SEPU.L Share News (SEPU)

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 CHLORIDE GROUP PLC (CHLD.LN), a manufacturer of secure power systems, Tuesday recommended an GBP860 million takeover offer from Swiss engineering giant ABB Ltd. (ABB). ABB's 325 pence-a-share bid would trump an earlier offer from St. Louis-based Emerson Electric Co. (EMR), which has pursued Chloride at least twice. At 0810 GMT, shares +51.4 pence, or 18%, at 340 pence. ROCKHOPPER EXPLORATION PLC (RKH.LN), an oil and gas explorer, said it agreed to raise GBP48.5 million in a share sale to fund its exploration activities in the Falkland Islands. Rockhopper said it will use the proceeds for testing of its Sea Lion discovery and drilling an exploration well at the Ernest prospect. At 0810 GMT, shares +10 pence, or 3.5%, at 300.25 pence. BROOKS MACDONALD GROUP PLC (BRK.LN), an asset manager, said it has agreed terms for a takeover of smaller peer BRAEMAR GROUP PLC (BRG.LN), valuing the London-based firm at GBP4 million. Brooks MacDonald said Braemar's fund and property management services are complementary to its own, while Braemar said the deal will bring increased scale and support, as well as the opportunity to deliver better returns for clients. At 0809 GMT, Brooks Macdonald shares flat at 774 pence. Braemar shares +0.75 pence, or 55%, at 2.13 pence. SEPURA PLC (SEPU.LN), a digital radio company, said it expects to grow revenue this fiscal, as it reported a 6% rise in fiscal 2010 sales on the back of currency benefits, although pretax profit fell on higher costs. At 0809 GMT, shares -1.5 pence, or 2.9%, at 50 pence. UMECO PLC (UMC.LN), an aerospace and defense industry supplier, reported a 21% decline in fiscal-year pretax profit after dwindling passenger numbers hurt aircraft orders. Umeco, which supplies parts to aerospace manufacturers and makes composite materials used in aircraft, Formula One racing cars and wind turbines, said it expects modest growth in revenue this fiscal year as new aircraft from Boeing Co. (BA) and Airbus get built and markets recover. It said year-end orders stood at GBP227.4 million, compared with GBP218.9 million a year earlier. At 0809 GMT, shares -3.25 pence, or 0.9%, at 350 pence. WINCANTON PLC (WIN.LN), a haulier, said it entered a joint venture with business outsourcing firm Serco Group PLC (SRP.LN). The first initiative of the new venture, to be called Serton, will be to bid for contracts to escort prisoners for the U.K. Ministry of Justice, Wincanton said. At 0808 GMT, shares +1 pence, or 0.4%, at 230 pence. SYNCHRONICA PLC (SYNC.LN), a mobile phone software provider, posted a narrowed full-year loss, but said that while its 2010 sales pipeline is at a record high, conversion of orders into sales has been slower than expected. At 0808 GMT, shares -0.12 pence, or 6.7%, at 1.75 pence. GOOCH & HOUSEGO PLC (GHH.LN), a maker of optical components and systems, posted a marked increase in first-half pretax profit as it enjoyed a sustained recovery of its markets and secured new business. At 0808 GMT, shares +18 pence, or 9.9%, at 199 pence. PETRONEFT RESOURCES PLC (P8ET.DB), a Russia-focused oil and gas company, said Tuesday it has completed drilling three of nine production wells planned this year at its Lineynoye field, and has begun drilling a fourth. The company said it has also completed construction of a 60-kilometer export pipeline. First oil production from the field is scheduled for the third quarter of the year. At 0807 GMT, London-traded shares +2 pence, or 6.4%, at 33.5 pence. WH SMITH PLC (SMWH.LN), a book and magazine retailer, said sales at its stores open more than a year fell 4% in the first 14 weeks of its second half and it remains cautious about consumer spending for the rest of the year. At 0807 GMT, shares -11.5 pence, or 2.5%, at 442.5 pence. D1 OILS PLC (DOO.LN), a biofuels company, said it is in talks with renewables firm Mission Newenergy Ltd. (MBT.AU) about an offer for D1 pitched at GBP16 million in shares. At 0807 GMT, shares +1.25 pence, or 20%, at 7.5 pence. DJ UK Smaller Cos -0.1% AIM +0.2% By Jason Douglas, Hannah Benjamin and Rachael Gormley, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0) 20 7842 9272; uksmallcaps@dowjones.com (Katharina Bart in Zurich contributed to this article.) Order free Annual Report for Chloride Group PLC Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=GB0001952075 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028 Order free Annual Report for Umeco plc Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=GB0009116079 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028 Order free Annual Report for PetroNeft Resources plc Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=IE00B0Q82B24 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028 (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 08, 2010 04:30 ET (08:30 GMT)