UK SMALLCAP ROUNDUP: Internet Dating Firm To List On AIM

16th 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 EASYDATE PLC, an Edinburgh-based internet-dating company, Wednesday said it plans to list on London's Alternative Investment Market at the end of June. Easydate operates a number of mainstream and niche dating websites such as DatetheUK.com, Canoodle.com and DatingforParents.com, and four of the U.K's top 15 dating sites belong to Easydate's portfolio. FILTRONA PLC (FLTR.LN), a plastics and filters manufacturer, said first-half earnings are expected to "materially" top its board's previous expectations, following stronger-than-expected trading in several divisions. The company said stronger trading in the nine weeks to June 5 was driven by continued revenue growth in the higher-margin divisions of protection and finishing products and porous technologies. It didn't say what level of earnings it now expects to make in the first half, which ends June 30, but it made a fiscal 2009 first-half pretax profit of GBP18.5 million on sales of GBP227.7 million. At 0745 GMT, shares +28 pence, or 14%, at 224 pence. RPC GROUP PLC (RPC.LN) Wednesday raised its dividend 13% after big savings from an ongoing restructuring drove a return to a fiscal-year profit. The company, which makes packaging for dozens of household items including Reggae Reggae Sauce and Slug Bait, said trading in the new fiscal year has started satisfactorily and it isn't anticipating any further slide in sales volumes. At 0745 GMT, shares flat at 241 pence. BANGO PLC (BGO.LN), a software company, Wednesday posted a narrowed full-year pretax loss as it won more business with larger clients, and it expects continued revenue growth in the current fiscal year. Bango, whose technology enables firms to collect payment for services sold to internet-connected mobile phone users, said it secured a significant increase in revenue from larger customers after it lowered transaction fees for larger content providers. Its fiscal 2010, ended March 31, pretax loss narrowed to GBP250,000 but it made a maiden full-year net profit of GBP10,000. At 0745 GMT, shares +2 pence, or 2.4%, at 84 pence. CYAN HOLDINGS PLC (CYAN.LN), a semiconductor company, said Wednesday it has received its first order for wireless monitoring of electricity meters in India with a major meter manufacturer. The firm said the initial order for 10,000 units is one of the smallest of several tenders that it understands are currently open in the Indian market. At 0745 GMT, shares +0.06 pence, or 9.4%, at 0.7 pence. ILIKA PLC (IKA.LN), a cleantech materials company, has signed a deal to jointly scale-up and commercialize its next-generation fuel cell catalysts. It is joining forces with the Industrial Technology Research Institute--a Taiwan-based not-for-profit research and development organization--with a view to having samples available to potential customers in about 18 months' time. At 0745 GMT, shares flat at 56 pence. SAFESTORE HOLDINGS PLC (SAFE.LN), a U.K. self-storage firm, Wednesday swung back to a first-half pretax profit of GBP6.7 million due to solid rental rates and much improved occupancy. The firm also said the second half of the year has started well, with high levels of new enquiries and reservations, nearing the record levels seen in late 2007. At 0745 GMT, shares +5 pence, or 4.7%, at 116 pence. INTERTEK GROUP PLC (ITRK.LN), a quality and safety services company, has acquired an oil inspection and testing company in France for EUR7.6 million in cash, as it looks to expand its share of the French market. At 0745 GMT, shares +2 pence, or 0.1%, at 1,451 pence. INTELEK PLC (ITK.LN), an AIM-quoted electronic systems manufacturer, said it has agreed terms of a recommended cash offer from New York-listed Teledyne Technologies Inc. (TDY), valuing the firm at around GBP28 million. Under the terms of the offer, Intelek shareholders will receive 32 pence cash for each share--more than double the closing price of 15.5 pence June 15. At 0745 GMT, shares +16 pence, or more than doubled, at 31 pence. BEGBIES TRAYNOR GROUP PLC (BEG.LN), a U.K. insolvency specialist, is expanding its offshore practice by opening an office in the Cayman Islands and setting up a teaming agreement with an established insolvency practice in the Isle of Man. At 0745 GMT, shares flat at 60 pence. DJ UK Smaller Cos +0.3% AIM +0.3% -By Hannah Benjamin & Rachael Gormley, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0) 20 7842 9298; [email protected] Order free Annual Report for RPC Group PLC Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=GB0007197378 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028 Order free Annual Report for Begbies Traynor Group PLC Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=GB00B0305S97 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028 Order free Annual Report for Filtrona PLC Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=GB00B0744359 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028 (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 16, 2010 04:30 ET (08:30 GMT)