Aquis Stock Exchange Weekly Highlights 13/10/23

Samarkand Group announced that the company is delighted to have won silver for the "Best Cross-border Campaign" at the recent eCommerce Awards 2023. The awards recognise excellence in the world of eCommerce, celebrating market leading initiatives in the online retail space. Samarkand says it has seen strong growth in sales through livestream influencer commerce, with the 160-year-old Scottish brand Napiers the Herbalist successfully entering China via cross-border influencer commerce, generating incremental cross-border sales of more than £1 million, with extremely positive customer feedback. David Hampstead, Chief Executive Officer of Samarkand Group, commented: “I am proud of the adaptability the Group has shown in the midst of an unpredictable trading environment in China. The growth of Napiers in this market is testament to our expert team and we are delighted to have received recognition of our recent livestreaming initiative at the eCommerce awards.” Read more…

Equipmake announced its selection by Perkins Engines Company Ltd ("Perkins"), to leverage its e-powertrain technology and experience on a new off-highway hybrid system demonstration project, and the award of £3.24m of associated government funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK ("APC"). Perkins is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc, the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Led by Perkins, the programme has been awarded £11 million in funding by the APC, with Equipmake receiving a total of £3.24 million. Read more…

SulNOx announced that Spring Marine Group will adopt SulNOx products in its fleet to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Spring Marine operates a fleet of Tankers and Bulk Carriers and is SulNOx's latest client in the globally important, and highly influential, Greek maritime sector. The initial order is for approximately US$45k. Ben Richardson of SulNOx added, "We are extremely impressed by the forward-thinking management and technical teams at Spring. They instantly understood our unique, green chemistry and how the adoption of the SulNOx products will reduce fuel costs along with the CO2 reductions demanded by the imminent Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) regulatory requirements. Also, looking beyond existing regulation, how SulNOx's huge impact in reducing particulate matter, (black carbon emissions - acknowledged as being 3,200 times more potent in their contribution to climate change than CO2) is a key indicator of improved combustion and therein reduced fuel consumption demonstrated on other vessels. We look forward to working with the Spring Team." Read more…

The company also announced that Nistadgruppen AS, an existing substantial shareholder, has agreed to subscribe for 3,111,111 new ordinary shares of 2 pence each at a price of 22.5 pence per Ordinary Share (representing a discount of 7.4% to the average closing price of the Ordinary Shares for the last 5 trading days of 24.3p) to raise a total of £700,000. It is expected that the funds raised under the Subscription will be utilised for general working capital purposes. Read more…

Capital for Colleagues announced an update in respect of its investee company, Bright Ascension Limited (Bright Ascension' or BAL'). The Company has successfully led a funding round of £1.5 million for BAL. Capital for Colleagues is investing a further £750,000 in BAL, alongside Bill Ainscough, a non-executive Director of the Company, and TJ Morris Limited, a significant shareholder in C4C, both of whom are investing £375,000. The committed funds are initially being provided to BAL as loans, which will in due course be reclassified as loan notes convertible into ordinary shares in BAL. The loan notes will be convertible within the next three years, at a value dependent on the achievement of key milestones by BAL. Read more…

RentGuarantor provided a quarterly activities update for the three-month period ended 30 September 2023.

Highlights:

• Revenue and tenant contracts are up approximately 100% year-on-year, reflecting the growing demand for the RentGuarantor service.
• RentGuarantor signed a strategic contract with Let Insurance Services Ltd T/a The Lettings Hub ("The Lettings Hub") for the use of the RentGuarantor service. The Lettings Hub is a supplier of technology-driven products and services designed to make the lettings journey quicker and easier for all parties across the rental value chain.
• In Q3, the Company signed partnership agreements with a total of 16 letting agent entities or letting agent groups.
• During the Quarter, RentGuarantor implemented a new internal technology system from HubSpot. The company says the new system will allow for the more efficient management of company data.
• The RentGuarantor team attended eight industry conferences in the Quarter, speaking with industry leaders and increasing visibility for the RentGuarantor service.
• RentGuarantor appointed two new corporate brokers, Zeus Capital and Oberon Investments, during the Quarter.