City Briefs: Clipper Logistics, Zoo Digital, and more
Clipper Logistics, a leading provider of value-added logistics solutions, e-fulfilment and returns management services, has made two significant appointments to its senior management team as part of its continuing long term development plan.
Stefan Van-Hoof has been promoted from Group Chief Operating Officer to Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer, reporting to Tony Mannix, Group Chief Executive Officer, and the Executive Board.
Van-Hoof joined Clipper in 2016 following a long career in European logistics’ management primarily with DocData. He was previously managing director of Clipper’s European business,
Martin O’Grady will replace Van-Hoof as Group Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for Clipper’s UK and European businesses. O’Grady, previously Senior Operations Director, has experience in a wide range of supply chain and third party logistics’ companies, with a focus on productivity-enhancing technology development and roll-out.
Steve Parkin, Executive Chairman, said: “The Board is delighted to make these senior appointments. Both Stefan and Martin are business managers of the highest quality, steeped in international supply chain and e-commerce experience. The appointments reflect the continuing ambition of Clipper to deliver agile and able world-class logistics’ services to its fast-growing client base around the globe.”
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ZOO Digital Group, a leading provider of cloud-based localisation and digital distribution services to the global entertainment industry, has provided a trading update with regards to the financial year ended 31 March 2020.
The businesses which has offices in Sheffield, expects revenue to be in line with its previous trading update – approximately $30m with EBITDA of no less than $2.2m. Cash collection has been much stronger than forecast and cash at the year-end was $0.7m.
The firm claims trading in the first weeks of the 2021 financial year “has been encouraging” and that it has “built a pipeline of new business”.
Despite seeing a softening in sales earlier in March, the Group has since experienced a resumption in demand, underpinned by the continued industry requirement for localisation and digital packaging, particularly in relation to back catalogues.
The majority of the localisation orders to date have been for subtitling, but the firm reports it is seeing increasing demand for ZOOdubs, the cloud-based platform that enables traditional dubbing services including voiceover, lip-sync and audio description. Through the use of ZOOdubs dubbing projects are able to continue during periods of lockdown. As a result, a number of initial trial projects from a range of clients, both existing and new, are underway.
Stuart Green, Chief Executive, of ZOO Digital said: “Our proprietary cloud-based solutions have been designed from the outset to enhance the efficiency of collaboration as the film and TV entertainment industry has become increasingly globalised. The current environment has encouraged industry change and the investments made in prior periods to scale our business mean we are well placed to meet our customers’ needs.”
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Listed Leeds firm, Tracsis has confirmed that following the receipt of a notice of exercise of employee options, it has today issued 33,247 ordinary shares of 0.4p each.
The application has been made for the new share to be admitted to trading on AIM with dealings expected to commence around the 7 May.
In addition, the company has also issued a further 1,836 ordinary shares for staff following an exercise of options by employees of the Group.
Following the issue of both sets of new there will now be 29,111,260.
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Science Group, which has a presence in North Yorkshire has previously reported it was engaged in the UK Government’s Rapidly Manufactured Ventilator System (RMVS) initiative. The design, development and prototyping of a new ventilator system had been undertaken the group’s product development business, Sagentia.
However despite initial production units and documentation being submitted to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the firm is reporting that it “is now improbable that the Sagentia Ventilator will be manufactured”. This is the result of changes in MHRA guidance.
The firm however has confirmed that all funding for materials procurement was received in advance and that all other costs incurred by the project will be reimbursed.
In a statement the firm said: “While it is disappointing when any project does not proceed as originally anticipated, in this case, everyone at Science Group is relieved that the demand for ventilators in the UK has moderated.”
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York-based life science business, Optibiotix has entered into a non-exclusive license agreement for its SlimBiome® trademark with Smart For Life.
The agreement will see the American firm launch a range of cookies containing OptiBiotix’s SlimBiome® proprietary weight management technology in the USA and Canada. The license is contingent on an annual minimum order quantity and the first order within thirty days of signing the agreement.
This is the latest commercial strategic step by OptiBiotix to facilitate customer access to its award-winning technology and will see the Smart For Life cookies are available online at Walmart in the USA and Costco in Canada.
Dr. Fred Narbel, Managing Director of Optibiotix’s prebiotics division, commented: “We are very pleased to have signed an agreement with Smart For Life to use our award-winning weight management technology and related trademark to market and commercialise products containing SlimBiome® in the USA and Canada. Smart For Life are an ideal partner because they understand the science behind SlimBiome® and are able to explain the value proposition clearly to their customers and distributors. Moreover, this commercial launch builds on the manufacturing agreement signed with Agropur to produce SlimBiome® in North America (RNS: 24 June 2019) as it provides Smart For Life with a local source of supply.”
