Media localisation and services provider Zoo Digital (LON: ZOO) is seeing signs of improvement in the TV and film market for localisation and dubbing. Approaches from customers are increasing and Zoo Digital is moving into new areas such as live sport. Restructuring the business has helped to reduce costs. Revenues declined from $49.6m to $42.3m. The loss was reduced from $8.3m to $2.3m. The operations generated enough cash to more than cover investment in technology. The trading improvement has continued into the first quarter of this financial year. The share price gained 7.69% to 10.5p.
Shares in floorcoverings distributor Likewise (LON: LIKE) have recovered 4% to 32.5p following the oversubscribed placing and subscription that raised £28.5m at 28.5p/share, having originally sought £27.2m. A retail offer could raise up to £2m. This cash will finance the £9.8m cost of the proposed acquisition of a 60,000 sq ft warehouse freehold in Corby, as well as enabling further acquisitions of distribution facilities. The additional distribution facility will increase capacity to £300m each year.
Halo Minerals (LON: HALO) says that the First Environmental Tribunal of Chile has rejected the judicial challenge to the Chile government’s approval of the company’s Playa Verde copper project. This project will recover copper from historical tailings and reduce the arsenic concentrations in the material. Updated project economics should be completed in the next few weeks. A final investment decision is planned before the end of 2026. The share price improved 2.56% to 10p.
Strategic Minerals (LON: SML) non-executive director Philip Haydn-Slater bought two million shares at 3.6p each. He owns seven million shares. The share price increased 1.96% to 3.65p.
IFA services and data provider Fintel (LON: FNTL) reported flat first half revenues of £42.1m, although revenues from continuing activities were 5% higher. Organic growth was 2%. EBITDA was 13% ahead at £12.7m. New products should help to continue the growth in the second half. The share price rose 1.3% to 195p.
FALLERS
Builders’ merchant Lords Group Trading (LON: LORD) continues to suffer from the weak market and is not likely to make a profit this year – previously a pre-tax profit of £2.3m was forecast. Interim revenues were maintained, but the repair and maintenance market is expected to decline 8% this year. There may be no dividend for 2026. Net debt was £29m at the end of June 2026. The share price dived 21.2% to 13p.
Shield Therapeutics (LON: STX) says US volumes of ACCRUFeR iron replacement treatment increased, but lower prices meant that interim revenues were lower. Group revenues were 41% ahead at $30.4m because of a $7.9m milestone payment from China. Operating profitability is being maintained, but it is not enough to cover interest charges. Cash was $8.3m at the end of June 2026. The share price slumped by one-fifth to 4.6p.
Investment company Shaires Holdings (LON: SHR), previously Jade Road Investments, has raised $28.5m at $20/share. This takes the company’s cash to $36.5m. This will fund a portfolio of investments. The share price is 10% lower at $22.50.
Brave Bison (LON: BBSN) has launched a bid for System1 Group (LON: SYS1), which valued the market research technology and services provider at £43.1m, or 327p/share, at the end of trading yesterday. The bid is 135p in cash and 2.04 Brave Bison shares for each Systems1 share. Brave Bison already owns 28% of Systems1 bought from founder John Kearnon and an institutional investor for an average cost of 242p/share. The original offer was valued at 297p/share and that was followed up with a 327p/share indicative offer. The combined business would have revenues of £79m. The System1 share price is 5.8% down at 325p, while Brave Bison fell 3.28% to 88.5p. This values the bid at around 315p/share.
Ex-dividends
James Latham (LON: LTHM) is paying a final dividend of 28.6p/share and the share price declined 10p to £10.85.