Traders Cafe with Zak Mir: DeepVerge, DiscovOre, Emmerson, Mode Global, Quantum Blockchain, RMS, Riverfort, San Leon, Zephyr Energy

It is always an interesting sight to behold, the way a company morphs from one space to another. This is what we have been witnessing in recent months at the entity formerly known as Clear Leisure. The latest from Quantum Blockchain (QBT) is that has increased its stake in Forcrowd to 41.17%, having purchased an additional 21.17% stake for a total consideration of €34,000. On a separate note, the saga of the Sipiem court case continues, with the Court of Venice has scheduling a new hearing for 10 November 2021. An independent expert has assessed the economic value of the possible damages suffered by Sipiem at an amount of up to €7.8 million.

It is clear that over the past year Riverfort Global Opportunities (RGO) has successfully added investing in growth companies to its ongoing corporate lending skills. The latest here is that investee company Smarttech247 has been awarded a multi-year contract for managed cyber security services by a global advanced manufacturing company, employing over 100,000 staff and a leading member of the Fortune Global-1000. The contract was awarded to support strategic cyber security initiatives and ensure compliance to the latest industry regulated cyber security standards. AI and automation of security tools are a feature of Smarttech247's 24/7 Cyber Security Operations Centres. Investment company Pires (PIRI) owns a stake in Smarttech247 via its Sure Valley Ventures holding.

Moroccan focused potash development company, Emmerson (EML) edges closer to environmental approval at its Khemisset Potash Project, updating the market regarding progress made in the first six months of 2021. Emmerson said that negotiations have continued towards securing the strategic equity investor required to advance the Project into construction. The company confirmed that there are several interested groups, any one of which could have a transformational effect on the overall financing of the Project.

Remote Monitored Systems (RMS) unveiled the signing of a distribution agreement between its subsidiary, Pharm 2 Farm, and Vivek Kohli Enterprises for VKE to distribute P2F's anti-viral mask, under the Pro-Larva brand name. VKE has placed an initial order for 350,000 Pro-Larva masks to be airfreighted direct to their distribution centre in India. RMS said part of the proceeds from this order will be invested by P2F into a marketing campaign within India to support VKE and build demand for the Pro-Larva mask, which it said is expected to lead to increasing repeat orders.

Fintech specialist Mode Global (MODE) said it has secured its Electronic Money Institution licence and its AMLD5 registration from the Financial Conduct Authority. The EMI licence will enable Mode to offer a range of innovative financial services to both businesses and consumers in the UK. Mode's subsidiary Fibermode Limited is now a Registered Cryptoasset firm. Mode said that it is now one of only a handful of UK companies to have been granted an EMI licence and AMLD5 registration, and the only one listed on the LSE Main Market.

Fast moving Rocky Mountain focused oil and gas group Zephyr Energy (ZPHR) said that it has received all final approvals and permits required to proceed with the drilling of its Paradox Project well. In addition, the Company has received all necessary consents from its joint-venture partner on the Paradox project. With all approvals and permits now in place, the company said it is working to finalise the project contracts needed to enable it to meet its proposed timeline of a July spud date.

Sticking with the same sector and independent oil and gas production company San Leon Energy (SLE) unveiled a conditional investment of US$2 million as well as an option to conditionally invest a further US$6.5 million in the equity of Enp>ergy Link Infrastructure which owns the Alternative Crude Oil Evacuation System project (ACOES). The ACOES is being constructed to provide a dedicated oil export route from the OML 18 oil and gas fields in Nigeria, comprising a new pipeline from OML 18. Once commissioned during the second half of 2021, the system is expected to reduce the downtime and allocated pipeline losses currently associated with the Nembe Creek Trunk Line to below 10%.

There is to be a potentially far out experience at DiscovOre (ORE), the Aquis listed group. It revealed a General Meeting to approve a change of name to Oscillate plc and a new investment strategy for investment in medical psychedelics. The company is looking to select opportunities in this industry with its evaluation now being at an advanced stage and focused on investment partnerships and agreements, pre-clinical and clinical trials, pre-IPO opportunities and seed capital.

The newsflow continues apace at environmental and life science group DeepVerge (DVRG), which develops and applies AI and IOT technology for the identification of bacteria, viruses and toxins said it has successfully completed Phase 3 field trials in which Microtox® PD achieved real-time detection and transmission of data, specific to SARS-CoV-2, in wastewater treatment plants at multiple sites[ii]. In addition, its Modern Water Environmental Health Division has entered into a master service agreement with EPS Group to install, calibrate, service and maintain Microtox ® PD units which have the potential to be installed in multiple European countries.