Small caps round-up: Velti, GTL, Omega Insurance...

17th Nov 2010 14:36

Dublin-based mobile marketing technology provider Velti has benefited from strong demand during the nine months ended September 30, pushing revenue up by 143% to $58.8m.There's also adjusted earnings before interest, tax and depreciation (EBITDA) of $4.7m compared with a $10m loss during the same period last year. The net loss attributable to the company narrowed to $17.66m from $23.23m.Ethanol producer GTL Resources is doing well after more than doubling interim pre-tax profit to $6.2m from $2.5m last year on revenue up 2% to $109.2m.Boss Richard Ruebe pointed to increased production at the company's Illinois River Energy (IRE) ethanol plant, coupled with a favourable commodity margin environment for ethanol.Omega Insurance grew gross written premium by 25% during the first nine months of 2010 to $308.5m.Rates have increased across the board within the UK motor insurance market, which is expected to benefit the motor reinsurance market, in which Omega operates, over the next 12 months. EP Global Opportunities Trust grew net asset value (NAV) by 7.1% in the three months to 30 September to 176.2p a share, less than both the FTSE All-World Index and FTSE All-Share Index.The share price moved from a premium to net asset value of 0.5% at the end of June to a discount of 2.7% by the end of September. It still thinks its Japanese holdings, which represent 18% of net assets, are undervalued.International shipping company Goldenport said it has secured strong forward period employment for the majority of its extended operational fleet of containers and dry bulk carriers, with 98% of the fleet available days for 2010 and 77% for 2011 fixed under time charter employment, assuming earliest charter expiration.Net debt at the end of September stood at $142.5m, giving a net debt to book capitalisation percentage of 34%, "a moderate figure for our industry", the company claimed. Uranium exploration and development company Uranium Resources saw its loss for the year to 30 June more than halve to £0.67m from a loss of £1.37m the year before, thanks to the absence of share-based payment charges this time round, compared to payments of £0.72m in 2009. The company currently produces no revenue.At the year end date the group had net assets of £3.58m, up from £1,85m in 2009, and cash balances of £0.37m, down from £0.70m last year. The company raised £800,000 from the issue of new ordinary shares in July 2010.British Smaller Companies VCT2's net asset value per share (NAV) at the end of September was 66.2p, down from 70.1p at the end of June. The 3.9p reduction in the quarter is primarily due to 2.0p per share final dividend paid 30 September 2010 along with a downward movement in the valuation of the unquoted portfolio.The company said the number of new investment opportunities has increased, with more management teams seeking to expand and vendors prepared to sell. To take full advantage of such market opportunities the board is seeking to increase the investment capacity of the company via a linked offer together with the British Smaller Companies VCT plc over the coming months.