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Ilika is taking its Goliath battery technology into a new environment: beneath the ocean. With ORKA, the company is targeting autonomous underwater vehicles used to monitor vital pipelines, data cables and offshore infrastructure. CEO Graeme Purdy explains why marine and defence applications offer an opportunity for earlier commercialisation, and why Ilika is not abandoning its automotive ambitions. Watch the interview to hear what is driving the move. 00:09 - ORKA launches as Goliath targets marine markets00:21 - 10Ah prototypes reveal an early commercial opportunity01:21 - Automotive licensing remains a priority01:29 - Reducing commercialisation risk through new markets01:58 - How autonomous submarines protect critical infrastructure02:53 - From Goliath cells to complete battery systems03:24 - Why now is the right time for ORKA03:31 - Arctic security concerns strengthen the case for AUVs04:19 - Growing scrutiny creates a potential defence opportunity #Ilika #ORKA #BatteryTechnology #MarineTechnology

Meridian Holdings (NASDAQ: MRDN) is sharpening its focus on profitability after delivering a second consecutive profitable quarter, a 43% rise in adjusted EBITDA and a 65% reduction in net debt. Chairman and CFO William Scott explains how the gaming group is strengthening its balance sheet, extending debt maturities to 2031 and using its proprietary technology to support expansion. He also addresses the impact of regulatory developments in Brazil, the role of acquisitions and why consistent cash generation could prove crucial to Meridian's next stage of growth. Key Moments 00:00 Meridian’s transformation and leadership changes 00:51 Two profitable quarters and EBITDA up 43% 01:18 Inside Meridian’s diversified gaming businesses 02:55 Why owning the technology matters 03:35 700 betting shops and a regulated market presence 04:01 Net debt down 65% and repayment terms extended 04:57 Brazil’s regulatory shake-up and Meridian’s exposure 06:26 Customer growth, technology and disciplined acquisitions 07:27 Putting Meridian on investors’ radars 08:24 The message to retail shareholders 08:57 What investors should watch over the next 12 months

Genflow Biosciences (LON:GENF / OTCQB:GENFF) has reported encouraging interim results from its SLAB-VET-001 study, giving investors an early look at how its centenarian-derived SIRT6c gene therapy performs in naturally aged dogs. CEO Dr Eric Leire explains why the findings matter, why plasmid DNA has emerged as the preferred veterinary delivery route, how the data are accelerating discussions with animal health companies and why progress in dogs could have wider implications for Genflow’s human sarcopenia programme. Key Moments 00:09 – SLAB-VET delivers an important milestoneDr Leire explains why testing SIRT6c in naturally aged dogs marks a significant step. 00:44 – A centenarian-derived gene moves into real-world ageingEarly signs from older animals provide a new test of Genflow’s longevity approach. 01:05 – Why pDNA is leading the veterinary programmeLower manufacturing costs, scalability and a potentially simpler safety profile underpin the choice. 01:39 – Repeat dosing could strengthen the commercial caseDr Leire highlights practical advantages over viral-vector delivery. 02:11 – Toronto data draw industry attentionScientists, delegates and animal health companies focus on changes in biological age and muscle performance. 02:37 – Naturally aged dogs add translational relevanceThe study differs from laboratory models engineered to accelerate ageing. 03:11 – Results accelerate licensing discussionsGenflow says the presentation has strengthened engagement with potential commercial partners. 03:33 – Partnering rather than building an animal-health businessThe company is targeting licensing, milestone and royalty structures or a potential outright asset sale. 04:19 – Three catalysts investors should watchVeterinary partnering, patent progress and advancement of the human programmes take centre stage. 04:25 – A veterinary deal could bring non-dilutive valueManagement sees partnering as a potential source of capital and external validation for the platform. 04:44 – Europe and Japan patent progressGenflow expects further intellectual-property milestones around its SIRT6 technology. 05:04 – Sarcopenia moves higher up the agendaPositive dog data increase the relevance of Genflow’s work targeting age-related muscle decline in humans. 05:30 – Why dogs may matter more than miceShared environments and lifestyles could make naturally aged dogs a more relevant translational model. 05:50 – Eye and liver programmes add further optionalityGenflow continues to advance additional therapeutic opportunities beyond sarcopenia.

