UK SMALLCAP ROUNDUP: Halma Returns To Acquisition Trail

22nd 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 HALMA PLC (HLMA.LN) Tuesday 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. Halma, which makes sensors, fire alarms and components for medical devices, said revenue in China rose 59% on the year during the fiscal year to the beginning of April to GBP18 million. 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 0754 GMT, shares +0.3 pence, or 0.1%, at 271.3 pence. XCHANGING PLC (XCH.LN), a business outsourcing company, said it plans to enter the Italian market after it signed a letter of intent to form an enterprise partnership with SIA-SSB, a European provider of financial and payment systems services. Chief Executive David Andrews said the partnership is a "logical step" in Xchanging's growth strategy in the financial services market in continental Europe. At 0755 GMT, shares +0.7 pence, or 0.3%, at 212.1 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 0755 GMT, shares +0.25 pence, or 1.8%, at 14.25 pence. ARDEN PARTNERS PLC (ARDN.LN) reported an "encouraging" first half, with revenue increasing 41% and the pretax loss narrowing slightly, and said it was well placed for growth and profitability from both the U.K. and Indian markets. For the six months ended April 30 the stockbrokers posted a pretax loss of GBP240,000 compared with a pretax loss of GBP278,000 in the same period a year earlier. At 0755 GMT, shares flat at 88.5 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 0756 GMT, shares -9.5 pence, or 17%, at 47.5 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 0756 GMT, shares +1.5 pence, or 0.2%, at 675 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. The company said it has been chosen to provide managed information technology services for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham's Building Schools for the Future program in a contract expected to be worth up to GBP44 million over eight years. At 0756 GMT, shares flat at 164 pence. TEG GROUP PLC (TEG.LN) said it has received a a contract to process food and garden waste from Scotland's Fife Council. TEG, which makes silo cage systems that convert waste into compost, said it will earn between GBP700,000 and GBP900,000 over the contract's three-year term. At 0757 GMT, shares +0.5 pence, or 1.3%, at 40 pence. DJ UK Smaller Cos -0.1% AIM -0.2% -By Rachael Gormley, Jason Douglas & Hannah Benjamin, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0) 20 7842 9272; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 22, 2010 04:30 ET (08:30 GMT)