial gas price regulation in order to support the production of certain food products through the supply of gas at regulated prices to the producers of such products. ENW said the imposition of this gas price regulation, albeit on a temporary basis, is a very concerning situation for the independent gas producers in Ukraine, and indeed for the investment climate in Ukraine generally.

Hurricane Energy (HUR), the UK based oil and gas company, provided a trading and operational update ahead of its results for the year ended 31 December 2021. The company said despite the major challenges faced by Hurricane last year, the team has done a superb job at delivering excellent production performance and high uptime on the FPSO, as well as finding cost savings. All this has been done while at the same time maintaining high levels of HSSE performance.

PetroNeft (PTR) an oil & gas exploration and production company, operating in the Tomsk Oblast, Russian Federation, and 90% owner and operator of Licence 67 and 50% owner and operator of Licence 61 provided a financing update. On 15th December 2021 PetroNeft announced that it had met all contractual obligations. The reduced principal amount of $2.3 million, has enabled the Company to extend the facility by a further 12 months to 15th December 2022. 

Oriole Resources (ORR), the AIM-quoted exploration company focussed on West Africa, updated on its Senala gold project in Senegal, where joint venture partner IAMGOLD Corporation has the option to spend up to US$8 million to earn a 70% interest. Results from the recently completed 2,148 metres reverse circulation drilling at the Faré prospect have extended mineralisation along strike at all three main anomalies, delivering results of up to 5.00m grading 12.45 grammes per tonne gold, including 2.00m grading 26.61 g/t Au.

Blue Star Capital BLU), the investing company revealed an announcement by SatoshiPay, one of its investee companies. SatoshiPay announced senior management role changes and promotions to support the expected expansion of its business to deliver Pendulum, an open-source blockchain intended to connect DeFi to foreign exchange networks,  and has also provided an update on Pendulum.

Bens Creek Group (BEN), the owner of a recently re-opened metallurgical coal mine in North America supplying the steel industry, said that following discussions with Integrity Coal Sales, Inc. New York, the company's offtake partner,  it has commenced the sale and delivery of metallurgical coal. The initial agreed volume with Integrity is to deliver the equivalent of 8,840 clean tons of Hi Vol B coal. Payment for this initial delivery is expected to be made over the course of the next ten days.

Vela (VELA), an AIM-quoted investing company, said that it has invested £750,000 in EnSilica Limited, a fabless semiconductor design business, in the form of convertible loan notes, as part of a pre-IPO funding round being undertaken by EnSilica to raise up to £1.5 million.