Good morning all.
First off, a boring announcement from an interesting company. Falkland Islands Holdings (LON:FKL) announces a couple of share awards to directors under part of a remuneration scheme.
http://www.investegate.co.uk/falkland-islands-hlg--fkl-/rns/directors-dealings/201408110700077191O/
The company operates a broad range of services and industries on the Falkland Islands. According to the website: activities include retailing, property, insurance, hotels, shipping and fishing agency services..
Interesting because in many of these areas, Falkland Islands Holdings (LON:FKL) operates a near-monopoly. The possibility of commercial oil finds gives potential for further upside as this would lead to a substantial increase in activity on the islands. The company has been increasing/holding its dividend since 1999 (two holds in that period). A yield of 3.1% is forecast for this year.
Atlantis Resources (LON:ARL) has announced a milestone in its offshore tidal power project in Scotland 'Meygen'.
http://www.investegate.co.uk/atlantis-resources--arl-/rns/project-meygen-update/201408110700077189O/
The shares have lost a lot of value in the last month and this announcement feels designed to shore up confidence. There's not a lot wrong with that as management do have to represent shareholders and if that means getting reassurances out to the market then that is part of the job. However, this industry is quite immature and the economics of it can be fluid (grants, subsidies etc, are vulnerable to policy change) so it is the type of company that I tend to avoid.
Less so companies like specialist wealth management and employee benefits business Mattioli Woods (LON:MTW). This is one of AIM's most successful companies and announces an acquisition this morning.
acquired the pension administration business from UK Wealth Management Limited ("UKWM"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ashcourt Rowan plc ("Ashcourt Rowan"), for a total cash consideration of up to £355,000
The company announces that the acquisition will be immediately earnings enhancing. Onwards and upwards then.
Scientific Digital Imaging (LON:SDI) announced a loss for the year. Reported EPS at the company has veered from profits to losses over the last five years and with a market cap of £3.6m I'm wondering if shareholders are best served with Scientific Digital Imaging (LON:SDI) remaining an independent company with a stockmarket listing.
I'm uncertain…
