UK SMALLCAP ROUNDUP: UK Govt To Launch GBP37.5M Growth Fund

22nd Jun 2010 16:00

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 THE U.K. government announced Tuesday in its emergency budget it will launch an Enterprise Capital Fund to support fast-growing small businesses. The fund will provide GBP37.5 million in equity finance for small firms, according to documents posted on the Treasury website. For some fast-growing small- and medium-sized enterprises, capital for growth isn't being provided by the market and this problem was made worse by the recession, the Budget 2010 statement said. AVANTI COMMUNICATIONS GROUP PLC (AVN.LN), a broadband-by-satellite company, said that while it welcomes the U.K. government's decision to scrap plans to impose a landline duty, it was unlikely to have hurt the company's financial performance. "We're comfortable with whatever because the company has a solution for rural broadband that works," a company spokesman said. At 1430 GMT shares -4.5 pence, or 1%, at 433.75 pence. EASYDATE PLC, an Edinburgh-based internet-dating company, Tuesday said it plans to raise GBP10 million when it lists on London's Alternative Investment Market at the end of June, giving it a market capitalization of GBP45 million. The company--which operates a number of mainstream and niche dating websites such as GirlsDateForFree.com, MatureDating.co.uk and BeNaughty.com--plans to join AIM June 30 and to issue 75,047,067 shares of 2.5 pence each at an issue price of 60 pence a share. TRINITY MIRROR PLC (TNI.LN) said it isn't going to follow the lead of a rival and cut the price of its flagship U.K. national, the Daily Mirror. The company, which also publishes weekend titles the Sunday Mirror and The People, said the decision by U.K. weekly rival the Daily Star, published by Express Newspapers, to slash its cover price to 10 pence from 20 pence next month could backfire and actually boost the circulation of titles like the Daily Mirror and fellow daily the Sun. At 1430 GMT shares -1.75 pence, or 1.9%, at 92.25 pence. ARDEN PARTNERS PLC (ARDN.LN), a stockbroker, said it has increased its focus on the burgeoning Indian market, as Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Keeling announced plans to become deputy chairman in order to concentrate on developing the company's franchise in the sub-continent, citing "immense demand." Keeling told Dow Jones Newswires there is "huge interest" in the London market from India and said it has an initial public offering from a "decent sized" Indian support services company that he hopes will complete in the second half. At 1430 GMT shares flat at 88.5 pence. XCHANGING PLC (XCH.LN), a business outsourcing company, expects its recent acquisition of Data Integration Ltd. to immediately start contributing to the company's bottom line, Chief Executive David Andrews said Tuesday. Xchanging said Monday it had acquired Data Integration Ltd.--which has been Xchanging's preferred network partner for the past two years--for up to GBP9 million to boost its network management services. At 1430 GMT shares +4.1 pence, or 2%, at 215.5 pence. HALMA PLC (HLMA.LN) said it is back on the acquisition trail after sales growth in Asia and savings from layoffs drove a 12% rise in fiscal-year profit. Chief Executive Andrew Williams said demand is being driven by the country's economic growth, the expansion of its healthcare system and its investment in infrastructure. At 1430 GMT shares +1.7 pence, or 0.6%, at 272.7 pence. KRYSO RESOURCES PLC (KYS.LN), a gold and base metals explorer, said it agreed to enter exclusive talks with a major Chinese mining company about a potential investment. At 1430 GMT shares +0.75 pence, or 5.4%, at 14.75 pence. MOLINS PLC (MLIN.LN) lowered its earnings expectations for 2010 due to weak orders and extra costs. Molins, which makes machines used to package food and other consumer goods, as well as special machines used by the tobacco industry to make cigarettes, added it expects to restructure. At 1430 GMT shares -7.5 pence, or 13%, at 49.5 pence. SUPERGROUP PLC (SGP.LN), a fashion retailer, said it is bringing the online outlet for Superdry seconds in-house and named its new head of e-commerce as it looks to maximize its Internet sales and drive profitability. The firm, owner of the Superdry fashion label, said 888 Clothing has been selling Superdry products categorized by Supergroup as seconds online since September, and revenue has been increasing. At 1430 GMT shares +14.5 pence, or 2.2%, at 688 pence. RM PLC (RM.LN), a U.K. provider of educational products and services, said it has received two contracts to provide information technology and Internet services to schools. At 1430 GMT shares +2 pence, or 1.2%, at 166 pence. DJ UK Smaller Cos -0.45% AIM -0.57% -By Hannah Benjamin, Rachael Gormley & Jason Douglas, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0) 20 7842 9298; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 22, 2010 11:00 ET (15:00 GMT)