Broker Upgrades and Downgrades & Key UK Corporate Snapshots 16 October 2015

UK Broker Upgrades / Downgrades

 

 

Code Company Broker Recomm. From Recomm. To Price From Price To
Upgrades
HLMA Halma Plc Jefferies International Buy Buy 865 875
Downgrades
ABF Associated British Foods Plc Societe Generale Buy Hold 3300
ASHM Ashmore Group Plc Jefferies International Buy Buy 348 331
ASHM Ashmore Group Plc JP Morgan Cazenove Underweight Underweight 240 230
ASHM Ashmore Group Plc Barclays Capital Underweight Underweight 240 230
BRBY Burberry Group Plc Jefferies International Hold Hold 1500 1390
BRBY Burberry Group Plc Credit Suisse Underperform Underperform 1600 1250
BRBY Burberry Group Plc Goldman Sachs Conviction Buy Conviction Buy 2070 1900
BRBY Burberry Group Plc Deutsche Bank Hold Hold 1530 1450
BRBY Burberry Group Plc Barclays Capital Equal weight Equal weight 1675 1425
GKN GKN Plc Berenberg Buy Buy 415 370
IAP ICAP Plc Barclays Capital Overweight Equal weight 600 500
IHG InterContinental Hotels Group Plc Jefferies International Hold Hold 2400 2150
MLC Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Plc Jefferies International Hold Hold 570 525
SDR Schroders Plc Barclays Capital Overweight Overweight 3785 3450
VOD Vodafone Group Plc Nomura Buy Buy 275 245
WTB Whitbread Plc Jefferies International Hold Hold 4700 4300
Initiate/Neutral/Unchanged
ABF Associated British Foods Plc Jefferies International Hold Hold 3010 3010
ABF Associated British Foods Plc JP Morgan Cazenove Overweight Overweight 3400 3400
BOK Booker Group Plc JP Morgan Cazenove Overweight Overweight 200 200
BT.A BT Group Plc Nomura Neutral Neutral 490 490
CNE Cairn Energy Plc Jefferies International Buy Buy 175 175
DGE Diageo Plc HSBC Hold 1830
EMG Man Group Plc JP Morgan Cazenove Neutral Neutral 175 175
EZH easyHotel Plc Liberum Capital Buy
FOGL Falkland Oil & Gas Ltd Jefferies International Underperform Underperform 8 8
OPHR Ophir Energy Plc Jefferies International Hold Hold 95 95
OXIG Oxford Instruments Plc Jefferies International Underperform Underperform 535 535
PMO Premier Oil Plc Jefferies International Buy Buy 116 116
RIO Rio Tinto Plc Barclays Capital Equal weight Equal weight 2850 2850
SMWH WH Smith Plc JP Morgan Cazenove Overweight Overweight 1700 1700
TALK TalkTalk Telecom Group Plc Nomura Reduce Reduce 220 220
TLW Tullow Oil Plc Jefferies International Hold Hold 191 191
UDG UDG Healthcare Plc Berenberg Hold Hold 515 515
ULVR Unilever Plc JP Morgan Cazenove Underweight Underweight 2500 2500
ULVR Unilever Plc Deutsche Bank Buy Buy 3250 3250
VM. Virgin Money Holdings UK Plc Barclays Capital Overweight Overweight 450 450

 

US Broker Upgrades / Downgrades

 

 

