UK SMALLCAP ROUNDUP: Scott Wilson Bidder URS Gets Deadline

30th 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 SCOTT WILSON GROUP PLC (SWG.LN), a U.K. engineering consultant, Wednesday said its board will give its recommendation to shareholders on the company's bidding war Thursday after the U.K. Takeover Panel set a deadline for a revised offer from U.S. firm URS Corp. (URS). URS must confirm to Scott Wilson by 1600 GMT Wednesday that it intends to match or improve upon CH2M's cash offer for Scott Wilson or the Scott Wilson board can withdraw its recommendation for the URS Offer. Either way, URS must also confirm its intentions by no later than 0630 GMT Friday. At 0757 GMT, Scott Wilson shares -3 pence, or 1.2%, at 258 pence. HMV GROUP PLC (HMV.LN) posted a rise in fiscal 2010 pretax profit, driven by a record sales performance, although its overall result was dragged down by a weaker performance at its Waterstone's bookstore chain. HMV, which sells DVDs, CDs, books and has branched out into live music, said the performance of Waterstone's was affected by issues arising from the roll-out of its centralized book hub, which have now been resolved. At 0758 GMT, shares +2.75 pence, or 4.8%, at 59.75 pence. H&T GROUP PLC (HAT.LN), a U.K. pawnbroker, said it expects to post strong first-half results and for full-year pretax profit to exceed current market forecasts due to the continued rise in the price of gold. Analysts currently forecast an average 2010 pretax profit of GBP17.9 million on revenue of GBP90.9 million, according to a FactSet poll of five analysts. At 0758 GMT, shares +6.5 pence, or 2.5%, at 262.5 pence. CINEWORLD GROUP PLC (CINE.LN), a U.K. cinema company, posted a 3.7% rise in first-half sales on the year, boosted by the release of 3D blockbusters like Avatar and Alice In Wonderland, and said it expects to benefit from a significant number of 3D releases in the second half. Cineworld's box office sales rose 4.1% on the year in the 26 weeks to July 1, with films like Iron Man 2 and Sex and the City 2 also proving popular with customers. At 0759 GMT, shares flat at 201 pence. NORTHBRIDGE INDUSTRIAL SERVICES PLC (NBI.LN), an industrial services and rental company, said it has conditionally raised GBP7 million to help fund the acquisition of Perth-based rental equipment firm Tasman Oil Tools Pty. Ltd. for A$16.9 million. At 0800 GMT, shares +1 pence, or 0.8%, at 134 pence. NORTHGATE PLC (NTG.LN), a van rental company, reported a swing to profit in fiscal 2010 and said its focus now is to complete a restructuring of its U.K. operations and increase its rental prices. At 0800 GMT, shares +17.8 pence, or 12%, at 170 pence. PLETHORA SOLUTIONS HOLDINGS PLC (PLE.LN) said it has agreed a GBP1 million, five-year secured term loan from a government fund which will be used to speed the roll-out of its specialty pharmaceutical business. At 0800 GMT, shares flat at 13 pence. ATH RESOURCES PLC (ATH.LN), a coal company, said it received an approach to purchase its land regeneration business. At 0800 GMT, shares -3.5 pence, or 5.2%, at 64.5 pence. CLARKSON PLC (CKN.LN), a shipping services group, said first-half trading is ahead of its expectations, reflecting an improvement in shipping markets and foreign exchange benefits. At 0801 GMT, shares +27 pence, or 3.1%, at 887 pence. BIOCOMPATIBLES INTERNATIONAL PLC (BII.LN) said its licensee and marketing partner Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH has temporarily suspended shipments of its aesthetics injectable filler Novabel after some patients reported adverse reactions. At 0801 GMT, shares -14.5 pence, or 5.5%, at 247 pence. MATTIOLI WOODS PLC (MTW.LN) said it is positive for fiscal 2011 and said it was still looking to make acquisitions within the self-administered pension schemes and self-invested personal pension markets. At 0801 GMT, shares flat at 207 pence. DJ UK Smaller Cos +0.1% AIM +0.02% -By Rachael Gormley, Jason Douglas & Hannah Benjamin, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0) 20 7842 9272; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 30, 2010 04:30 ET (08:30 GMT)