JJB.L Share News (JJB)

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 CONNAUGHT PLC (CNT.LN), a U.K. support services firm, Thursday said its chief executive and finance director have resigned from their roles, a week after a profit warning, but said the outlook for the group remains robust. Chief Executive Mark Tincknell will step down from the role which he has held since February with immediate effect due to health issues, but will continue to have an on-going role in the company as well as working with Non-Executive Chairman Roy Gardner to find a permanent successor. Connaught also said Finance Director Stephen Hill has decided to step down at the end of October this year and a search for a replacement has began. At 1102 GMT, shares -7.5 pence, or 6.4%, at 110.5 pence. BEGBIES TRAYNOR GROUP PLC (BEG.LN), a U.K. insolvency specialist, said it expects recent acquisitions and its now-profitable tax unit to mitigate a slowdown in demand for its insolvency practice in the short term, after reporting a 20% rise in fiscal-year pretax profit. Executive Chairman Ric Traynor said government support measures to help businesses, as well as a reluctance to chase debt, were slowing the number of insolvencies in the U.K. At 1103 GMT, shares +1.75 pence, or 3%, at 61 pence. JJB SPORTS PLC (JJB.LN), a U.K. sportswear retailer, reported a 22% rise in sales at its stores open more than a year in the six weeks to July 4, boosted by sales of replica soccer shirts throughout the ongoing soccer World Cup. Wigan, U.K.-based JJB said sales have remained in line with its expectations since it last updated the market in May, despite England's "premature" exit from the soccer tournament. At 1103 GMT, shares +0.5 pence, or 3.9%, at 13.5 pence. Able UK Ltd, a private U.K. company specializing in the redevelopment of old industrial sites, announced proposals for a GBP400 million marine energy park in the northeast of England. Able UK said the park on the south bank of the Humber estuary will include facilities to assemble wind turbines and a biomass power plant to supply electricity to nearby homes. TREVERIA PLC (TRV.LN), a property investor, said Deutsche Bank AG (DBK.XE) has filed for insolvency on part of a loan portfolio on one of Treveria's debt facilities. Deutsche Bank, acting as the servicing agent of Treveria's first Deutsche Bank/Citigroup debt facility, has made the filing on the part of the debt facility which relates to certain German property holding companies. At 1103 GMT, shares -0.01 euro cents, or 18%, at 0.07 euro cents. ITHACA ENERGY INC. (IAE.V), a North Sea-focused oil and gas company, has agreed C$158 million of financing which, along with its existing debt facility, will fully fund all of its current projects through to first production. At 1105 GMT, London-traded shares -7 pence, or 6%, at 109.5 pence. BETTER CAPITAL LTD. (BCAP.LN), a Guernsey-incorporated investment company, moved to the main market of the London Stock Exchange from London's junior Alternative Investment Market after raising GBP67.6 million through a placing. At 1105 GMT, shares +1.25 pence, or 1.1%, at 111.25 pence. ROBERT WISEMAN DAIRIES PLC (RWD.LN), a dairy company, said first-quarter sales were up almost 12% on year due to market consolidation over the past year and increasing orders from existing customers. At 1105 GMT, shares +0.5 pence, or 0.1%, at 505.5 pence. CENTAUR MEDIA PLC (CAU.LN), a publisher, said it has made a solid start to its current fiscal year, as the much-improved trading conditions it reported at the end of fiscal 2010 have continued. The firm said while the economic environment remains uncertain, it expects to post profits in line with its board's expectations for the year ended June 30. At 1105 GMT, shares +3.75 pence, or 8.2%, at 49.75 pence. INNOVATION GROUP PLC (TIG.LN) said it will book a GBP5.2 million exceptional charge during fiscal 2010, following its exit from two property leases. The firm--which provides enterprise software and business process outsourcing solutions to insurance, financial services, motor and fleet industries--indicated at the time of its interim results in May that it was considering reducing its property requirements in both the U.K. and U.S. At 1106 GMT, shares -0.5 pence, or 4.6%, at 10.5 pence. UBC MEDIA GROUP PLC (UBC.LN), an audio and video content supplier, said its fiscal 2011 net profit will top market expectations after it settled an early release with Bauer Media for its multiplex spectrum contracts. At 1107 GMT, shares +0.25 pence, or 5.1%, at 5.13 pence. GALLIFORD TRY PLC (GFRD.LN), a U.K. housebuilding and construction group, expects its fiscal 2010 results to be in line with the upper end of market expectations, adding that its housebuilding expansion plan is ahead of target. At 1107 GMT, shares +9 pence, or 3%, at 314 pence. VISLINK PLC (VLK.LN), a U.K. communications technology firm, said it will make a first-half operating loss before amortization of acquired intangibles and exceptional costs, although it expects improvements to revenue and order flow in the second half. At 1107 GMT, shares -3.75 pence, or 16%, at 19 pence. DQ ENTERTAINMENT PLC (DQE.LN), an animation and live action production and distribution company, has signed two exclusive broadcast deals in South Korea and Canada to screen its Jungle Book 3D animated television series. At 1108 GMT, shares +1 pence, or 0.9%, at 116 pence. PROBABILITY PLC (PBTY.LN), a mobile phone gambling services company, has launched its first games specifically designed for Apple Inc's (AAPL) iPhone and iPod Touch. At 1108 GMT, shares +0.5 pence, or 1.2%, at 42.5 pence. DJ UK Smaller Cos +0.7% AIM +0.9% -By Rachael Gormley, Jason Douglas & Hannah Benjamin, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0) 20 7842 9272; uksmallcaps@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 08, 2010 07:30 ET (11:30 GMT)