Oriole Resources CEO Martin Rosser explains why the 32.2Mt maiden resource at Wapouzé could support a multi-decade operation — and potentially generate income to help fund ORR’s gold strategy while limiting dilution. Also covered: partner discussions, licensing, Mbe, Bibemi, Eastern CLP and Senala. #ORR #Gold #Mining #Cameroon Key Moments 00:13 – Wapouzé delivers a 32.2Mt maiden resourceMartin puts the scale and quality of the new resource into context. 00:50 – High-grade material with multi-decade potentialWhy the calcium oxide grade, low magnesium content and proposed 400,000tpa operation matter. 01:30 – A route into Cameroon’s cement marketThe potential to displace imported clinker and supply domestic cement production. 02:06 – More than a cement opportunityHigher-grade material could also serve gold processing and chemical-grade markets. 02:39 – Location strengthens the commercial caseWapouzé’s position offers potential access to customers in both Cameroon and neighbouring Chad. 03:22 – Moving from resource towards reservesThe technical, economic and mining work now required to advance the project. 03:50 – Exploitation licence work gathers paceThe PEA and environmental and social impact assessment form key parts of the application. 04:38 – Industry partner discussions move forwardOriole is targeting established domestic players and international groups seeking exposure to the Cameroon and Chad markets. 05:44 – The resource strengthens Oriole’s negotiating positionThe maiden MRE provides substantially more technical information to advance partner discussions. 06:27 – A potentially faster route to productionMartin explains why quarry development could require less capital and move more quickly than a conventional metals mine. 07:17 – Wapouzé could help fund the gold strategyOriole sees potential for royalty-based or other income that could support exploration while reducing dilution. 08:02 – Oriole’s portfolio takes shapeMartin reviews the 1.66Moz Mbe resource, 460,000oz at Bibemi, Wapouzé and Senala. 08:34 – From exploration towards developmentThe company is increasingly focused on defining routes to development and eventual gold production. 09:06 – The next portfolio catalystsBibemi licensing, Mbe economics, Eastern CLP exploration and results from Managem’s US$2m Senala programme are all in focus.

Hercules Plc (LON:HERC) has secured around £5m of new Civil Projects work in the final quarter of FY2026, with most of the contracts in the Thames Water region. CEO Brusk Korkmaz explains how growing self-delivery capability is changing the scale of work Hercules can pursue, why the £104bn-plus AMP8 investment programme could provide a multi-year growth runway, and how the business is positioning across six major UK water regions. He also sets out an ambition for Civil Projects delivery to potentially reach £50m-plus annually within five years as the division becomes an increasingly important contributor to group growth and profit. Key Moments 00:23 – £5m of new contracts — Q4 wins strengthen the Civil Projects platform 01:19 – The £104bn AMP8 opportunity — Why UK water investment could drive years of growth 02:45 – Self-delivery changes the model — More control over safety, quality, cost and programme 03:59 – Relationships turn into opportunities — 18 years in water gives Hercules an early view of future work 05:11 – FY2027 growth priorities — Water remains central, with wider infrastructure opportunities emerging 07:08 – How much can Hercules capture — The CEO outlines the addressable opportunity across AMP8 07:28 – Six water regions already in play — Thames, Southern, Anglian, Severn Trent, Wessex and Yorkshire 08:06 – £50m-plus annual ambition — Brusk Korkmaz outlines how large Civil Projects could become within five years #Hercules #HERC #UKStocks #Investing #Infrastructure #WaterSector #AMP8 #CivilEngineering #Construction #ThamesWater #AIM #UKInfrastructure https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/hercules-plc-5m-q4-wins-put-50m-civil-projects-ambition-in-focus-video/4121265473

