Construction and maintenance software provider Eleco (LON:ELCO) is recommending a 235p/share cash offer from private equity investor Accel-KKR. The share price has never been anywhere near this level, and it is more than 80% above the level at the beginning of the year. The bid values Eleco at £207.6m and it is 34 times 2026 prospective earnings, falling to 29 next year. The share price jumped 70.3% to 229p.
Empyrean Energy (LON: EME) says the farm-down of a 75% non-operated Participating Interest in the Duyung PSC to PT Nations Natuna Barat (NNB) has been completed. This has triggered a second payment of $4m. There is $7m of the total payment of $16m payable when production commences. First gas is targeted for the end of 2027. Empyrean Energy retains a 22.875% operated participating interest in the Duyung PSC via WNEL Holdings. Empyrean Energy is entitled to 8.5% of all cash payments to WNEL. The share price gained 40% to 0.0525p.
Online retailer boohoo (LON: DEBS) has sold its Sheffield distribution centre and reassigned the lease to Primark Stores for £90m. boohoo will enter an agreement with a logistics provider to take over fulfilment. This deal should wipe out most of boohoo’s debt. The reduction in interest payments, lease payments and depreciation will help boohoo return to profit. Panmure Liberum has changed its previously expected 2026-27 loss of £600,000 to a pre-tax profit of £10.8m with an upgrade from £12.2m to £36.9m the following year. There will be a trading update on 17 September. The share price increased 16.5% to 24.75p.
Ilika (LON: IKA) has completed the PRIMED programme to build and test 10Ah solid-state battery cells for automotive and non-automotive uses. This helped to improve the performance of Goliath 10Ah prototypes. This will help to take advantage of early commercial opportunities in e-bikes and defence. The share price rose 4.26% to 24.5p.
FALLERS
Roy Davis is stepping down from the Futura Medical (LON: FUM) on 20 October. He has been a director since 2024 and states that leaving the board has nothing to do with the performance of the business. He will not be replaced. The share price slipped 9.83% to 0.2155p.
United Oil and Gas (LON: UOG) has appointed NRG Well Management to undertake a drilling rig and long-lead availability study to support the farmout discussions for the Walton-Morant licence, offshore Jamaica. The study will be completed in a few weeks. The share price fell 8% to 0.23p.
Growth in North America and Europe helped increase the adjusted interim revenues of Fevertree Drinks (LON: FEVR) by 7% to £184.2m. Non-tonic products are 47% of revenues. The mixer drinks supplier reported a dip in underlying pre-tax profit from £19.8m to £19.4m. Gross margin fell with an additional £2.6m provision for an on-trade dispute. The dividend was raised 2% to 6.09p/share. Cash was £68m at the end of June 2026. Summer trading has gone well. The share price declined 4.86% to 777.75p.
Finance provider Distribution Finance Capital Holdings (LON: DFCH) increased interim pre-tax profit by 49% to £13.4m on a 17% rise in net revenues to £50.7m. Cost to income ratio is 53%. The loan book grew 27% to £932m. Arrears are 0.7% of the gross loan book. Tangible net assets are 82.2p/share. New asset finance product DFRNT has built up loan balances of £40m. The share price dropped 3.75% to 74.5p.
Ex-dividends
Colefax Group (LON: CFX) is paying a final dividend of p/share and the share price os unchanged at £13.75.
DSW Capital (LON: DSW) is paying a final dividend of 2p/share and the share price declined 2.5p to 46.5p.
Franchise Brands (LON: FRAN) is paying an interim dividend of 1.25p/share and the share price rose 1p to 153.25p.
Knights Group Holdings (LON: KGH) is paying a final dividend of 3.69p/share and the share price dipped 1.5p to 164.5p.
Ramsdens Holdings (LON: RFX) is paying a dividend of 9p/share and the share price fell 7p to 651p.