Thursday 1 November 2018

Jam delivered and currently stuck in a jam!

There were very few RNS announcements in October from companies that I'm interested in, but November has started with a terrific trading update from Biome Technologies:-

https://londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/BIOM/13850420.html

This was a Q3 update to 30 September. It reads very well indeed.

Firstly, overall revenues are £7m for the first 9 months of 2018 which is a 56% improvement on last year. Significantly, this 9 month revenue figure is already well ahead of the full year figure from 2017 which came in at £6.2m.

As mentioned in my previous blog post, it's the RF division that's outperforming at the moment with £5.5m of the £7m revenues generated coming from the exceptional demand for fibre optic furnaces in 2018. The remainder of 2018 also looks strong for this division, and the outlook for 2019 sounds optimistic with orders "reasonably strong" at this stage.

The Bioplastics division is the laggard at this juncture, but I believe that this division has huge potential given the publicity regarding the environmental damage being caused by conventional plastics. 

Whilst the revenues generated in 2018 by the bioplastics division are marginally down on last year at £1.5m (1.7m in 2017), 2019 could see a significant uplift in revenues. Most of the revenues from this division are currently "for the commercialised outer packaging and non-woven filter mesh for the US coffee pod market." It's worth noting that "a contract for the supply of material for the rigid ring material in this coffee market sector has been signed recently and commercial revenues are expected to commence in Q1 2019 following the completion of final validations."

Even more significantly, there are two projects underway, one in the US and one in Europe, that could lead to substantial revenues in 2019 and 2020 with "further new customer relationships (are)underway within this division which should lead to exciting projects emerging in 2019."

I'm still very excited by the prospects here, and it's a long term hold for me. The shares rose sharply this morning, but they are extremely illiquid and have since fallen back a little from profit taking (the shares are up around 4% as I write). 

At the opposite end of the scale, 7digital's share price has been falling sharply in recent weeks. There is or has been a relatively large seller in the market recently which explains some of the decline:-

https://londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/7DIG/13826986.html

A major issue is that many investors are probably sitting on their hands waiting for some positive news from the company. Whilst they work towards cashflow and profitability, they have burnt through cash very quickly and recently needed an additional £1.5m loan from three shareholders for working capital as the company completes it's restructuring.

https://londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/7DIG/13843278.html

Promises of cashflow positivity and profitability accompanied by one or two large client contracts is needed from 7digital. So far it's been too many promises without the delivery, and we need under-promising and over delivering from now on.

I remain hopeful that 7digital can achieve their goals, and of course if they do then the share price will recover and move sharply higher. Ever hopeful, but it's never comfortable until you see the evidence of success rather than just jam tomorrow.

One thing that's worth noting is that Biome Technologies was very much a "jam tomorrow" company and many investors will have left the party never to return. That's a pity because it looks like the party may well be just starting? Biome's jam is being delivered now, let's hope 7digital does exactly the same. At the moment 7digital appears stuck in a jam.

Finally and very briefly, PCF have today announced the completion of an earnings enhancing acquisition following an encouraging trading update in late October. I hold.

As ever DYOR, no advice offered or given.




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