(Corrects the weekday of Brand Architekts' latest closing price, before agreement of Warpaint's offer.)
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers on AIM on Thursday.
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AIM - WINNERS
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Brand Architekts Group PLC, up 92% at 46 pence, 12-month range 20.5p-46p. Announces, with Buckinghamshire-based cosmetics supplier Warpaint London PLC, that both firms have agreed to a 48p per share cash takeover offer by Warpaint for London-based Brand Architekts. The deal values Brand Architekts, a beauty sector challenger brand business, at around GBP13.9 million. Offer represents a 100% premium to Brand Architekts' closing price on Wednesday of 24p per share, and a 95.78% premium to its average price of 24.52p for the 12 months ended Wednesday. Shareholders can elect to receive 0.0916 new Warpaint shares for each of their Brand Architekts shares, instead of the cash payment. Warpaint says: "Having followed Brand Architekts for some time, as another company admitted to trading on AIM operating in a similar sector, the Warpaint Board believes that the Acquisition at this time is an exciting and relatively low risk opportunity to further bolster Warpaint's growth opportunities." Warpaint shares were up 2.1% at 535.00p on Thursday morning.
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Quadrise PLC, up 21% at 4.155 pence, 12-month range 1.235p-4.155p. The London-based energy technology company, and supplier of MSAR emulsion technology fuel, confirms "positive engine testing results" for new prototypes of its bioMSAR fuel. Says the results confirmed that its emulsion technology platform "can be used to produce viable non-fossil and low-fossil fuels which lower emissions, improve engine efficiency and reduce fuel costs". Quadrise is planning further testing of bioMSAR prototypes and biofuel blendstocks as it "accelerates progress towards a commercial bioMSAR Zero, which we aim to provide to our clients well in advance of our original 2030 target". Chief Executive Officer Jason Miles comments: "These hugely encouraging results demonstrate the capability of the Quadrise team and the adaptability of our unique proprietary oil-in-water emulsion chemistry, squarely positioning the company to address the ongoing decarbonisation of the marine sector."
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AIM - LOSERS
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Ebiquity PLC, down 22% at 17.5p, 12-month range 17.5p-44p. The London-based media and marketing consultancy says the second half of 2024 has been stronger than the first, with mid-single digit revenue growth expected. Adds however that "the very final months of the financial year are not meeting those high expectations in all respects". For the full year Ebiquity expects a low-single digit revenue decline compared with 2023, due to "challenging trading conditions in some regions and from some operational constraints as the volume of business in recent months has become more concentrated". Says it has realised "some tactical cost savings to mitigate the revenue shortfall", so adjusted earnings before interest and tax for the second half should be more than double those of the first. Adds: "Stronger seasonal cash collections will continue through Q1 2025 and the Group has ample liquidity and headroom against its banking covenants."
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By Emma Curzon, Alliance News reporter
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