DAWSON HOLDINGS PLC (DWN.LN), a newspaper distributor, Friday
said it has lost a GBP30 million contract with News Corp.
(NWSA).
Dawson said News International Distribution Ltd., a unit of News
Corp., told it Thursday it intends to change its distribution
arrangements and will stop using Dawson's services almost
immediately.
At 0745 GMT, shares -2 pence, or 28.5%, at 5 pence.
FORMJET PLC (FMJ.LN), an alternative software vendor, Friday
said it has signed an agreement to dispose of Panda Software (UK)
Ltd. for up to GBP1.4 million in cash, subject to shareholder
approval, as it also announced a new chief executive.
In a statement, the firm said the sale also includes an earn-out
payment of GBP200,000. It said although Formjet will continue with
the same business model, the size of the transaction constitutes a
fundamental change of business, which means shareholder approval
needs to be sought.
At 0745 GMT, shares +0.1 pence, o r 36%, at 0.38 pence.
ALEXANDRA PLC (AXD.LN), a medical, hospitality and catering
clothes maker, Friday said it will continue to focus on its costs
as first-quarter sales were down around 13% on last year.
However, the company said it is negotiating several potential
new contracts and the firm remains cautiously optimistic of its
prospects.
At 0745 GMT, shares -2.5 pence, or 2%, at 115.5 pence.
XPLOITE PLC (XPT.LN), an information technology services group,
Friday posted a slightly reduced first-half pretax loss, following
the disposal of its Anix business and a slight rise in sales, and
said it is now considering new acquisition opportunities.
In the six months to April 30, the firm made a pretax loss of
just over GBP1 million, compared with a pretax loss of GBP1.3
million a year earlier.
At 0745 GMT, shares +1 pence, or 2%, at 50 pence.
HARVEY NASH GROUP PLC (HVN.LN), a recruitment and IT outsourcing
company, Friday said first-quarter sales rose 3% on the year and
although its market remains weak, it continues to gain market
share.
In a trading statement covering Feb. 1 to June 19, the firm said
it traded in line with its expectations in the first quarter ended
April 30, although it didn't provide specific figures.
At 0745 GMT, shares -0.5 pence, or 1%, at 40 pence.
DAIRY CREST GROUP PLC (DCG.LN) Friday said it has bought an
insurance policy to cover some of its pension scheme
liabilities.
The dairy company said it bought a bulk annuity policy from
Legal & General Group PLC (LGEN.LN) for GBP160 million to cover
pensions already being paid. The insurer will now pay those
pensions.
At 0745 GMT, shares +0.5 pence, or 0.16%, at 317 pence.
CRAWSHAW GROUP PLC (CRAW.LN) Friday said it raised just under
GBP900,000 to fund the opening of new butcher shops.
Crawshaw said Isis Equity Partners LLP agreed to subscribe to
5.3 million new shares at 17 pence a share, a 3% premium to
Thursday's closing price of 16.5 pence.
At 0745 GMT, shares flat at 16.5 pence.
MAVINWOOD PLC (MVW.LN) Friday said it expects weaker trading
from both its main businesses in 2009 and is having positive
discussions about a refinancing.
The company, which provides emergency repair and document
handling services, said its document handling division has had a
"satisfactory" performance to far this year but expects trading
overall to be weaker than 2008.
At 0745 GMT, share flat at 2.25 pence.
AFRICAN COPPER PLC (ACU.LN), a copper mining company, Friday
said it has agreed a $31.1 million refinancing with Zambia Copper
Investments Ltd.
African Copper subsidiary Messina Copper owed Zambia Copper
money, and the two firms Friday said they agreed a $31.1 million
term loan facility to replace a series of bridge loans made to
Messina.
At 0745 GMT, shares flat at 8.25 pence.
PAN AFRICAN RESOURCES PLC (PAF.LN), a gold miner, Friday said it
agreed a share swap with Shanduka Gold Pty Ltd.
Pan African will acquire Shanduka's 26% stake in Barberton Mines
Pty. Ltd. in exchange for a 21% stake in Pan African.
At 0745 GMT, shares flat at 5.13 pence.
-By Hannah Benjamin & Jason Douglas, Dow Jones Newswires;
44-20-7842-9298; uksmallcaps@dowjones.com
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