Marlowe PLC in demand as profits set to beat expectations

11.30am: Marlowe targets doubled revenues in three years

Marlowe PLC (LON.MRL) is in demand after an upbeat trading statement and presentation to investors.

The compliance and safety software specialist said that despite the current lockdown restrictions, trading remained strong in the second half and it expected full year results to be at the top end of City expectations.

Looking further ahead, it said set a target of £500mln of revenues and £100mln of earnings over the next three years, with growth coming both organically and from acquisitions. Currently revenue is running at £245mln and earnings at £37mln. The company’s shares have added 21p or 3.3% to 657p.

Elsewhere Kanabo Group PLC (LON.KNB), an Israeli company that makes vaporisation and inhalation technology for cannabis, has hit new highs on its second day as a UK public company.

After nearly tripling on its debut on Tuesday the shares, placed at 6.5p each have jumped another 51.89% or 9.6p to 28.1p.

10.25am: Transense into the black

Transense Technologies PLC (LON.TRT), which develops specialist wireless sensor systems, is on the move after turning a half year loss into a profit.

The company has climbed 18.35% or 10p to 64.5p as it unveiled a threefold jump in revenues to £0.9mln and earnings of £0.06mln compared to a loss of £0.39m.  It recently licensed iTrack, its tyre pressure monitoring system, to Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tyre producer, under a ten-year deal and also has an agreement with for use of its Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensor technology. 

Executive chairman Nigel Rogers, said the prospects for the company were more favourable than at any time in its history He said: “These results reflect the transformational change in the business since the transactions completed last June, moving iTrack from an operational business into a licence model…We have every confidence that iTrack will continue to achieve increased market penetration, and deliver royalty income at or above our current expectations.

“The commercial prospects for our SAW technology have been revitalised after strengthening the management team…Whilst it may take some time to determine the true value potential of this technology, we are encouraged by the early progress that is being made.  In addition, the Translogik range of tyre probes continues to gain traction and is showing further potential for healthy revenue growth.”

8.45am: Bus contract lifts security group

Synectics PLC (LON.SNX), the security and surveillance specialist, has seen its shares accelerate after it unveiled a deal with the National Transport Authority in the Irish Republic.

The £1.4mln contract involves the company fitting on-board safety and surveillance systems for new plug-in hybrid double-decker buses made by UK manufacturer Alexander Dennis. The vehicles will be operated by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. The company already has an existing bus contract with the NTA worth £1mln and announced last July.

Paul Webb, chief executive, said: “”We are delighted to be working once again with the NTA to support their transition to next-generation, low emission vehicles – a trend we hope to see reflected as part of the UK’s National Bus Strategy development.”

The news comes a week after announced a letter of intent for a multi-million pound contract for a control system to be installed in London later this year.

Analyst Robert Sanders of house broker Shore Capital said: “We believe that an important inflection point was reached for the group when the S-Bahn contract commenced in Germany last month. In our view, Berlin will now act as an important reference client for other major metropolitan areas considering an integrated transport management solution…

“Given its long-term relationship with Stagecoach, we would also expect to see an uplift in the UK bus market as and when new hybrid vehicles are more widely rolled out…We continue to…