Small caps round-up: NetDimensions, Ocean Power, Qonnectis...

14th Jul 2009 12:59

Training software provider NetDimensions traded in lien with expectations in the first half of 2009. Cash balances at the end of June stood at $6.8m, up from $5.3m at the end of 2008. The company said its cash balance is equivalent to 16.5p in cash per share, a few pence above the current share price.Wave power specialist Ocean Power Technologies' order backlog rose to $7.5m in the year to 30 April 2009 from $5.5m a year earlier, with most of the revenue from the order book set to feed through in the next 12 months.The news offset continuing post-tax losses of $14.7m, though these were down from a net loss of $18.3m the year before. Revenue rose to $4.8m from $4m a year earlier.Cash, cash equivalents and investments fell to $81.7m at the end of April from $101.1m a year earlier.AIM-listed tiddler Qonnectis has signed a letter of intent with Primary Water to commence trials of Qonnectis's data monitoring products.Qonnectis expects successful trials will lead to a three year deal that will give Primary Water exclusive distribution rights for Qonnectis products in Australia and Russia, and non-exclusive distribution rights for all other countries in the world except the UK, Ireland and China.The distribution agreement will be subject to minimum sales volumes and will include joint funding of specific product development.Rail maintenance group Jarvis slipped into the red last year and cautioned that short-term prospects look uncertain.Group revenue in the year to March rose to £345.8m (2008: £321.9m). Underlying profit fell to 5.1m (2008: profit £7.5m), but after exceptional costs £11.4m, losses were £6.3m. Net debt fell to £21.5m from £38.8m in 2008."The current economic conditions and Network Rail's decision to delay works created a difficult trading environment in the second half of the year under review and this is expected to continue through 2009-10. The prospects beyond that appear much more promising," chairman Stephen Norris said. Sports gaming group Leisure & Gaming saw a sharp fall in its net win percentage in three months to June with no large football tournaments taking place. Amounts wagered rose to €38.5m (2008: €28.4m), boosted by poker tournament fees, earning net win of €5.2m (2008: €5.2m) at a net win margin of 13.5% (2008: 18.3%). Amounts wagered on sports betting were €16.8m (2008: €18.0m) generating a net win of €3.0m (2008: €4.8m) at a net win percentage of 17.9% (2008: 26.7%).Melrose Resources is to raise £11.2m through a placing at 250p per share. The placing shares represent approximately 4.1% of the existing ordinary shares The proceeds will be used to fund key work programme activities, including accelerating the drilling of the Kaliakra appraisal well and its Egyptian field development programme. The placing will also provide additional capital headroom while the company completes discussions with its banking syndicate regarding a potential expansion of its existing long term debt facilities. Cyprotex, the drug discovery technology and information company, said it has continued to perform well in the current year."Overall, performance remains ahead of the same period last year. Taking into account the historic seasonality of the business, which sees around 55% of revenues and a much larger proportion of profits generated in the second half, we remain confident in the outlook for the full year," said chairman Steve Harris.Asset management software specialist Statpro said it remains confident of a successful outcome for the year as market conditions in the fund management sector appear likely to remain stable for the second half.Shares in Centamin Egypt rose after it announced an increase in the Measured and Indicated resource of approximately 520,000oz or 6%