Code Company Broker Recomm. From Recomm. To Price From Price To
Upgrades
ARZGF Assicurazioni Generali Natixis Bleichroeder Neutral Buy
BOFI BofI Holding DA Davidson Neutral Buy $143 $143
BOFI BofI Holding Sandler O’Neill Hold Buy
BAM Brookfield Asset Management CIBC Sector Perform Sector Outperform
DXCM DexCom Sterne Agee CRT Neutral Buy
DXCM DexCom Leerink Partners Market Perform Outperform
FB Facebook Argus Hold Buy $115 $115
F Ford Motor Buckingham Research Neutral Buy $18 $18
SNY Sanofi Morgan Stanley Equal weight Overweight
SMP Standard Motor Products BB&T Capital Markets Hold Buy $41 $41
UBSFY UBISOFT Entertainment Bryan Garnier Neutral Buy
Downgrades
AWK American Water Works Ladenburg Thalmann Buy Neutral
BURBY Burberry Group BofA Merrill Lynch Buy Neutral
CRRFY Carrefour SA Morgan Stanley Overweight Equal weight
DORM Dorman Products BB&T Capital Markets Buy Hold
DNKN Dunkin Brands Group Argus Buy Hold
ETN Eaton Robert W. Baird Outperform Neutral $74 $59
EMC EMC Deutsche Bank Buy Hold $30 $30
GRMN Garmin Dougherty & Company Buy Neutral
GPC Genuine Parts BB&T Capital Markets Buy Hold
IMPR Imprivata JP Morgan Overweight Neutral
ITUB Itau Unibanco Holding SA Citigroup Buy Neutral
KLKNF Kloeckner Exane BNP Paribas Neutral Underperform
KOP Koppers Holdings First Analysis Sec Overweight Equal weight
LPI Laredo Petroleum KLR Group Hold Reduce $10 $10
MTW Manitowoc Robert W. Baird Outperform Neutral $22 $15
MTW Manitowoc Stifel Buy Hold
MTDR Matador Resources KLR Group Hold Reduce $22 $22
RXN Rexnord Oppenheimer Outperform Perform
SN Sanchez Energy KLR Group Buy Accumulate
SMGZY Smiths Group Exane BNP Paribas Neutral Underperform
SLH Solera Holdings Raymond James Outperform Underperform
WMT Wal-Mart Stores Credit Suisse Outperform Neutral $85 $62
WMT Wal-Mart Stores BofA Merrill Lynch Buy Neutral $65 $65
Initiated
WUBA 58.com Credit Agricole Sell $48
ATNM Actinum Pharmaceuticals FBR Capital Outperform $12
ALE ALLETE Wells Fargo Market Perform
AEP American Electric Power Citigroup Neutral $61
CEVA CEVA Ladenburg Thalmann Neutral $22
CGEN Compugen FBR Capital Outperform $14
EPM Evolution Petroleum Sidoti Buy $9
FELE Franklin Electric Boenning & Scattergood Neutral
HZN Horizon Global ROTH Capital Buy $12
MCS Marcus Gabelli & Co Buy $30
NMM Navios Maritime Partners JP Morgan Underweight
PNR Pentair Morgan Stanley Equal weight $65
PSDV pSivida FBR Capital Outperform $6
ST Sensata Technologies Holding JP Morgan Overweight $62

 

Key UK Corporate Snapshots Today

7digital Group Plc (7DIG.L) Announced that it has been chosen as a supplier to Electric Jukebox Company and its unique plug and play music streaming experience for the home, which was launched this week at BAFTA in London. The company is licensing its platform for the Electric Jukebox product in both the UK and US; the agreement will provide access to technology, infrastructure and music catalogue. The company will also curate playlists with expertise from the company’s content production division.

Aggreko Plc (AGK.L) Announced that Debajit Das stepped down from his position as an Executive Director of the company on 15 October 2015.

Allergy Therapeutics Plc (AGY.L) Announced, in its final results for the year ended 30 June 2015, that its reported revenue stood at £43.23 million, compared to £41.96 million in the preceding year. Profit after tax was £0.11 million compared to £0.74 million. The company’s diluted earnings per share was 0.02p, compared to 0.16p.

AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L) Announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has issued a Complete Response Letter regarding the New Drug Application for the investigational fixed-dose combination of saxagliptin and dapagliflozin for the treatment of adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

Atlantis Resources Limited (ARL.L) Announced that the European Commission’s Climate Change Committee has approved the transfer of €17 million of funding from the Kyle Rhea project to the company’s MeyGen project, the world’s largest planned tidal stream energy project. The funding is for MeyGen Phase 1B and will accelerate the development of the MeyGen project, with this second phase targeted to reach financial close and commence construction during 2016. The first tranche of €10 million will be made available on 1 April 2016. The maximum funding available is €16,777,548. The funding comes from the NER 300 programme which supports innovative renewable energy technologies.

