UK SMALLCAP ROUNDUP: Rockhopper Exploration Chmn Builds Stake

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 ROCKHOPPER EXPLORATION PLC (RKH.LN), a Falkland Islands-focused oil and gas explorer, said Tuesday Executive Chairman Pierre Jungels bought another 23,350 shares in the company. The purchase follows results published last week from a laboratory analysis of oil samples from its Sea Lion discovery in the North Falklands Basin, which confirmed the oil is a medium-grade crude. The discovery has yet to be formally declared commercial. At 1045 GMT, shares +14 pence, or 4.7%, at 312 pence. RM PLC (RM.LN), a provider of educational products and services, said GBP200 million of future revenue is under threat from the U.K. government's decision to slash spending in schools, as seven Building Schools for the Future projects where it has been named preferred bidder could be axed. At 1045 GMT shares -9 pence, or 5.6%, at 153 pence. N. BROWN GROUP PLC (BWNG.LN), a home shopping retailer, plans to sell more of its brands in the U.S. if the imminent launch of its Simply Be range in the region is a success. The firm said trading has been "subdued" since the U.K. general election, with comparable sales ticking up just 0.1% in the 18 weeks to July 3. This compares to a 3.1% rise in comparable sales in the eight weeks to April 24. At 1045 GMT shares -11 pence, or 4.5%, at 243 pence. MELROSE RESOURCES PLC (MRS.LN), an oil and gas explorer, said it is seeking a buyer for its mature oil fields in Texas and New Mexico to focus on its projects in Europe and North Africa. At 1045 GMT shares +3 pence, or 1%, at 292 pence. AVACTA GROUP PLC (AVCT.LN), a drug research and analysis company, said it raised GBP1.38 million in a share sale to fund sales of its Optim protein analyzer and animal diagnostic system Midas. At 1045 GMT shares -0.12 pence, or 10.6%, at 1.05 pence. EXPANSYS PLC (XPS.LN), an online consumer electronics retailer, announced a "transformational" deal for the firm with the purchase of two businesses controlled by major shareholder and Dragons' Den entrepreneur Peter Jones for GBP38 million as part of its plan to build a global online technology superstore. At 1045 GMT shares -4 pence, or 28.7%, at 10 pence. HISCOX LTD. (HSX.LN), an international specialist insurer, said it has agreed a $750 million syndicated three-year revolving credit and letter of credit facility. Chief Financial Officer Stuart Bridges said the "competitive" facility will support the insurer's business development plans. At 1045 GMT, shares +3 pence, or 0.8%, at 346 pence. SPICE PLC (SPI.LN), a utility support services group, said it has received an increased conditional proposal from European buyout firm Cinven Group Ltd. in the range of 62 to 65 pence a share, but said this offer still undervalues Spice. At 1045 GMT shares +5 pence, or 8%, at 58 pence. ANITE PLC (AIE.LN), a software company, swung to a full-year pretax loss as sales fell and it invested more in new products, but said it has made a solid start to the current fiscal and is eyeing a return to profit. At 1045 GMT shares flat at 35 pence. DJ UK Smaller Cos +0.6% AIM +0.7%| -By Hannah Benjamin, Jason Douglas and Rachael Gormley, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0) 20 7842 9298; uksmallcaps@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 06, 2010 07:30 ET (11:30 GMT)