Assetco Share News (ASTO)

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 MAPLE ENERGY PLC (MPLE.LN), a Peru-focused energy company, Friday reported a wider full-year loss after a slump in the oil price hit revenue, and said it will focus this year on developing its ethanol project. Maple recently raised GBP19 million for the project, which involves planting and harvesting sugarcane and refining it into ethanol. It intends to work on the project's agricultural, industrial and financing components, Maple said. At 1045 GMT, shares flat at 47.5 pence. ASSETCO PLC (ASTO.LN), a specialist fire and rescue services provider, posted a much-increased fiscal 2010 pretax profit, boosted by interest rate hedging gains, and said it expects to see strong growth in the Middle East. Its fiscal year, ended March 31, pretax profit climbed to GBP12.1 million from GBP1.3 million a year earlier. At 1045 GMT, shares +9 pence, or 18%, at 59 pence. AVIS EUROPE PLC (AVE.LN), a car rental company, said it plans to launch a discounted rights issue to raise about GBP151 million, and as part of the fundraising has also entered into a new senior revolving credit facility for EUR375 million. It will issue 1,035,589,553 new shares at a price of 15 pence a share, which is a 56.8% discount to its closing share price prior to the announcement of 34.75 pence. At 1045 GMT, shares -5.75 pence, or 16.6%, at 29 pence. DEVRO PLC (DVO.LN), a sausage casing maker, said it had a stronger finish to its first half than expected, as sales gradually improved over the period, while pricing also remained strong. The firm--which in May said it had made a strong start to 2010--said since May it has seen continued progress in sales, pricing, volume growth and manufacturing efficiency. At 1045 GMT, shares +0.75 pence, or 0.4%, at 190.5 pence. CINEWORLD GROUP PLC (CINE.LN), a U.K. cinema company, has signed a deal for an undisclosed sum to operate the 11-screen multiplex cinema at the O2 arena in London. Cineworld will start operating the cinema from Friday, after agreeing a 25-year lease with the Waterfront Limited Partnership, which is part of the Anschutz Entertainment Group. At 1045 GMT, shares +0.5 pence, or 0.25%, at 197.5 pence. ILA GROUP LTD. (ILA.LN) said budget fashion retailer New Look Group PLC has placed an order for its Ila Pebble compact key ring alarm, which will be trialed in 50 New Look stores. The firm--which makes women-focused branded personal security products--said New Look is the second retailer to stock the Pebble, which is a compact key ring alarm that emits a 130 decibel siren. At 1045 GMT, shares flat at 1.09 pence. NORTHERN PETROLEUM PLC (NOP.LN), an oil and gas explorer, said it is selling its U.K. assets and has agreed to raise GBP10 million in a share sale to focus on projects in the Netherlands and Italy. At 1045 GMT, shares flat at 93 pence. DJ UK Smaller Cos -0.37% AIM -0.44% -By Hannah Benjamin & Jason Douglas, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0) 20 7842 9298; uksmallcaps@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 25, 2010 07:30 ET (11:30 GMT)