GKO.L Share News (GKO)

Vocational qualifications group Education Development reports the strong rate of growth seen at the interim stage has been maintained. It now expects to at least meet market expectations this year. UK vocational qualifications sales continue to drive growth. International sales also continue to make good progress and are benefiting from favourable currency exchange rates.Shares in Indian renewable energy group Greenko shot forward as it unveiled a $46m cash injection by US tech investor Global Environment Emerging Markets Fund III (GEF) at a 34% premium to the market price.The investment will help Greenko develop its portfolio of small projects in the 25 to 100 MW scale. The preference shares being issued to GEF are, in certain circumstances, convertible into approximately 29.99% of the enlarged share capital. For the year ended 31 March, Greenko's sales rose by to $13.9m from €13.1m, with pre-tax profits of €3.2m (2008: €2.8m).Individual Restaurant, which operates 33 restaurants throughout the UK under the Piccolino (22) and Restaurant Bar & Grill (11) brands, saw interim losses climb sharply in the six months to June. Revenues increased by 5% to £25.2m (2008: £24.0m), but losses rose to £838,000 from £83,000. Traditionally, earnings have been heavily weighted towards the second half of the year and 2009 will be no exception with trading conditions expected to remain challenging, it said.Greek phone group Globo lifted revenues by 16% to €8.34m in the six months June, with underlying operating profits up by 19% to €1.62m and pre-tax profit 6%better at 6% to €0.91m.The current forward order book for the rest of the year remains strong at approximately €4.3m and there is a good level of activity in tendering for new contracts in both the public and private sector tenders, Globo added.Lower agricultural commodity prices and a dry Spring season hit revenues at Ukrainian wheat and oilseed rape grower Landkom.Revenue from continuing operations rose to $1.86m in the first half 2009 from $0.38m a year earlier, but was lower than expected. Loss before tax narrowed to $16.6m from $19.2m.Crop productivity specialist Plant Impact has triggered the first regulatory milestone payment from Arysta LifeScience following the submission of two applications to the US Environmental Protection Agency for USA registration of its BugOil product.Cruise line operator Carnival has selected software from Smartfocus to form part of a new customer relations management platform for its UK operations. Financial terms were not disclosed.