(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Robert Walters PLC - London-based recruitment consultant - Interim pretax profit jumps to GBP22.1 million from GBP4.3 million, but revenue in six months to June 30 slips 6% year on year to GBP468.2 million from GBP496.4 million. Ups interim dividend to 5.4 pence from 4.5p. Chief Executive Robert Walters says: "It's been a record first half performance with the group delivering a four-fold increase in pre-tax profits year-on-year. Recruitment activity levels accelerated markedly as the first half of the year progressed, with the demand for talent outstripping supply across many markets and disciplines. A war for talent and significant wage inflation is beginning to emerge." He adds: "Trading is comfortably ahead of current market expectations for the full year, and we enter the second half of the year with cautious optimism and confidence that we will continue to take advantage of market opportunities as they arise."
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FRP Advisory Group PLC - UK professional services firm specialising in advisory services - Annual pretax profit rises to GBP23.0 million from GBP2.9 million. Revenue in year ended April 30 grows to GBP79.0 million from GBP63.2 million. Declares total annual dividend of 4.1 pence, up sharply from 0.66p a year before. Chief Executive Geoff Rowley says: "FRP is a resilient business, with a track record of growth regardless of the economic conditions. We have a strong balance sheet and a structure that provides a good level of flexibility in our internal capacity, allowing us to be well positioned for an increase in demand for our services. Trading since May 1 is in line with the board's expectations."
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Dev Clever Holdings PLC - Tamworth, England-based software developer for immersive career guidance and consumer engagement experiences - Completes acquisition of UK-based educational business The Inspirational Learning Group Ltd for cash of GBP129,200 and issue of 7.0 million new shares, subject to a phased two-year lock-in period. "TILG's activities will complement Dev Clever's existing career guidance and development platforms and enhance the company's content offering. With the acquisition now completed, the company will utilise the careers programmes developed by TILG to launch its own National Career Challenge. The NCC will be available to students in the UK during late Q4 2021," company says.
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Cohort PLC - defence and security markets-focussed technology company - Annual pretax profit drops 29% to GBP7.1 million from GBP10.0 million the year before. Revenue, however, improved 9% in the year to April 30 to GBP143.3 million from GBP131.1 million. Order intake up 45% to GBP180.3 million from GBP124.4 million. Order book ends period at GBP242.4 million compared to GBP183.3 million year before. Total dividend grows 10% to 11.10 pence from 10.10p. Chair Nick Prest says: "Cohort continued to make progress in 2021, achieving a record adjusted operating profit and revenue. [Subsidiaries] MCL and EID both posted an increase in profit and we benefited from an initial five-month contribution from ELAC. These positive movements were partly offset by weaker performances at SEA, Chess and, to a small extent, MASS." Expects further growth in financial 2022.
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Verici Dx PLC - US-based kidney transplant tests firm - Secures clinical laboratory improvement amendments certification of registration under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the company's newly established US clinical laboratory at the Innovation Park in Franklin, Tennessee, on which it took a lease in late April this year. "The certificate of registration authorises the company to initiate commercial operations as a diagnostic laboratory in Tennessee. The location was selected for the high-quality premises within a healthcare hub to facilitate ease of logistics and hiring in the Palmetto region. Verici Dx expects to commercially launch its two flagship commercial products, Clarava and Tuteva, in 2022," company explains.
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Belluscura PLC - London-based oxygen enrichment technology developer - Starts manufacturing and signs fourth distribution agreement. The first X-PLO2R units are currently being manufactured in the US and the company expects to meet its targeted commercial launch of X-PLO2R, with the first units being distributed in the third quarter 2021. Signs fourth distribution agreement with a US-based small business dealing exclusively with the US federal government in areas such as veterans affairs and The Department of Defense. "This is the next stage in establishing US-wide distribution coverage as part of the company's commercialisation strategy," company says.
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Plant Health Care PLC - agriculture products firm based in North Carolina - Signs new distribution agreement for Harpin with distributor in the UK for exclusive access to the biostimulant Harpin in all crops in the UK. "Plant Health Care has been working with Agrii, a market-leading distributor in the UK, for several years to establish the grower benefits of Harpin [alpha beta]. Results have been particularly exciting in the amenity sector and in potatoes. The partner and Plant Health Care have therefore reached an agreement under which the partner will have exclusive distribution of Harpin in the UK," company explains.
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Eden Research PLC - Cirencester-based agricultural chemicals producer - Signs agreement with Sipcam Oxon to allow company to market, distribute and sell, on an exclusive basis, Eden's fungicide product, Mevalone, in four North African countries, where it will be marketed as Araw. "The agreement enables Sipcam to distribute Araw for use initially against Botrytis on wine and table grapes, strawberries, tomatoes and cucurbits, which include cucumber, courgette, squash, melon, in Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia," company says.
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7digital Group PLC - London-based music licensing provider - Signs two new customers for its music platform-as-a-service in the healthtech and wellness sector. "These new contracts provide additional visibility over full year revenues and anticipated significant growth for 2021," company says. Adds: "The contracts, which are both for 24 months and consist of upfront set-up fees, recurring monthly fee and usage-based payments." One contract with MedRhythms Inc and other with company that is creating a music-based health application for people with dementia
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St James House PLC - Windsor, Berkshire-based IT services - Annual pretax loss narrows to GBP2.0 million from GBP3.7 million, as revenue in year to January 31 rises to GBP1.1 million from GBP873,000. Administrative expenses drops to GBP1.8 million from GBP2.2 million. "As we issue our annual report to January 31, 2021, the company is now pressing firmly ahead with our transformation program to focus on our core business of providing a range of products and value-added services across key currencies with broad geographic reach," Chief Executive Richard Shearer says.
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By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com
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