Avingtrans Plc (LON:AVG) has entered the new financial year with record revenue of £163m, adjusted EBITDA above £20m and more than 90% order coverage already secured. CEO Steve McQuillan explains what is driving the stronger margins, why nuclear life extension and new-build opportunities are gathering momentum, and how the Michigan expansion supports the next phase of growth. He also discusses Adaptix following its FDA 510(k) clearance and CE marking, the growing aerospace non-destructive testing pipeline and why the medical imaging business could now be approaching a breakthrough year for commercial sales. Key Moments 00:14 – Record results — £163m revenue, £20m-plus EBITDA and EPS up 30%00:46 – Order book visibility — Over 90% covered this year and around 50% already secured for next year01:08 – Margins strengthen — Higher aftermarket sales and reduced medical losses lift profitability01:48 – Nuclear demand accelerates — Life extension and new-build opportunities drive orders02:55 – Adaptix clears key hurdles — FDA and CE approvals open the way for orthopaedic sales03:31 – Aerospace pipeline builds — 3D X-ray technology targets opportunities conventional imaging can miss04:24 – The next growth catalysts — Adaptix commercialisation, nuclear expansion and small modular reactors

Finsbury Growth & Income Trust (LON:FGT) Portfolio Manager Nick Train explains why he believes AI could strengthen rather than erode the competitive advantages of holdings including LSEG, Experian, RELX and Rightmove, while arguing that enduring brands such as Diageo, Unilever and Burberry still have considerable long-term potential. He also reveals why TP ICAP and Games Workshop have recently earned places in the portfolio, where he sees opportunities emerging from the UK market’s valuation gap, and why investors may be underestimating some of Britain’s most distinctive businesses. Key Moments 00:20 — Nick Train on building Lindsell Train around Buffett-inspired principles01:40 — What makes a company worth owning for 20 years or more03:26 — Why LSEG’s unique franchises have endured04:35 — The long-term case for Diageo’s global brands05:49 — New holdings TP ICAP and Games Workshop07:40 — Why AI is a defining investment theme for the portfolio10:07 — How AI could multiply the value of LSEG’s financial data11:27 — Why Burberry’s century-old franchise still has growth potential12:44 — AI threat or opportunity for Experian and RELX17:34 — The long-term case for Unilever and Diageo18:22 — How Unilever compared with Nasdaq over more than 25 years22:24 — Why UK valuations are attracting takeover interest24:15 — Rightmove, AI disruption and the case for British ambition #FinsburyGrowthAndIncomeTrust #NickTrain #InvestmentTrusts #UKInvesting #AI #LSEG #Experian #RELX #Rightmove #Diageo #GamesWorkshop

Manx Financial Group (LON:MFX) has entered the second half of 2026 with a record £422.9 million loan book, operating income of £19.7 million and strong demand across its lending businesses. Group CEO Douglas Grant explains what is driving Payment Assist’s growth, why the creation of Triskel Finance could add £1 million to Group profit by the year ending 2028, how AI is improving operational efficiency, and why Ireland could become the next significant growth market. Key Moments 00:14 – First-half 2026 performance and £3.4m profit 00:46 – Operating income rises to £19.7m 00:54 – Loan book reaches a record £422.9m 01:32 – What is driving lending growth 01:45 – Isle of Man lending reaches around £1m a week 02:10 – Payment Assist lending jumps 32% year on year 02:54 – Why short-term lending is benefiting from the economic backdrop 04:02 – Where borrowing demand is strongest 04:15 – The strategy behind Triskel Finance 05:25 – Targeting a £1m Group profit uplift by 2028 05:48 – How Manx Financial Group is deploying AI 06:26 – AI, scalability and the customer experience 07:10 – Capital, deposits and funding capacity 08:34 – What comes next for Manx Ventures 08:58 – Potential asset disposals and embedded value 09:32 – Key catalysts for the second half and beyond 09:47 – Payment Assist targets an Irish consumer credit licence 10:09 – UK overdraft product targeted for launch in 2027

