TRADING UPDATES: Secure Trust starts buyback; Smiths News contract win
The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Genedrive PLC - Manchester, England-based point-of-care pharmacogenetic testing company - Announces a collaboration agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. This enables Genedrive to develop a CYP2C19 pharmacogenetic in vitro diagnostic test for deployment on Thermo Fisher's QuantStudio 5 Dx real-time PCR laboratory platform. The Genedrive CYP2C19 HT kit is designed for centralised, high-throughput laboratory testing, addressing a different market segment from the CYP2C19 ID kit, which targets near-patient settings. The CYP2C19 HT kit is on track for UKCA certification around the end of the 2026 calendar year, initially targeting the UK NHS genomic laboratory market. "This collaboration expands our CYP2C19 offering into the high-throughput laboratory diagnostics market, complementing our established point-of-care solution," says Chief Executive Gino Miele.
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Gunsynd PLC - investor in the natural resource sector - Provides an update on the Barb gold project in Canada. Earlier this month, Gunsynd engaged Critical Discoveries to complete the phase 1 Summer field programme targeting the Lotus and Betty Shaft areas, comprising grab sampling and mineralisation characterisation. Gunsynd says 59 samples were collected across the two with grades ranging from 0.008 to 489 grams per tonne. Gold-bearing mineralisation was observed at both locations with 35 samples assaying above 1 g/t, 23 above 5 g/t and 3 above 100 g/t gold. Executive Director Hamish Harris says: "Our interpretation has consistently been that gold mineralisation at Barb is associated with the Wanipigow Shear Zone, as outlined in our February 2026 disclosure. Today's results are consistent with that geological model and further support our understanding of the property's structural controls. We look forward to integrating these results into our ongoing exploration program."
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Fulcrum Metals PLC - mineral explorer in Canada - Enters into a non-binding USD20 million royalty financing term sheet and signs a £200,000 equity subscription with Chancery Royalty Ltd, in relation to the Teck-Hughes tailings project in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The deal includes a potential framework for future royalty opportunities beyond the Teck-Hughes project. The proposed royalty will not affect Fulcrum's ownership or operational control of Teck-Hughes. "Fulcrum would retain 100% ownership of the underlying mineral rights, processing operations, project infrastructure and development activities, with the royalty representing a proposed financing interest in future gold production from the Teck-Hughes project only," it says. Chief Executive Ryan Mee says: "We see Chancery as an ambitious and growth-oriented royalty company and welcome them as a shareholder and a potential long-term funding partner. The proposed royalty financing provides a framework to advance Teck-Hughes from pilot-scale validation towards commercial production. Importantly it also represents third-party validation of both our technology-led strategy and the long-term value we see across our mine waste recovery platform."
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Smiths News PLC - Swindon, England-based newspaper wholesaler - Secures a new long-term contract with publisher of Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and i Paper, Associated Newspapers Ltd. The deal is on "enhanced commercial terms" for Smiths News, expands distribution territories, and is an extension of the contract term through to July 2037. Smiths News says the contract represents an incremental uplift in revenue from the expanded territories of £105 million per annum from January 2028. "Today's announcement continues to reinforce our position as a trusted partner for our industry and further secures a sustainable future for print news distribution, reflecting our shared commitment to supporting the industry over the long term," says Chief Executive Jonathan Bunting.
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Creo Medical Group PLC - Chepstow, Wales-based medical device company - Ahead of Tuesday's annual general meeting, says that growth momentum in FY25 has continued into FY26 with strong trading performance in the first three months of the current financial year. Year-on-year revenue growth was around 60%, at the higher end of management's expectations, reflecting "continued customer adoption, growing procedural volumes and further conversion of the group's commercial pipeline into revenue." This "strong performance" underpins confidence, and Creo believes that FY26 revenue growth will be between 50% and 60% compared to FY25, compared to previous guidance of 40% to 60%. "Creo enters the remainder of 2026 with strong commercial momentum, strengthened foundations and a more focused operating model," says Non-Executive Chair Kevin Crofton.
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Arcontech Group PLC - London-based provider of real-time financial market data and services - Secures a new 3-year contract with a "major" European bank for its CityVision real-time market data platform worth £800,000. The contract is with a new customer and has "strong expansion potential", with revenue recognition expected to commence in calendar Q3. Arcontech also says that current performance for the financial year ended June 30 for both revenue and profit is in line with market expectations.
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Portmeirion Group PLC - Stoke-on-Trent, England-based ceramics maker and retailer of homeware brands - Confirms that the agreement for the company's new 5-year £36 million asset-based lending facility has now completed and is at a lower blended coupon than the prior facility.
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Secure Trust Bank PLC - Launches an initial £5 million tranche of a £10 million share buyback programme to be delivered over the next twelve months. Shore Capital Stockbrokers Ltd will manage the buyback.
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