Last checked at 
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Thursday.
----------
SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
----------
BSF Enterprise PLC, up 15% at 17.26 pence, 12-month range 5.00p - 23.88p. The biotechnology company announces it has submitted an application for trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the US. Says trading on this market will expand its reach into a broader pool of investors and create the potential for greater liquidity in its shares. Adds there is no capital raise associated with the trading on the OCTQB market. Its primary listing will remain in London.
----------
Irish Continental Group PLC, up 10.1% at 442.89 pence, 12-month range 262.00p - 422.89. The maritime transport firm swings sharply to a pretax profit in 2022 and reports a 75% surge in annual revenue. Swings to a pretax profit of EUR62.5 million from a loss of EUR4.1 million the year prior. Revenue jumps to EUR584.9 million from EUR334.5 million. Notes particular strength in its Ferries division which saw increased revenue from the easing of travel restrcitions and the expansion of the Dover-Calais service. Chair John McGuckian says: "2022 has been a year not just of recovery but of building for long-term growth. With the Covid-19 pandemic now behind us, we have turned our full attention to maximising the opportunities that have arisen for the group over the last two years. We come out of the pandemic with operations larger than we had at its commencement, and with a balance sheet that remains strong."
----------
SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
----------
Alfa Financial Software Holdings PLC, down 7.2% at 135.00 pence, 12-month range 128.00p - 187.84p. CHP Software & Consulting Ltd completes the sale of 16 million shares in Alfa at a price of GBP1.35 per share, raising gross proceeds of GBP22 million. Following the offering, Andrew Page's shareholding in Alfa is 55%. Page is executive chair at Alfa. CHP Software & Consulting will not dispose of further shares in Alfa for at least 90 days.
Alfa provides software to auto, equipment and wholesale finance businesses
----------
First Class Metals PLC, down 3.2% at 15.00 pence, 12-month range 9.00p - 18.67p. The Canada-focused metals exploration company signs an agreement with Nuinsco Resources Ltd regarding the Zigzag lithium project in Ontario, Canada. The agreement completes the exclusivity agreement announced mid-December for FCM to an option to earn-in up to an 80% interest over the exclusive option held by Nuinsco over the Zigzag mining claims. The payments for the exercise of this option include a cash component of CAD500,000 - around GBP305,020 - and a share component of CAD250,000 in FCM shares, spread across approximately 3 and a half years. Additionally, FCM has committed to undertake exploration related expenses on the property over the same period to a value of CAD550,000.
----------
By Heather Rydings, Alliance News senior economics reporter
Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2022 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.