After a powerful recovery in biotech valuations, Josh Golomb, Co-Portfolio Manager of The Biotech Growth Trust plc (LON:BIOG), explains why he believes the sector’s underlying innovation remained strong even during the downturn — and why improving valuations, increased pharmaceutical M&A and easing regulatory uncertainty have created a markedly different backdrop for investors. He also highlights advances in RAS-targeted cancer therapies, including daraxonrasib, and explains why pancreatic cancer could become one of the most important areas to watch. Key Moments 00:19 — From engineering to biotech investing — How probabilities, statistics and the Human Genome Project shaped Golomb’s career. 02:16 — Why biotech remains a long-term opportunity — The constant demand for better medicines and the economics behind innovation. 02:47 — HIV treatment transformed — From a fatal diagnosis to long-term disease management and preventative treatment. 04:20 — What drove the Trust’s recent performance — Recovering valuations, pharmaceutical acquisitions and a focus on undervalued biotech companies. 05:43 — Why the sector backdrop has changed — Strong underlying innovation continued despite weak share prices. 06:02 — Regulatory uncertainty begins to ease — Golomb discusses drug pricing, FDA leadership and the regulatory environment. 07:33 — Where the next opportunities are emerging — Why gastrointestinal cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer, are attracting attention. 08:03 — Daraxonrasib and pancreatic cancer — Clinical data showing 13.2 months of overall survival versus 6.7 months with standard chemotherapy. 08:59 — The potential of RAS inhibitors — Earlier treatment, combination therapies and opportunities across pancreatic, lung and colorectal cancers.

CMC Markets (LON:CMCX) is preparing for a market where institutional access increasingly runs around the clock. Chris Cheverall, Managing Director and Head of UK, explains how the group plans to extend 24/7 liquidity beyond crypto and gold across a product range of more than 20,000 instruments, while using its API infrastructure, product manufacturing capabilities and an emerging AI layer to unlock new distribution opportunities for CMC Connect. Key Moments 00:24 — The shift towards 24/7 markets 00:50 — Taking 20,000+ products towards 24/7 access 01:27 — The API at the heart of institutional access 01:45 — Where institutional demand is coming from 02:41 — Product innovation without the build cost 03:05 — What is driving CMC Connect’s growth 04:21 — CMC’s institutional differentiator 05:21 — AI could change how customers access markets 06:54 — The next phase for CMC Connect More information on CMC Markets: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/company/cmc-markets-plc/cmcx.lMore Interviews: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/exclusives

Touchstone Exploration (LON:TXP) is preparing to drill two new wells on the WD-4 Block as it looks to add between 150 and 200 barrels of oil per day, while operational improvements at Cascadura could provide another lever for production and cash flow. President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Baay discusses the economics of the upcoming drilling campaign, encouraging early results from the Cascadura-2ST1 solvent squeeze treatment, the potential of the Karamat sands at Carapal Ridge-3 and how improved commodity pricing could strengthen returns. Key Moments 00:10 — WD-4 drilling targets new production 01:13 — Cascadura treatment boosts output 02:24 — Compressor uptime supports production 03:07 — Karamat sands offer upside 04:24 — Better pricing lifts cash flow

Gervais Williams believes overlooked UK income stocks could benefit from a significant shift in investor appetite. The Premier Miton UK Multi Cap Income Fund Co-Fund Manager explains why income growth, strong cash generation and undervalued smaller companies could become increasingly important, while highlighting opportunities in Victorian Plumbing, Personal Group, ACG Metals, PayPoint, Diversified Energy and CMC Markets. Key Moments 00:11 — UK equities quietly outperform global markets — Why Williams believes the UK’s recent strength could have further to run. 01:44 — What makes the fund different — Income growth, smaller companies and opportunities beyond traditional UK equity income. 04:01 — What has driven long-term performance — Why cash generation and dividend growth have mattered more than takeover activity. 05:07 — Can the fund sustain its income — How strong balance sheets could support dividends through very different economic outcomes. 07:45 — Victorian Plumbing’s next leg of growth — Why new distribution capacity, tiles and furniture could widen the opportunity. 09:57 — Personal Group’s transformation — How improved execution and rising insurance sales are driving growth. 12:03 — ACG Metals moves into cash generation — Why first copper production at Gediktepe could mark an important inflection point. 14:07 — Why PayPoint still looks overlooked — Strong cash generation, shareholder returns and a valuation Williams believes fails to reflect the progress. 16:03 — Diversified Energy expands in the Permian Basin — How the Birch acquisition could strengthen cash generation and create further upside from US gas prices. 18:54 — CMC Markets becomes a broader technology story — Why institutional growth and API partnerships could improve the quality and diversity of earnings.

