Small caps round-up: AFC Energy, Digitial Barriers, Parseq ...

14th Mar 2011 10:22

Alkaline fuel cells developer AFC Energy has reported its first full-year commercial revenue of £0.18m for the year ended 31 October. The revenue was for the delivery and testing of a system for Linc Energy. It expects these revenues to increase through 2011 and 2012.However, pre-tax loss increased to £3.04m from £2.30m previously, as a result of higher administration costs to "incentivise and retain employees and directors during the key commercialisation phase in the development of the company", AFC said. Basic loss per share widened to 1.88p, from 1.63p.Homeland security services provider Digital Barriers (DB) has acquired surveillance products group Essential Viewing Systems (EVS) for £4.85m. The initial consideration is £3.4m payable in cash, while an additional £1.45m may be payable, subject to certain performance conditions being met in the current financial year. Outsourcing solutions and online banking software provider Parseq has signed a "multi-million pound" outsourcing contract with banking giant Lloyds, for BACS payment processing services and call centre support. The agreement covers a three year period. No financial information was given.Bus and coach builder Optare has won a £2.2m contract to supply 20 of its Versa midibuses to Go Ahead North East this year.The buses will be used on Go Ahead's Quaylink services that connects major bus, Metro and rail stations with attractions on both banks of the River Tyne.The company added that chief operating officer Glenn Saint will be stepping down as a board member after taking on additional responsibilities including the relocation of the Leeds factory and deputising for the chief executive officer.Saint will remain a director of the group's operating companies.Ukrainian property developer Dragon Ukrainian is to see its 35% stake in Arricano, the Ukrainian shopping centre developer, diluted down to 16.7% as a result of a capital issue by Arricano.Arricano raised $60m of equity capital to enable it to take full control of the Sky Mall shopping centre, a project in which it owns just under 50%. Rambler Metals has received final construction approval for its Ming Copper-Gold mine from the provincial government, triggering the release of the final tranche of financing for the project.Mining company Rambler is now preparing to move into full pre-development mode on the Ming mine.