(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Polarean Imaging PLC - London-based medical?imaging technology - Reports that the US Food & Drug Administration has granted new chemical entity designation to Xenoview, a prescription medicine used as a diagnostic agent during magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of lung ventilation in adults and paediatric patients aged 12 years and older. "FDA designation of new chemical entity represents an achievement of a major milestone for the company's technology. As the first ever hyperpolarised noble gas inhaled oral contrast agent approved, this designation provides the important first mover protection envisioned under the Hatch Waxman legislation," Chief Executive Richard Hullihen says.

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Tialis Essential IT PLC - IT service management company - Completes the exchange of contracts for the purchase of "profitable" partner contracts from Allvotec for GBP2.0 million. Allvotec is a division of telecommunications firm Daisy Group Ltd. Says that the consideration will be satisfied through the issue of 2.3 million shares. Expects the admission of the shares to occur on February 3. Notes that a deferred consideration of GBP107,000 will be paid in shares, subject to certain performance conditions being met by February 2025. "The acquisition will bring three new channel partners to Tialis, supporting the diversification of Tialis' partner base and will also build on the existing relationship that Tialis has with its largest channel partner," the company says.

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Pennon Group PLC - Exeter-based water utility - Accelerates the second issuance of its WaterShare scheme. Explains that customers will be able to elect to get a Pennon share as an alternative to receiving a GBP13 credit on their bill, within this scheme. Adds that GBP20 million of outperformance has been used to underpin its commitment to South West Water, Bournemouth Water, and Bristol Water customers.

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Keywords Studios PLC - London-based global video games technical and creative services provider - Buys the PR & communications agency 47 Communications LLC for an undisclosed sum. For the twelve months to September 30, 47 generated revenue of USD11 million, it notes. "We are very excited that the team at 47 is joining the Keywords group. 47 has a well-earned reputation as the leading PR agency in the US market and we have long admired the quality of the team and the excellent services they provide. The acquisition of 47 is a key milestone in delivering on our strategy of building a complete marketing offering for our clients on a global scale. We are looking forward to working with the 47 team and are excited by the opportunities for our clients that this acquisition will bring," Keywords Studios Chief Executive Bertrand Bodson comments.

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Applied Graphene Materials PLC - graphene materials maker with headquarters in Redcar & Cleveland, England - Is temporarily suspended trading on AIM, pending publication of its annual audited accounts.

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Facilities by ADF PLC - provider of production and support vehicles for the TV and film industry - Says its subsidiary Location One opened branches at its new operational base in Longcross, Surrey, and a depot in Bridgend, South Wales. "Following the successful acquisition of Location One in December, the opening of these two new branches is a further demonstration of our joint commitment to continue providing high-quality equipment and customer service levels to the growing high-end film and TV market in the UK. They will help to expand the community at Longcross and Bridgend, to promote significant growth opportunities for our extensive partner network and we are excited to officially welcome Location One to the sites, to continue to integrate the teams," CEO Marsden Proctor comments.

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Aurrigo International PLC - Coventry, England-based transport technology - Receives a GBP700,000 grant from Innovate UK and the UK Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles' commercialising connected and automated mobility competition. Explains that it is being funded to provide three self-driving zero-emission Auto-Shuttles, which will transport passengers between Sunderland Interchange, Sunderland Royal Hospital and the University of Sunderland City Campus. "This grant enables us to build three brand new, bespoke Auto-Shuttles for the SAMS project. This programme will be a great opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of Auto-Shuttle and we are pleased to be partnering with Sunderland City Council to prove the viability of a sustainable, automated public transport service," CEO David Keene comments.

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CleanTech Lithium PLC - Jersey-based lithium exploration and development company focused on Chile - Says the Chilean authority granted it all of the exploration licences at the prospective greenfield project. Plans to start an exploration drilling programme at the project in the coming weeks. "The planned drilling will aim to establish if the brine aquifer is enriched in lithium. We will also carry out a field and desk-top study on the potential for a surface evaporite lithium deposit in the project area. Drilling programmes to expand existing resource estimates at our Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin projects are ongoing with Llamara providing additional exploration potential. We are not aware of any exploration company in the lithium sector that has progressed resource drill programmes at three projects concurrently, which further highlights the quality of the team we have in Chile," CEO Aldo Boitano says.

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Capricorn Energy PLC - Edinburgh-based oil and gas exploration and development company - Appoints six new members to its board of directors, being Chris Cox, Maria Gordon, Richard Herbert, Hesham Mekawi, Tom Pitts, and Craig van der Laan. Name van der Laan as Capricorn's new chair, Cox as its interim CEO, and Herbert as a senior independent director. Says that its board will be conducting a comprehensive strategic review of its business and "several potential directions for the future". "Each new member of the board joined Capricorn because we believe in the company's potential and see untapped opportunities to maximise value. This transition presents an opportunity for a fresh start: to identify what the company needs without preconceptions. As a first step to achieve this goal, we will conduct a thorough review of all available strategic directions before we determine the best path forward," Chair Craig van der Laan comments.

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Argo Blockchain PLC - London-based cryptocurrency mining - Reports that Alex Appleton resigned as chief financial officer and executive director to pursue other opportunities. Adds that it engaged an executive search firm to assist with the process of selecting a replacement chief financial officer. "On behalf of the Argo team, I thank Alex for his hard work and significant contributions during his two and a half years with the company," CEO Peter Wall says.

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By Abby Amoakuh, Alliance News reporter

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