Ekf Diagnostics Share Discussion Threads

[faz] 06/1/2021 07:49

Is it not likely that a major holder selling would find a fund manager that wants to buy? This would avoid disturbing the main market and save money all round.

[wan] 06/1/2021 06:26

Thanks Rivaldo. It keeps us guessing but overall I still think Liontrust have mopped up substantially more than 1.2% of EKF, which is only the difference between the 4th and the 5th January. The RNS says the threshold was crossed 9th Dec and also shows previous holding as N/A (below 3%).

For interest, in the AR, as at 6 April 2020, neither Liontrust, nor Octopus featured in the list of interests of 3% or more (page 19) -

Comparing the two lists, Octopus and Liontrust have clearly been recent buyers.

Canaccord Genuity topped up a tad, but William Pippin 3.57% (founder/owner of Stanbio Labs, and when I last checked he was significantly into his retirement years) and Chelverton Asset Management 3.41% have both moved below 3% (or sold out). So, those last two look to have been a notable source of selling, and it will be interesting to see if the overhang has expired, or indeed if other funds adjust or increase their holdings, or indeed come onto the substantial shareholder register for the first time.

[rivaldo] 05/1/2021 22:52

Great to see Liontrust going above 5%.

To clarify, the EKF web site has Liontrust with 4.05%, or 18.41m shares, so they've now bought almost another 5.5m shares, i.e another 1.2% of EKF:

[diviincomesearch] 05/1/2021 22:35

Quite a big slug from liontrust there. Considering their typical position size in their micro cap fund it may be more of a feature in the smaller companies fund now which is £1bn plus fund.

[james188] 05/1/2021 17:30

This insti activity will have mopped up a number of sellers who were holding down the price. As a buyer, I would have preferred that all this happened somewhat later, but you cannot have everything. Aside from anything else, the value of the EKF holding in RENX has appreciated considerably today.

[wan] 05/1/2021 17:08

Petewy...From what I can see and from my understanding, it's substantially more than 1%.

I am sure we all appreciate that the shares have to come from somewhere though (weak holders/profit taking has been one source), and therefore we may be due more holdings updates, but ultimately we have two new funds on board which is very encouraging, and the recent price action is further encouraging.

[petewy] 05/1/2021 16:37

They upped their holding by 1%.

[scottishfield] 05/1/2021 16:25

Liontrust, excellent.

[srichardson8] 05/1/2021 16:13

Yea and from an excellent smaller FM

[wan] 05/1/2021 15:42

Talking of which, a late holding notification!

[wan] 05/1/2021 13:58

With Chris Mills effectively holding all but 30% of EKF, and given his recent comments ("not at these prices!"), I don't imagine a low-offer for EKF materialising, or being acceptable, anytime soon.

In fact, when you consider the pipeline of potential spinouts via the Mount Sinai partnership (in the background), not to mention EKF's track record to date in this regard (check Renalytix (RENX) news and share price action today), plus very strong dividend cover, and the fact that gaining exposure to healthcare has come very firmly up and onto many more investment agendas, there is a strong rationale for at least maintaining, or adding to an investment in EKF.

[btgman] 05/1/2021 12:07

No pressure at all from me news comes when it comes I am a LTH happy to keep adding at these levels. My only concern is a low priced bid

AIMHO
GLA
BTG

[james188] 05/1/2021 10:37

In its 9th November 2020 broker note, N+1 Singer said it they would update its forcecasts "at the scheduled FY20 trading update in late Dec/early Jan".

I am also pretty relaxed as to exactly when the TU comes out, but I agree that some investors are probably holding back until it appears. Good opportunity to add, in my view.

[wan] 05/1/2021 10:26

No pressure from me (nor no doubt from any institutions looking to add EKF) for a Trading Update. I am very content to see EKF consolidating, but advancing in good time and over the long term. EKF is looking very attractive to long term, patient investors.

[jacks13] 05/1/2021 10:18

There was a trading update on 29 January last year, so maybe we should expect similar at the end of this month.

[btgman] 05/1/2021 10:13

Market is massively undervaluing EKF at this time partly due to waiting for a trading update/year end results.

AIMHO
GLA
BTG

[wan] 05/1/2021 08:18

Aside from current PCR testing demand clearly sky rocketing, I am now switching my thoughts to the unfortunate consideration that Covid will become a permanent feature beyond gaining any degree of control over the pandemic (fingers firmly crossed that we can in fact achieve some form of control given the now increasing risk of further mutations!).

And adding into that thought that I believe EKF has also effectively entered the flu testing market, means that VTM, and in particular ITM (inactivating transport media, and not many can meet that criteria!) will provide meaningful revenues going forward for many years, and which will include diseases beyond Covid.

[davr0s] 04/1/2021 19:15

Yeah I sold my house this morning and managed to put all the proceeds in exactly at the low of the day. Fantastic

[jacks13] 04/1/2021 19:12

I did the same YASRUB. It looked like a buy order was being worked through today. A similar volume to 29 Dec when Octopus Investments were buying.

[yasrub] 04/1/2021 17:45

Surprised at weakness here I added during the day, I thought it was more likely to be moving forward in this environment.

[wan] 03/1/2021 05:19

21 great Welsh firms to watch in 2021

30th December 2020

From tech to manufacturing and cleaning to TV production Wales has firms with great growth potential

EKF Diagnostics is a gem in Wales' life sciences sector.

The diagnostics sector never been in better shape with its immediate testing capacity for diseases such as diabetes and other underlying conditions that can make people more susceptible to Covid-19.

2020 saw EKF, which is headquartered in Penarth but operates globally, producing and distributing Covid-19 testing collection kits, which will be ramped up further in early 2021 with new production facilities in the Vale of Glamorgan.

[9degrees] 01/1/2021 00:18

Happy New Year to wan and all !! Thanks for a great thread

[mg1982] 31/12/2020 12:00

We're up 8%+ and not a word from anyone esp the guy with the Tong.

He'll accuse us of ramping with our silence soon.

Big news in Jan to take us to to new heights IMHO

GLALTH

[hastings] 31/12/2020 07:57

Also pleased to see Octopus emerging with a notable stake, it should be interesting to see if they add further and are joined by others!

[wan] 31/12/2020 07:45

The Octopus Investment is indeed interesting, because the CEO mentioned during the recent meeting that (from memory) a number of high profile fund investors were showing increased interest in EKF.

One aspect that I have been maintaining as perhaps being under-appreciated, is the value creation from the Mount Sinai partnership, for which the pipeline 'extends' beyond the next value delivery opportunity, Trellis Health. Such Investment Fund interests suggests that EKF is indeed coming to the attention of a wider range of investment audience.