The Times: The pubs group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has posted better-than-expected full-year results but warned of the hit from government-led cost increases. Pre-tax profit rose by a larger-than-expected 10 per cent to £81.4 million in the 12 months to the end of July, up from £73.9 million and above city forecasts of £78 million. Revenue over the period rose 4.5 per cent to £2.13 billion, from £2.03 billion. Tim Martin, the company chairman, said: “The company currently anticipates a reasonable outcome for the financial year, although government-led cost increases in areas such as energy may have a bearing on the outcome.”
Comment: With or without his mullet, CEO Tim Wetherspoon, seems capable of overcoming the horrific headwinds in hospitality in general and great British pub, both of which are ongoing victims of the government’s war on the private sector and enterprise. He shows corporates can win, although it is clear that they will continue to be tax magnets for a failed welfare system.
Alliance News: Beauty Tech Group (TBTG) is to debut in London with a market value of GBP300 million, the company said, ahead of the start of conditional trading of its shares on Friday. The Cheshire, England-based seller of at-home beauty treatment technology, including laser devices and LED face masks through the brands Tria Laser, CurrentSkin and Ziip Beauty, will sit in the equity shares (commercial companies) category of the Main Market when conditional trade of its shares kicks off next week. It priced its initial public offering at 271 pence per share, equating to a GBP300 million market capitalisation, as its issued share capital will stand at 110.7 million on admission. The IPO price is the middle of a range of 251p and 291p earmarked in September.
Comment: Hallelujah, Praise The Lord! We have a new listing on the London market, and one at least in terms of market cap, is of some significance. Once again, it is a fail that those who are involved seem to make sure that most of us do not hear about the IPO until the day of first dealings In the meantime one must look into CurrentBody Skin, ZIIP Beauty and Tria Laser, which all sound really compelling if you are into that sort of thing.
Yesterday Amazing AI plc (AQSE: AAI) a global fintech group specialising in online consumer loans and AI finance-related services, announced that it has amended the terms of the Loan Agreement with Paul Mathieson, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, previously announced on 17 June 2025 . The Company also announces that, further to the announcement of 29 September 2025, it has decided to cancel the WRAP Retail Offer.
Comment: AAI is now in the comfortable position of now not needing any further cash after last month’s oversubscribed raise, whether WRAP or otherwise, in order to execute its strategy. The company has a £5m war chest to gain £500m of exposure in crypto. The company’s current £5m market cap is very modest as compared to the gear upside / hedged downside potential.
Pulsar Helium Inc. (PLSR), noted on October 2, 2025, 100,000 stock options, issued pursuant to the Company’s shareholder and TSX Venture Exchange approved Stock Option Plan, were exercised at an exercise price of CAD$0.45, and generated cash proceeds for the Company of CAD$45,000.
Comment: After its recent barnstorming discovery, we have seen shares of PLSR head higher. But one can expect them to double and triple, if the market cottons on to what has been achieved and the undoubted potential of the company. This should fly in the way that Guardian Metal (GMET) has.
KEFI Gold and Copper (KEFI), the gold and copper exploration and development company with projects in Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia, confirms that it has today issued 39,285,714 new ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each to: Tavira Financial Ltd, Alvar Financial Services Ltd and Jonathan Evans, following the exercise of broker warrants at an exercise price of 0.70 pence per share.
Comment: Shares of KEFI have rocketed in recent weeks, as the company achieves the long awaited inflection point, despite all the doubters, bed wetters and name calling. Indeed, this backdrop will ensure that shares of the company achieve even more than the current ambitious end of October price target of 1.75p.
Blencowe Resources (BRES) announced that it has issued 10,700,000 DFC Performance Shares as outlined in the prospectus dated 26 November 2024. The DFC Performance Options were granted in recognition of obtaining the DFC grant of up to $5m. The DFC Performance Options vested following the fifth drawdown of funds on 23 May 2025. Accordingly, the Company will now issue 10,700,000 Shares at par value of 0.5p.
Comment: Having the DFC on board should have meant that shares of BRES doubled and tripled from the first announcement, especially given the way that this has happened in analogous companies where US state funding has appeared. There is still plenty of time for this to happen.
ECR Minerals (ECR), the gold exploration and development company focused on Australia, is pleased to provide an update on its proposed acquisition of Licence ML 3665, which is a fully permitted alluvial gold project and operation located near Raglan in Queensland, Australia, the details of which were originally announced on 1 October 2025. “Completion of the acquisition of the Raglan Project will strengthen our portfolio at the right time and the right location. It will give us a fully equipped, production-ready asset at what we consider to be a very attractive entry price, while complementing our existing Blue Mountain and Lolworth projects in Queensland.”
Comment: Having met and talked to ECR Chairman Nick Tulloch a couple of weeks ago, I was struck by how much he is a cut above the average small cap CEO in terms of knowledge and determination to carry out a strategy. This should feed into both ECR and MendelL Helium (AQSE:MDH).