British American Tobacco Plc (BATS.L) Announced that its Brazilian subsidiary, British American Tobacco Prestação de Serviços Ltda. (BAT Serviços), has successfully concluded the auction (the Auction) related to its public tender offer to acquire up to all of the 24.7% of Souza Cruz S.A. (Souza Cruz) shares which are not currently owned by BAT and to delist the company. As a result of the Auction, BAT Serviços will acquire 342,956,819 shares at a price of R$27.20 per share (the Offer Price), representing 22.4% of Souza Cruz. BAT’s total ownership of Souza Cruz will therefore increase to 97.7% of Souza Cruz. At the Offer Price, the value of the 24.7% free float is circa £1.7 billion.

Connemara Mining Company Plc (CON.L) Announced that Teck Ireland Ltd, its joint venture partner on the Oldcastle block of licences in the Irish midlands, will drill two deep holes in the Drumlerry area. It will take 5 to 6 weeks to drill each deep hole while the drilling is expected to commence in October.

Dunelm Group Plc (DNLM.L) Announced that it has posted to shareholders its annual report and financial statements for the year ended 4 July 2015 (‘Annual Report and Financial Statements’) along with the Notice of Annual General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting to which the notice relates is to be held at Fuller’s The Parcel Yard, King’s Cross Station, London N1C 4AH at 9.30am on Tuesday 24 November 2015. Additionally, it also announced that a conditional award under the company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) has been granted on 15 October 2015 over ordinary shares of one pence each in Dunelm Group Plc, in the form of a nil cost option, to David Stead, Chief Financial Officer. The maximum award under the LTIP is 150% of basic salary. The award is subject to the satisfaction of a performance condition over the three financial years commencing on 5 July 2015. Shares earned, following application of the performance condition, would be subject to a two year deferral.

Evraz Plc (EVR.L) Announced, in its operational results for 3Q15, that its consolidated crude steel output reached 3.5 million tonnes, improving 3.0% quarterly on the back of completed repair works at Russian steel mills and production of steel products, net of re-rolled volumes, was largely unchanged. The share of finished steel products within consolidated volumes grew to 69% in 3Q15 from 65% in 2Q15 due to seasonal pickup in demand for construction products in Russia and improved demand for linepipe in North America. Consolidated raw coking coal output and production of coking coal concentrate increased by 36% and 17%, respectively, due to resumption of full-scale mining at Yuzhkuzbassugol and Raspadskaya on the back of improving domestic demand in Russia.

Falkland Oil and Gas Limited (FOGL.L) Announced, in its operations update, that the 53/02-01 Humpback exploration well has been drilled to 4,718 metres. Oil and gas shows recorded whilst drilling through main target horizon. Moreover, the intermediate wireline logs indicate the possible presence of hydrocarbon bearing sandstones within main target horizon. Additionally, well is now being deepened to evaluate additional targets. The company carried through this phase of drilling by Noble Energy in return for assigning a 32.5% interest in the deeper targets to Noble Energy.

Latham(James) Plc (LTHM.L) Announced the appointment of Fabian French as a Non-Executive Director of the company with effect from 16 October 2015.

London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LSE.L) Announced that it has launched CurveGlobal, a new interest rate derivatives venture with a number of major dealer banks: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Citi, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Société Générale, together with the Chicago Board Options Exchange. The investors and the company have signed definitive terms in respect of the venture and additional shareholders are expected to join in the coming months.

Motif Bio Plc (MTFB.L) Announced the signing of a clinical trials agreement with Covance, a leading global Contract Research Organisation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Laboratory Corporation of AmericaR Holdings. The trials under the agreement are for iclaprim, a targeted spectrum antibiotic designed to be effective against multi-drug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA. Covance will run two Phase III randomised, double blind, multicentre clinical trials with iclaprim. In addition to Covance’s considerable experience running antibiotic trials, a key consideration for the company in selecting Covance as its development partner, was the ability to leverage LabCorp’s powerful patient data for these trials.

Provident Financial Plc (PFG.L) Announced, in its interim management statement, that the group has performed well through the third quarter of the year. Vanquis Bank continues to outperform whilst the Consumer Credit Division and Moneybarn are performing in line with internal plans.

