Automotive interior components manufacturer CT Automotive (LON: CTA) reported a 4% dip in revenues to $114.8m, while pre-tax profit improved by one-fifth to £9.5m. Earnings were 11.4 cents/share. A further improvement is expected this year. The share price jumped 34.8% to 31p.
Shoe Zone (LON: SHOE) chairman Charles Smith and Anthony Smith a director of the main retail subsidiary have between them acquired 2.76 million shares at 50p each. The aggregate holding of the Smith family is 64.1%. The share price recovered 21.2% to 51.5p.
There was a positive response to the trading update by legal services firm Knights Group Holdings (LON: KGH). Full year revenues are 28% ahead and there was double digit organic growth in the second half. Full year pre-tax profit is expected to increase 18% to £32.9m. Net debt is expected to be flat at around £65.4m, despite £17m of payments for acquisitions. Discussions continue with Moore Barlow. The share price rose 11.3% to 192.5p.
Identity management software provider Intercede Group (LON: IGP) has agreed a reseller partnership with OneSpan, which will sell the MyID products alongside its own Digipass-as-a-Service offer. OneSpan has more than three-fifths of the largest banks as clients. The share price improved 8.25% to 111.5p.
Gene therapy technology developer 4basebio (LON: 4BB) increased 2025 revenues from £900,000 to £1.7m and it is forecast to rise to £2.5m. The loss was £17.9m. There should still be £8.5m in the bank at the end of 2025. The company has secured a clinical supply deal with a biotech company for supply of synthetic DNA to a phase II immunotherapy programme. The shares are tightly held and the share price rebounded 7.87% to 480p.
FALLERS
Commodity export controls announced in Indonesia mean that the palm oil produced by MP Evans (LON: MPE) and others will have to be sold through state-owned enterprises. This is to boost the country’s tax revenues. MP Evans is not a direct exporter, but it will be affected and it is likely to be required to keep more of its cash in Indonesia. The lack of detail has worried the market. The share price slumped 31% to £13.09.
Premier African Minerals (LON: PREM) has reached a settlement agreement with certain creditors. A total of £163,000 was settled by the issue of 881.7 million shares at 0.0185p each. Acrrued and unpaid salaries of £54,000 were settled by the issue of 95.8 million shares at the same price. The share price slipped 7.78% to 0.2075p.
Chesterfield Special Cylinders (LON: CSC) warned that interim figures would be disappointing. Revenues improved from £5.4m to £6.4m, while the adjusted operating loss was reduced from £1.7m to £1m. Defence was the main generator of revenues, although some UK navy work was delayed. There is uncertainty about hydrogen projects. This means that full year revenues are likely to be similar to the previous year. The share price fell 4.49% to 42.5p.
Assets under management continue to decline at Impax Asset Management (LON: IPX) and interim pre-tax profit slumped 45% to £11.3m on revenues that were 23% lower at £58.8m. The interim dividend is 2p/share. A weaker second half is expected. Costs are being cut and there will be redundancies. It is hoped that improved performance will help to generate fund inflows. The share price dipped 4.21% to 99.05p.