SMALL-CAP WINNERS & LOSERS: S4 Capital rises on MSQ talks

Mon, 11th Aug 2025 10:24

(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Monday.

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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS

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Anglo-Eastern Plantations PLC, up 7.5% at 1,034.50 pence, 12-month range 589.60p-1,050.00p. The developer of plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia kicks off a new share buyback worth up to GBP8 million. "The board believes that AEP's shares are undervalued relative to the group's strong fundamentals and growth potential. By repurchasing shares AEP aims to enhance earnings per share and deliver greater value to remaining shareholders," it adds. In addition, it says pretax profit for the six months that ended June 30 rises 78% to USD62.6 million from USD35.2 million a year earlier. Revenue climbed 39% to USD230.5 million from USD166.1 million.

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S4 Capital PLC, up 5.8% at 22.55p, 12-month range 20.35p-66.75p. The advertising firm receives a combination proposal from MSQ Partners, with talks between the duo "at a very preliminary stage". In response to a press report, the firm says a deal, if agreed, would be structured as a buyout of MSQ by S4. MSQ is majority owned by One Equity Partners. Sky News on Saturday reported S4 Executive Chair Martin Sorrell has been contacted by various parties over merger proposals, including private equity firm One Equity Partners. Sky News reported S4 has attracted interest elsewhere, but the identities of those potential suitors could not be immediately established.

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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS

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Ferrexpo PLC, down 5.2% at 55.00p, 12-month range 38.15p-124.00p. Shares give back some ground after a 26% advance last week. Shares in the iron ore producer in Ukraine were supported last week amid hope of an end to the Russian and Ukrainian conflict. US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that a face-to-face meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin could occur "very soon." Putin then said Thursday "both sides showed interest" in a US-Russia top-level meeting, while Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said "next week has been set as a target date". A summit has now been penned in Alaska on Friday.

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By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor

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