Update: Bentley funding key

The next few months are critical to the future of Xcite. $135m of bonds mature at the end of June 2016 and there is no visibility yet that they can be refinanced, or at what cost. At the same time, Xcite has done an excellent job of driving down costs for its Bentley development, both through cost deflation and optimisation of the project. With improving fiscal terms, the Bentley project is potentially more robust than ever before and is resilient across a wide range of commodity prices. However, with depressed equity and debt markets and cautious industry sentiment, securing development fundi...

Outlook: Critical year ahead

2015 is a critical year for Xcite and its shareholders. Having seen its Bentley development delayed, the company is taking an innovative approach, engaging early with major service contractors to put in place a development group that would get it through FID as well as reduce execution risk to both cost and schedule. With the consortium complete, we examine how potential terms could affect returns, concluding there is strong upside potential for all parties, Xcite and contractors alike, with an aligned development strategy. However, we caution that investors need to be patient, as a sequential...

Institutional Comment: Daily comment

AGBA - A transformational deal

On 18 April, AGBA announced a surprise deal to acquire 100% of Triller Corp, a global AI-driven social video platform, in an all-stock transaction. Triller is privately-owned but has been independently valued at US$3.2bn. AGBA’s management is using a US$4bn valuation for the combined entity, in which AGBA shareholders will own 20% and Triller shareholders 80%. Triller recorded FY23 revenues of US$45m on 450m user accounts and 2.2m creators but is loss-making. In FY23, AGBA reported revenues of US$54m and 400,000+ clients. The combined group expects synergies from expanding and marketing to Tri...

Biodexa Pharmaceuticals - In a period of transition

FY23 was a transitional year for Biodexa, following the restructuring announced in March 2023 into a therapeutic company from a drug delivery specialist, and the implementation of cost-saving initiatives in light of the macroeconomic environment. The pipeline expansion primarily de-risks the business, partially fulfilled with the acquisition of lyn kinase activator tolimidone, for type 1 diabetes (T1D), in late 2023. Management estimates gross cash of £5.97m at end-FY23 to provide a runway into Q424, past the planned Phase IIa trial initiation for tolimidone. The next catalyst will likely be t...

Norcros - Sale of Johnson Tiles UK agreed

Norcros’s disposal of Johnson Tiles is the latest strategic activity taken by management to better allocate capital to fit with priorities. Last year it closed its UK adhesives operation. Norcros has a compelling investment case, where its new product development initiatives, market positioning and self-help initiatives allow it to take market share in both the UK and South Africa. Its rating is low at 6.0x FY24e P/E, which is attractive, especially when compared to its yield of 5.4% on its well-covered dividend. We retain our estimates and value the shares at 246p, implying c 30% upside.