Gb Group Share News (GBG)

Agriterra, focussed on the agricultural sector in central and southern Africa, is making "fantastic" progress, announcing record buying and sales of maize in Mozambique.Sales soared 174% in May, they were up 208% in June, 149% in July and have more than doubled in August and September. Milling operations running 24/7 since the start of the month will grow output by a further 30% from current record levels.Cattle ranching operations in Mozambique are also "progressing extremely well", according to executive director Euan Kay.Tech firm Cohort has won a €5m deal to design and build the Atmospheric Lidar (ATLID) command and data management unit, part of the ATLID instrument being flown on the EarthCARE spacecraft in 2013.The ATLID instrument measures the reflected signals from an ultraviolet laser to find out the chemical constituents of the atmosphere. Identity management company GB Group thinks full-year profits will beat expectations after a strong first half during which revenue jumped 10% to £11.5m and underlying profit more than doubled to £740,000.There was strong growth at the identity based marketing services unit and "modest" underlying growth in identity verification.Self-storage group Lok'nStore swung to a full-year profit after cutting costs and increasing revenue by over £400,000 to £10.42m in the 12 months to 31 July. "Over the year occupancy is up 4% and prices are up 4.9% demonstrating that self-storage continues to perform well even in a weak economy," said boss Andrew Jacobs. "This success also reflects the quality of Lok'nStore's assets and operating business." Mongolia-focused oil explorer Petro Matad's Davsan Tolgoi-3 (DT-3) exploration well - the third of a three-well programme - has drilled down 345 metres out of a target of 1,200 metresBut winter weather is setting in and it's a race against time to get as much work done as possible. It wants an extra drill rig and workover rig on site.CEO Douglas McGay is also upbeat about analytical results from DT-1, which provide quantitative proof that "the hydrocarbons in Davsan Tolgoi have migrated over long distances from the source kitchens and have charged the Tsagaantsav Formation of Davsan Tolgoi.""The previously undetected indication of hydrocarbons in the Zuunbayan Formation is also a welcome result."Speech recognition technology firm Exkoh has received certification of full compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, which is a set of comprehensive requirements for enhancing account data security.Eckoh is now fully accredited to offer solutions to process credit and debit card payments made over the telephone and web. Eckoh's chief executive officer, Nik Philpot, described the accreditation as a "critical milestone" for the company. "The volume of card payments we are processing is increasing rapidly and is now at an annual run rate of £190m, and this growth is set to continue," Philpot predicted.Gas Turbine Efficiency's discussions with a potential strategic investor have concluded and the strategic investor has decided not to make an investment. Separately, the company is continuing discussions to sell substantially all of the assets of its aviation business and is exploring other long term financing alternatives involving existing investors, alongside third party alternatives.Pan Pacific Aggregates reports third quarter revenue is up 79%, with a 69% increase in tonnes sold and a 12% rise in average aggregates selling prices. "Quadling has performed to management's expectations and trading in September and early October 2010 has created the critical mass where Pan Pacific Quadling Quarry Ltd is now covering all its operational costs," it added.Disinfectant but group Tristel's profit jumped by a third to £1.72m in the year to June. Turnover rose 28% to £8.76m. "Tristel has had another successful year, increasing turnover and profit for the fifth consecutive year since joining AIM in 2005. We continue to expand internationally, obtaining our first regulatory approval in China and achieving our first sales, and we have now also entered the German market. We look forward to the future with confidence, " said chief executive Paul Swinney.Construction and engineering solutions provider Costain has been awarded a contract from the National Grid for its London Cable Replacement Tunnel.The contract, worth £200m, is to build a new high voltage electricity cable tunnel in London which is 33km long. It is due to start later this year and expected to be completed by 2014, with associated works to be finished by 2018.