Ilika plc (LON:IKA) CEO Graeme Purdy explains why one of Goliath’s most important advances may not be a headline performance metric at all, but the tighter consistency now being delivered by its automated pilot line. He also discusses how independent validation through About could speed adoption by battery pack designers, why battlefield testing is generating follow-on commercial interest from the defence sector, and how the Brompton collaboration could open another route to market for Ilika’s 10Ah solid-state battery technology. Key Moments 00:11 — PRIMED gets automotive guidance01:09 — The overlooked performance breakthrough02:05 — Independent validation opens new doors03:46 — Defence testing points to commercial follow-up04:43 — Brompton moves Goliath into e-bikes #Ilika #IKA #Goliath #SolidStateBatterieshttps://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ilika-plc-goliath-gains-commercial-momentum-as-validation-defence-interest-and-brompton-trials-converge-video/4121262229 More information about Ilika Plc can be found at: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/company/ilika-plc/ika.l

Cora Gold Ltd (LON:CORA) CEO Bert Monro explains why the first results from the company’s 2026 drilling programme could have implications well beyond a single high-grade intercept. With 34 metres at 6.78g/t gold, including 9 metres at nearly 24g/t, drilled outside the existing resource pit shell at Zone B, the programme is testing how far Sanankoro can grow at depth, whether fresh-rock mineralisation could support an underground component, and how a larger resource could reshape the mine plan. Monro also discusses the remaining permitting steps in Mali, progress towards replacing part of the Goldstream with senior debt, and the milestone that now matters most before construction can begin. Key Moments 00:11 — First 2026 assays deliver standout Zone B grades 01:12 — Why drilling outside the pit shell could grow the resource 02:37 — Fresh-rock mineralisation opens underground potential 04:04 — 10,600 metres drilled with more assays still to come 05:01 — Sanankoro II renewal moves permitting forward 06:06 — How Bokoro II and Kodiou fit into the mining permit plan 07:24 — Replacing 50% of the Goldstream with senior debt 08:40 — New operational expertise strengthens the route to construction 09:28 — The mining permit emerges as the key milestone

BlackRock World Mining Trust (LON:BRWM) has already benefited from powerful moves in gold and copper, but Thomas McMahon of Kepler Partners argues the bigger story may only be starting. He explains why the managers have cut gold exposure, added to diversified miners such as Rio Tinto, Glencore and Anglo American, and reduced gearing as they balance market risks against surging long-term demand from AI data centres, electrification, defence spending and reshoring. With commodity supply struggling to keep pace, could mining be entering a structurally different phase?Key Moments 00:09 — What has driven BlackRock World Mining’s strong 2026 performance01:33 — Why the managers cut gold exposure from 39% to 32%02:04 — The shift towards diversified miners and copper02:49 — Gearing falls as the managers balance risk and opportunity03:23 — Why commodity diversification matters05:03 — Copper’s structural demand from AI and electrification06:03 — Is mining becoming less cyclical07:34 — AI, defence and reshoring create new sources of demand08:17 — Why constrained mine supply could support commodity prices09:30 — Mining’s striking five-year performance against global equities10:00 — The widening gap between commodity demand and investment11:26 — Why the strategic importance of mining may still be underappreciated