Public Company News

After encouraging results from early exploration, Auroch Minerals have exercised their option on highly prospective Lithium ground in Namibia and will hit the ground running later this month. Early grab samples have returned up to 2.73% Lithium Oxide, a result that would have most Australian explorers sitting up and paying attention. 

Lithium Australia have slammed as ‘false” and “misleading,’ statements about their Sileach Lithium processing technology by takeover target Lepidico. Just weeks after winning a bruising settlement against Lepidico, Lithium Australia have brought back the lawyers. They are seeking to debunk Lepdico’s purported claims that Sileach uses harmful hydrofluoric acid.

Sky and Space Global continues to forge ahead with its narrow-band communications network based on nano-satellites with the Perth company signing an MOU with a leading South American telco. The parties will undertake a joint demonstration of Sky and Space’s first three miniature satellites after they have been launched into space in the second quarter of this year. 

ASX-listed Stargroup is set to share in robust half-year profits at part owned private South Korean ATM machine manufacturer NeolCP. Perth-based Stargroup has an 11 per cent stake in NeolCP, who posted a net profit after tax of AUD$853,705 for the half year ended 31 December 2016. The NeoICP results come on the back of Stargroup themselves posting a record half year. 

It’s all shoulders to the wheel now for Perth based tech play Peppermint Innovation after the Central Bank of the Philippines green-lighted their innovative mobile bill payment and money remittance APP. The company has been sweating on the notoriously hard to get central bank approval to commence a trial of their fully developed technology with their in-country partner.

Wireless technology company Connected IO has produced another imaginative “internet of things” product that looks certain to be a hit. The company has just released its latest wearable body camera for the police and security sectors and they are looking to target markets like the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Dubai and Australia for the cutting-edge device.

Lithium Australia signaled they were serious all along about their takeover bid for Lepidico after launching their bidders statement for the company last week despite settling their IP dispute with them. Lithium Australia say their $21m bid will help both companies capture a once-in-a-cycle opportunity in the booming global Lithium market. 

Auroch Minerals now have $8.3m in liquid assets after the UK-based buyer of their Manica gold project in Mozambique came up with more cash and shares as part of last month’s settlement agreement. Auroch will soon be owed only $US1.2m from last year’s $US12m sale and will have enough financial horsepower to fund an exciting Lithium exploration program in Namibia.

ASX listed PharmAust has named Dr Richard Hopkins as the company’s new chief executive. Hopkins was previously running Perth biotech company Phylogica Limited and will start as PharmAust CEO on March 7. 

You know the auto pilot is starting to kick in when you reduce your marketing spend by over $3m and your revenue jumps by $2m anyway. Such was the case in the December half year for ASX listed online screening and verification company CVCheck. Revenues for the half year jumped from $2.9m to $4.9m and costs appear to be well and truly under control. 

Investors rarely get interested in metallurgical flowsheets, but they should make an exception by taking a closer look at some exciting news out of Pilbara Minerals recently. The developer of the Pilgangoora Lithium project told the market that pilot plant trials had exceeded expectations by up to 23% which should look good when translated to the bottom line. 

Financial technology and ATM machine company Stargroup has posted strong growth in its half-year result, delivering the company's best-ever revenue of more than $4 million for the half year. The company says the impressive result was driven by record revenues from its ATM network and they are expecting even better results next quarter after some cost savings kick in.