Small caps: EDP, Interbulk, RWS...

14th Dec 2010 13:34

Electronic Data Processing's pre-tax profit for the year to September was £584,000 up from £456,000 last year. Adjusted operating profit was £704,000 (2009: £707,000) which gives an operating margin of 12.6% (2009: 12%).Turnover was £5.58m compared with £5.84m last year. Trading conditions have remained challenging and the fact that revenues have stabilised can be attributed to the introduction of the latest versions of our principal software products, EDP said. The dividend for the year is unchanged at 2.713p.Bulk chemicals shipper Interbulk returned to the black in the year to September, though operating profits halved. Revenue rose to £273m from £233m, with a profit of £1.78m against a loss of £2.75m."Much has been achieved including a return to growth in what was a record year in terms of revenue. Our financial results which are ahead of market expectations have yet again shown a consistency and robustness of performance," it said.African Copper has received a mining licence from the Botswana government for its Thakadu copper-silver deposit some 80km from the company's Mowana Mine in the north east of the country.The licence has been granted on condition that the area declared as an archaeological site is restricted to underground mining processes so as to avoid disturbing the archaeological site contained within the approved mine lease area. Northern Petroleum's revenues have been enhanced by a continuing improvement in Dutch gas prices to approximately $7.94-$8.62 per thousand cubic feet in November. Northern Petroleum Nederland has temporarily put on hold discussion of a reserve based loan with its preferred lead arranger, a major European bank. It is anticipated that discussions on a production based facility better suited to both NPN and the group's needs will re-commence in the New Year following start up of production at Wijken Aalburg.Patent document translator RWS sales increased by 9.6% to £60.6m (2009: £55.3m) while underlying operating profit rose to £14.3m (2009: £13.9m). Profit before tax rose by 0.7% to £14.6m. The dividend for the year rises 15% to 13.4p. "Trading in the first two months of the new financial year has been encouraging. We have fully hedged our anticipated Euro and dollar trading exposure at attractive rates, we have a strong financial position and we are well placed to grow our share of the patent translations market," executive chairman Andrew Brode commented.