UK SMALLCAP ROUNDUP: Alexon Sales Hit By Volcanic Disruption

15th Jun 2010 09:30

Dow Jones smallcap news is now on Twitter, allowing you to catch up on the news away from your desk. Go to http://twitter.com/DJ_UK_Smallcaps ALEXON GROUP PLC (AXN.LN), a U.K. women's clothing retailer, Tuesday said sales at its stores open more than a year fell 5.4% in the 19 weeks to June 12, largely due to stock problems at its Ann Harvey stores following Iceland's volcanic eruption. The firm said the resulting volcanic ash cloud which spread across Europe delayed transportation of a key summer stock package to its Ann Harvey stores, which has "significantly impacted" recent sales. At 0757 GMT, shares -1.75 pence, or 8.2%, at 19.5 pence. HEALTHCARE LOCUMS PLC (HLO.LN) said it is no longer in offer talks after it mutually ended discussions with the other party. The company, which provides temporary and permanent staff to the healthcare and social care sectors, said April 9 that it had received an approach but said Tuesday both parties have agreed all discussions in relation to the approach have ended. At 0758 GMT, shares -38.5 pence, or 18%, at 179 pence. CINVEN GROUP Ltd, a European buyout firm, said it is considering making an offer for utility support services group SPICE PLC (SPI.LN) after its indicative propopsal of 56 pence a share was rejected by the board. In a statement in response to Monday's movement in Spice's share price Cinven said it approached the company May 24 with the 56 pence cash approach, subject to due diligence and the board's recommendation. At 0758 GMT, Spice shares +2.25 pence, or 4.5%, at 52 pence. PHOTO-ME INTERNATIONAL PLC (PHTM.LN) said it expects its fiscal 2010 pre-exceptional, pretax profit to beat current market expectations by at least 20%. In a short statement the photo booth operator said trading remained strong to the end of its fiscal, which ended April 30. At 0759 GMT, shares +4.75 pence, or 16%, at 34.75 pence. TED BAKER PLC (TBK.LN), a U.K. designer fashion brand, said sales rose 18% in its most recent 19 weeks' trading, boosted by strong overseas demand. Retail sales in the 19 weeks to June 12 climbed 20%, assisted by a rise in the average size of its retail square footage to 222,3339 square feet from 202,206 square feet a year earlier. At 0759 GMT, shares flat at 506 pence. NEWRIVER RETAIL LTD. (NRR.LN), a retail property group, said it was confident about the 2011 fiscal year due to "highly favorable" conditions in the U.K. real estate market, posting a pretax profit for its first trading period. At 0759 GMT, shares flat at 272 pence. INTERNATIONAL BRAND LICENSING PLC (IBL.LN) said it plans to raise around GBP15.06 million through a share issue so it can acquire EKF-diagnostic GmbH and take its first steps toward becoming a diagnostics business. The company, which previously licensed sports brands across the world, last year identified in-vitro diagnostics as a market with significant potential. At 0800 GMT, shares flat at 20.5 pence. OXFORD INSTRUMENTS PLC (OXIG.LN) reported a swing back to profit for its fiscal year and said new products and the benefits of a restructuring will help drive growth. The company, which makes products including coating thickness analyzers, cryogenic systems and superconducting wires, said demand for its products from both industrial customers and researchers is improving. At 0800 GMT, shares +7 pence, or 2.6%, at 277 pence. DATONG PLC (DTE.LN), a designer and manufacturer of intelligence gathering equipment, swung to a first-half pretax profit on soaring sales and said it has entered the second half with a strong order book. At 0801 GMT, shares +1 pence, or 2.7%, at 38 pence. UNIQ PLC (UNIQ.LN) said sales rose 6.9% on the year in the five months to the end of May and added it anticipated continued price rises of dairy products. The fresh sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts maker noted a recent "significant" increase in dairy prices, and in particular the price of cream. At 0801 GMT, shares flat at 12 pence. CML MICROSYSTEMS PLC (CML.LN), a semiconductor marker, posted a narrowed fiscal 2010 loss as gross profit and sales rose, adding it has made a solid start to the current fiscal, with the outlook for its order book continuing to improve. At 0801 GMT, shares +5 pence, or 7.2%, at 74.5 pence. AFRICAN EAGLE RESOURCES PLC (AFE.LN) reported a major increase in estimated resources at its Dutwa nickel project in Tanzania, tripling tonnage and more than doubling its estimated contained metal. At 0802 GMT, shares +0.75 pence, or 18%, at 4.88 pence. DJ UK Smaller Cos -0.2% AIM -0.3% By Rachael Gormley, Jason Douglas & Hannah Benjamin, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0) 20 7842 9272; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 15, 2010 04:30 ET (08:30 GMT)