Vault Ventures Plc (AQSE: VULT), a publicly traded technology development company focused on blockchain, AI and augmented reality, announce that it has successfully raised £555,000 through an over-subscribed equity placing (the Placing). This Placing supports the Company’s shift from a project by project approach to building a structured, scalable engine for early-stage value creation. The proceeds will strengthen working capital and enable the formal launch of the Vault Accelerator, which is expected to play a central role in generating recurring programme income and longer-term asset growth for shareholders. Brian Stockbridge, Chairman of VULT said “Vault’s treasury strength is underpinned by its holding of 818.85 ETH, currently valued at approximately £1.89 million, together with the Company’s available cash, which in aggregate exceeds the Company’s current market capitalisation.”
Comment: It is great to see Brian keeping himself busy at multiple successful small cap companies. Presumably, once the new fangled Vault Accelerator is up and running it will provide perpetual income for VULT shareholders and there will never need to be a placing again. That said, one wonders why the company did not just sell some of its ETH, rather than tapping the market, just before Christmas.
Hydrogen Utopia International (HUI), a pioneering company converting non-recyclable mixed waste plastic, tyres and hazardous waste materials into hydrogen, carbon-free fuels, new materials, announced that it has secured an exclusive licence from InEnTec Inc. (“InEnTec”) to deploy InEnTec’s proven PEM® Melter gasification technology across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Comment: The news of an exclusive licence from InEnTec now means that HUI has the keys to the kingdom as far as being the go to company for anyone in MENA looking to convert waste into hydrogen, a massive industrial market, and notably in a geography that has the cash and the desire to move forward with this technology.
Cadence Minerals (KDNC) announced an Amapá Project Update. KDNC said “The resolution of these historic municipal matters represents an important step in resetting the Project’s operating environment and removing long-standing administrative uncertainty inherited from prior ownership. While all regulatory decisions continue to follow Brazil’s established statutory processes, this settlement provides clarity and stability as we advance the next stage of Amapá’s staged redevelopment.”
Comment: Of course, most followers of KDNC did not necessarily know that we were waiting on a resolution, but it is good to know that it has happened and perhaps the September rally in the shares can resume.’
Conroy Gold and Natural Resources PLC (CGNR) provided further detail in respect to its exploration activities at Clontibret, which is the initial focus of the work programme to advance its “Discs of Gold” project as referenced recently in the Chairman’s statement for the 2025 Annual Report. The Company confirms that drilling has commenced at Clontibret on the c.2,000 metre initial programme.
Comment: Presumably, with gold over $4,000 an ounce, even a drilling programme underneath your local H Samuel would be worth a shot. As far as CGNR is concerned, perhaps the added sizzle is the antimony angle.
CleanTech Lithium PLC (CTL), an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, announce the indigenous consultations for the Special Lithium Operating Contract (“CEOL”) in the Laguna Verde salar have officially concluded. Forming part of the CEOL process, it is now expected that the Ministry of Mining will open a new streamlined process for applications from private companies in the near future.
Comment: One has got to love the indigenous peoples with regard to mining licenses. In fact, one really does have to love them, or one does not get a license. In fact, one of the few places in the world where no one cares about indigenous peoples re mining is the UK. Hopefully, now shares of CTL can finally deliver the kind of rebound / recovery that Laguna Verde deserves.
Connecting Excellence Group Plc (AQSE: XCE), the international executive recruitment group with a long term, ambitious and disciplined Bitcoin treasury strategy, announces that on 12 December 2025 the Company purchased 8.126824130 Bitcoin at a total value of £560,000.00.
Comment: Market newbie XCE is busy buying BTC for treasury, something which in the good old days of early summer 2025 would have had the share price soaring. But at least near $90,000, the buy and hope of buying crypto is 20-30% lower than many of its peers entered a few months ago.
Chariot Limited (CHAR), the Africa focused energy group, announced its involvement in two large wind generation projects, the Zen (100MW) and Bergriver (94MW) wind farms in South Africa, which have a combined export capacity of 190MW and have now reached financial close. These Projects are co-owned by Acciona Energia, the largest pure play renewable energy company in the world and lead sponsor which holds 51%, H1 Holdings (Pty) Limited with 25%, and 24% held by Chariot Generation and Trading Pty Limited, Chariot’s newly incorporated business together with its strategic equity partner, Mahlako A Phahla Financial Services.
Comment: If nothing else we have a great validation for CHAR in the sense of the Acciona connection, a company which is a giant in the space. Ideally, this realisation should filter through to the rating of CHAR, whose shares remain down 20% on 2025.
GreenRoc Strategic Materials Plc (GROC), a company focused on the development of critical mineral projects in Greenland, announced that its wholly owned Danish subsidiary GreenRoc DK a/s, together with its consortium partners, has been granted a sum of up to DKK 10,448,826 (ca £1.2m) for its proposed project entitled “EU-Graphite: Building European production of graphite active anode material” (“EU-Graphite”) from the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (“EUDP”), a Danish government funding programme.
Comment: It was always going to be interesting to see how GROC would fund itself, given the hefty development programme on its plate. The whole turnaround as far as critical minerals in 2025 means that non-dilutive funding is one of the main drivers of GROC’s funding needs.
Technologies New Energy plc (TNE), the energy transition company focused on developing clean energy projects to drive industrial decarbonisation, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Data District to support the development of next-generation AI-ready data centres in Alberta, Canada. Data District, a division of Swiss asset management firm Alcral AG, is working with local partners to deliver major development projects across Alberta’s industrial clusters. The region is a major processing hub for energy, fuels, fertilisers, and petrochemicals, benefiting from low-cost feedstocks, extensive infrastructure, and significant investment.
Comment: TNE reminds us that data centres are the new rock and roll, although given the massive pace of technological advancements, it remains to be seen how long this particular gold rush continues to be a winner.
Physiomics plc (PYC), a leading mathematical modelling, data science and biostatistics company supporting the development of new therapeutics and personalised medicine solutions, announce a follow on contract with an existing UK based-client.
Comment: One did not need to read beyond the headline of the RNS to guess that PYC is announcing another mini six figure contract. It is. But hopefully, one day after all the baby steps it will be a grown up play.
