Small caps round-up: Centaur Media, Charles Taylor, Chaucer...

19th Nov 2009 13:28

Publisher Centaur Media's revenues fell 28% year-on year in the four months to 31 October 2009, compared with a 32% reduction in the January to June 2009 period.The stabilisation of revenues has been more pronounced during September and October, with a relative improvement in advertising revenues from levels achieved in the six months to June 2009, it added.Insurance broker Charles Taylor expects to exceed significantly the current profit before tax forecasts for 2009 due to a markedly better than anticipated performance from the insurance companies run-off division.Earnings per share are likely to be slightly lower than current forecasts due to the increased impact of the minority interests. There is also likely to be a higher tax charge relating to adjustments in prior years and the geographical business mix.Underwriter Chaucer expects premium rates for its divisional underwriting portfolio to increase in 2010, with increased rates within the UK Motor, Aviation and Specialist Lines Divisions to offset decreases across catastrophe-exposed international marine and non-marine markets.Total gross written premium income to the end of September 2009 was ahead of budget at £650.3m (2008 Q3 £527.3m), an increase of 23.3%. Premium rates rose 6.1% achieved in 2009 across the underwriting portfolio. The Property Division has benefitted from a quiet Gulf of Mexico hurricane season, while UK private car rates continue to increase above claims inflation.Closed end life group Chesnara's embedded value rose from £179m at end June to £259m at end September thanks to a profit arising on the acquisition of Moderna. "We have seen an increase in the number of potential acquisition opportunities following the turbulence in financial markets," it added.Distributer and airline operator Dart's half-year profits to September fell 23% to £28.1m, from £36.3m as Jet2.com, the group's leisure airline, maintained load factors, but at the expense of yields. Underlying earnings decreased by 23% to £40.0m (2008: £51.6m). Turnover was maintained at £273m (2008: £273m). Dart will pay an interim dividend of 0.36p.Environmental services group AEA Technology saw profits slide 93% to £0.2m in the six months to September, though sales rose by 43% to £51m (2008: £35.6m).Stripping out one-off charges, underlying profits rose to £3.7m (2008: £3.4m). The acquisition of PPC in the US has been a great success delivering good orders growth and justifying the strategy of leveraging AEA's strong technical base into that market.