Graphene Investment Opportunities On AIM (2019)

AIM Investments

Graphene Stocks To Watch On AIM (2019)

Considering the uniqueness of its properties, companies commercialising graphene have, for the most part, failed to live up to the hype surrounding the material. However, now that the hype has moved on and the companies have had more time to develop their proposition, could the handful of AIM-listed graphene companies be considered incredibly cheap and worth further investigation? 

What makes graphene so special?

First discovered and produced in 2004, graphene combines a unique set of properties: the strongest material ever developed (200 times stronger than steel and tougher than diamond), but also the world’s thinnest material, flexible, transparent, and able to conduct heat and electricity far more efficiently than any other substance on Earth. Such is its uniqueness, it is expected to be responsible for innovation across a huge range of industries, including electronics, energy generation, medicine, sensors, batteries, and conductors.

How have graphene shares performed?

Soaring seemingly overnight when graphene’s potential was first communicated by the media, the share price of companies working to commercialise this miracle substance have fallen just as quickly. Applied Graphene Materials PLC (AGM), for example, when first listing on AIM in late 2013, was valued at around 450p per share, but is now only valued at 40p at the time of writing. 

Nevertheless, in the history of new materials graphene certainly won’t be the first new substance hotly tipped for great things but to take a long time to deliver. Take, for example, silicon, which was first discovered in the early 19th century, but failed to find any real commercial application until the birth of the semiconductor industry more than a century later. In addition, aluminium was also hailed as a wonder substance when first discovered in the 1820s, but it wasn’t until after the First World War that aluminium found a true business case with its deployment in the production of aircraft.

In essence, any new discovery typically faces formidable challenges that inevitably slows down its progress, such as identifying the commercial application whereby it is most effective, ensuring it is conspicuously cheaper or better than the products already available, and ensuring that it is conducive to being manufactured on a commercial scale.

What graphene investment opportunities exist on AIM?

As things currently stand, there are four graphene companies currently listed on the FTSE AIM Market:

Applied Graphene Materials (AGM): In terms of commercial strategy, the focus for AGM is on collaboration with commercial partners to accelerate adoption of graphene, targeting three core target market sectors: polymers and composites, paints and coatings, and functional fluids. Towards this goal, the company were pleased to announce in December, 2018, that James Briggs Ltd, a leading independent chemicals business, had successfully tested the effectiveness of AGM’s graphene-enhanced anti-corrosion aerosols and were preparing for full product launch in 2019.

Directa Plus Ltd (DCTA): Based in Italy, DCTA have recently secured several textile-related deals incorporating their G+ branded graphene compound – most notably the launch of a cycling jersey with Oakley and Bioracer. By being treated with G+, this jersey distributes heat generated by the body in cold conditions and releases it when needed in warmer weather, meaning cyclists use less energy to regulate body temperature. Along with textiles, the company also has some sort of a grip on the tyre market, supplying its graphene compound to bicycle tyre maker, Vittoria, as well as automotive re-tread company, Marangoni.

Haydale Graphene Industries Ltd (HAYD): Describing themselves as a global technology solutions company passionate about creating the next generation of advanced materials, Haydale have had quite a tough 12 months. Announcing in March 2018 that the groundwork was in place for revenue growth following a period of investment and expansion, the company was forced to later provide a trading update in June letting shareholders know that revenue generated was going to be lower than expected. This was put down to a combination of timing differences of recognising revenue before the financial year end, along with longer than anticipated lead times by customers to reach commercial volumes. Going into 2019, though, the company reports cautious optimism having undertaken important restructuring of business divisions

Versarian PLC (VRS): VRS is an advanced engineering materials group with five subsidiaries operating under two divisions: thermal and hard wear products, as well as graphene and plastics. In terms of graphene, the company has managed to secure several significant collaborations, including with a global apparel manufacturer, a world-leading aerospace group, a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest construction and engineering contractors, a major tyre producer, and a global consumer goods company.

Cancellation of shares for Graphene NanoChem

Up until quite recently, there was actually a fifth graphene company listed on AIM called Graphene NanoChem (GRPH). Shares for this company were cancelled, though, in March 2018 following the resignation of its nominated adviser and broker, Panmure Gordon, and failure to find a replacement within the month provided under AIM rules.

However, when announcing their cancellation, the company were pleased to report that progress had been made in advancing its proposed acquisition of modular construction company, CG Tekbuild. If completed, Graphene NanoChem believe that this acquisition will be transformational for the company and will look to undertake an initial public offering to relist on the AIM market.

*For a list of all other producers and distributors of chemicals and chemical products, please go to this page dedicated to all AIM-listed companies classified under Chemicals.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.