Small caps round-up: Cleardebt, Corero, Phorm...

26th Mar 2010 14:53

Personal debt reduction specialist Cleardebt found plenty of takers for its services in the second half of last year, as revenue grew 57% to £2.3m from £1.5m in the second half of 2008. Profit before tax improved to £0.43m from £0.10m, albeit after the recognition of a £0.25m gain on a bargain purchase.Software company Corero, which focuses on the banking, securities and education markets, saw loss before tax narrow to £0.18m in 2009 from £0.66m, despite revenue dipping to £4.92m from £5.25m the year before.'Business Systems remains solid and well run and Financial Markets is beginning to see increasing market activity. We approach this year with a degree of optimism as there are signs of renewed opportunity and momentum across our business,' said Peter Waller, executive chairman.Targeted online advertising firm Phorm has booked around R$10m in orders from advertisers in Brazil for its Open Internet Exchange and Web Discover products, which have been formally launched in the Latin American country this week.Phorm's Web Discover product is being launched in Brazil under the local brand name 'Navegador'.A surge in orders at the end of 2008 helped scientific instruments designer Judges Scientific post record results for 2009.Pre-tax profits climbed to £1.16m from £869,000 the previous year as revenues increased to £11.3m from £7.1m.Stamp and collectibles trader Stanley Gibbons posted a rise in pre-tax profits to £4.1m in 2009 from £3.7m the previous year, but said the results were below expectations. Sales climbed by 20% to £23.4m.Stock market Plus is go on a cost cutting drive and has launched a strategic review after losses came in £8.2m in 2009 down from £10.2m. Revenues fell to £3m from £3.25m. Trading volumes achieved in 2009 continued to grow, with a 45% increase in value traded on PLUS to £52.8bn (2008 - £36.4bn).Engineering design software group Delcam held its dividend at 3.9p despite profits dipping to £1.1m in 2009 from £2.3m. Sales fell 3% to £31.8m. The continued growth of recurring revenues, from annual software maintenance and support income, and the increase in new software sales in the later part of 2009 give us cause for confidence.