Rio Tinto Plc (RIO.L) Announced, in its third quarter production results, that the key elements of the Pilbara infrastructure expansion are now complete, with the ramp-up of iron ore mined capacity continuing to generate maximum value from the integrated system. Global iron ore production increased compared to last year through productivity gains and the ramp-up of operations, with shipments on track to meet full year guidance. Meanwhile, third quarter production of iron ore was 12% higher than the same quarter of 2014 and was 8% above the second quarter of 2015. Sustained strong performance in bauxite with third party shipments reaching close to 20 million tonnes to date this year following record production at Weipa, while Mined copper on schedule to meet full year guidance, with Oyu Tolgoi benefiting from higher grades and Kennecott continuing its focus on the east wall de-weighting and de-watering. The group further refined its portfolio with the agreed sale on 30 September 2015 of its interest in the Bengalla thermal coal Joint Venture for $606 million.

RIT Capital Partners Plc (RCP.L) Announced that it has appointed Mike Wilson as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee effective from 15 October 2015.

Sefton Resources Inc (SER.L) Announced that further to the announcement of 14 October 2015, and following the meeting held on 14 October 2015 between Jossy Rachmantio, the Executive Chairman of the company, and Clement Chambers, the proposed Interim CEO, the board of directors of the companyis today updating shareholders on a number of matters it has been agreed by the board that Mr Clement Chambers and Mr Michael Hodges (the Proposed Directors) will be appointed as Directors of the company with effect from 7.30am on Friday, 23 October 2015. Mr Chambers will become Interim Chief Executive Officer and Mr Hodges a Non-Executive Director. Mr Keith Morris will stand down as a director of the company with effect from 7.00am on Friday, 23 October 2015. Ms Raylene Whitford, the company’s CFO (non-Board) and Company Secretary, will cease her roles and leave the employment of the company with effect from 7.30am on Friday, 23 October 2015. Mr Rachmantio will remain in his role during a handover period and has indicated his intention to stand down at or before the Annual General Meeting. Allenby Capital Limited, the company’s existing Nominated Adviser, has confirmed to the board that it will cease to act as the company’s Nominated Adviser with effect from 7.00am on Friday, 23 October 2015 should the Proposed Directors be appointed with effect from 7.30am on Friday, 23 October 2015. A replacement Nominated Adviser has not yet been identified, and if such a replacement is not appointed prior to Allenby Capital Limited ceasing to act, then the common shares of no par value will be suspended from trading on AIM at 7.30am on Friday, 23 October 2015. Blythweigh, the company’s financial public relations adviser, has also confirmed it will cease to act for the company with effect from 7.00am on Friday, 23 October 2015. The board intends to call the Annual General Meeting of the company for Friday, 13 November 2015 at a location to be confirmed.

UK Oil & Gas Investments Plc (UKOG.L) Announced that planning permission for the Markwells Wood-1 well site, in West Sussex, near Rowlands Castle, has been extended until 30 September 2016. The local planning authority for the well site is the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). The company owns a 100% interest in the Markwells Wood licence (PEDL126). The Markwells Wood Field Development Plan will form the basis of a new planning application to the SDNPA to seek their consent for Markwells Wood field development which will be followed by applications for further regulatory consents from the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive. The company also commissioned well completion studies with Nutech Energy Ltd to investigate how flow from the proposed Markwells Wood-1 (MW-1) sidetrack well could be optimised.

Wolseley Plc (WOS.L) Announced that it holding a US capital markets day on 12 November 2015 and will therefore announce its Q1 Interim Management Statement on Tuesday 10 November 2015.

WYG Plc (WYG.L) Announced that it has been awarded a two year technical assistance contract by the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Policies on behalf of EuropeAid. The project aims to provide socio-economic consultancy services builds on the work it had recently done with the Union of Municipalities in Turkey providing technical assistance to increase the employability of disadvantaged persons. It will be the lead partner in a consortium, that includes Project Group, Archidata srl, Archidata International, A.N.F.E. Delegazione Regionale Sicilia and the National Agency for Roma. Under the contract the consortium will provide technical assistance to a major programme which is intended to increase social inclusion in the densely Roma populated areas of Turkey principally by facilitating their entry into the formal labour market. The value of the contract will be approximately €8.8 million.

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