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Frontier IP Group said full year losses widened as fundraising to provide ongoing working capital and growth opportunities is in its final stage. The group, which specialises in commercialising intellectual property of University research teams, said pre-tax loss widened to £380,000 for the year ended June 30th 2012 from a loss £269,000 the same time a year before. Revenue for the year fell to £223,000 from £307,000. Frontier said loss per share increased to 5.45p from 3.86p before. Net assets per share at June 30 fell to 36p from 41.4p. The group said the new financial year has started well and, with the fundraising, it will be positioned for continued development. Chairman Neil Crabb commented: "Frontier IP has made good progress during the year ended 30 June 2012 with helping its existing portfolio companies to deploy their technologies and with deepening and extending its relationships within its three university partnerships." New opportunities are in the works including a fund management agreement with Narec Capital and a collaboration with the University of Central Lancashire. "Dependent on the successful outcome of the fundraising which is in its final stage, Frontier IP will be well placed to make further progress. The Board remains confident about the opportunities for growth in the new financial year and beyond."

Ceramic Fuel Cells, a developer of generators which use fuel cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity and heat, has said its welcomes the launch of a subsidy scheme for micro combined heat and power products (mCHP). Under the scheme, the North-Rhine Westphalia government will pay a capital subsidy to commercial customers and energy service companies, like Ceramic Fuel Cells' BlueGen and integrated mCHP products. The company believes its products are likely to be eligible for an initial subsidy of around 10,000 euros per unit.

Surgical Innovations Group, a designer and manufacturer of creative solutions for minimally invasive surgery, has shipped the first batch of its PretzelFlex device, and expected to ship a second batch in December. The shipment was part of an eight-year agreement with Care Fusion which gave them exclusive rights to sell Pretzel Flex in the US.

GB Group remains confident of the long-term potential of the markets in which it operates, as businesses and governmental organisations increase their on line transactions. "As UK and international business continues to move online and cross border online trading between individuals and businesses increases, the need for our identity verification and engagement services by organisations becomes ever more critical. In addition to further improvements and developments of our technologies, we have continued to invest in, and added further countries to, our already extensive international capability to promote long term growth for GB Group," said Richard Law, GB Group's Chief Executive Officer. Cash at the end of September stood at £5.8m, up from £4.2m a year earlier.

The group said it performed in line with market expectations in the six months to the end of September, with organic growth supplemented by contributions from acquired businesses. Group revenues grew 44% to £17.7m from £12.3m the year before, with an expected 55% increase in adjusted operating profit to £1.4m from £0.9m the previous year. The DataAuthentication and the DataSolutions businesses performed well ahead of last year. DataSolutions' revenue was some 60% ahead while DataAuthentications' revenue was about 25% up year-on-year. A sizeable chunk of the increase in the DataSolutions' divisions revenue came from Capscan, which was acquired early in the second half of the previous year. As a result, the year-on-year growth rate will slow down in the second half of the year.

SNR Chief Executive David Nel said the flexibility gave the firm accessibility to cash if needed and the necessary financial capability to achieve production and delivery targets, without encumbering any of SNR's assets. "The new loan facility is a bridging facility that will assist us in achieving our goals in the short term, whilst we continue to negotiate longer term debt solutions," he said. The company's shares were down 2.3% by 1045 on Monday following the announcement.

South Africa-focused Strategic Natural Resources (SNR) said it had agreed a new 10 million pound loan facility to help it with short term costs. The unsecured loan facility with Land Consultants (LCL), an Isle of Man investment fund, is for a term of up to 12 months and can be taken in amounts of at least £1m. However, it comes with the caveat that LCL has the right to convert the amount that remains outstanding into new ordinary shares in the company at 25p per new share, for a period of 12 months after any drawdown date. Interest is also payable on amounts drawn down at a rate of 20% per annum, with a minimum amount payable of six months interest on any drawdown. SNR said it intended only taking the minimum amount operationally required under this facility. Due to LCL's ability to convert the amounts drawn down into shares, SNR said it would only draw down amounts which, on conversion, would not exceed the company's authority to allot new shares from time to time.

Energy efficient boiler developer Energix Group said it had successfully entered a crucial phase to test the processes and IT systems of Kingston Energy, its retail energy provider. The company has processed its first batch of energy customers as part of the Controlled Market Entry (CME) phase, a prerequisite for any new entrant wanting to supply electricity to consumers. During the process Kingston Energy has to prove it has the full end-to-end processes and robust IT systems in place to be an energy supplier. The firm will take on up to 100 energy customers over a three month period with the CME process expected to complete in January 2013. "We are confident that the next three months will demonstrate that, having extensively tested the robustness of our systems, processes and customer services, they will be proven in an operational environment," said Tony Stiff, Managing Director of Kingston Energy.

Valiant Petroleum, an exploration and production energy company focused on the UK and Norwegian continental shelves, has been awarded five licences in the 27th Seaward Licensing Round. Three of the licences will be 100% owned, with partial non-operated stakes in the other two of 30% and 33%, respectively. The firm believes that the awards form an important step in its plan to continue the process of re-focussing the UK portfolio towards material opportunities and near-term development potential. Valiant's work commitments on the provisional awards include one firm well and four contingent wells in addition to certain seismic purchase and reprocessing obligations. Richard Morgan, Exploration Manager UK, said: "We are extremely pleased to have been awarded five licences in the 27th Round which are centred around a number of existing areas in the Central North Sea and West of Shetlands on which Valiant's exploration team has been focusing considerable effort towards identifying material targets in under-explored play fairways."

"The offer provides a sound basis for employees to return to work and for the company to return to full operation, while maintaining our current wage agreement and negotiating structure. We hope that our employees will use this opportunity to return to work." Amplats has offered a "once-off 'hardship allowance'" of 2,000 rand (£144) net of tax to help out workers in dealing with financial difficulties arising out of the 'No Work, No Pay' principle. Meanwhile, employees who didn't strike will bag a "once-off 'loyalty allowance'" of the same amount. Striking employees will also get the chance for a payment advance which will be deducted from their future salaries over next year. The statement said: "The offer is strictly subject to all striking employees returning to work and doing actual work/activities as required by the company from Tuesday, the 30th October 2012. The employees who do not return to work as required will not qualify for the offer of a once-off payment. The 'hardship and loyalty' allowances will be paid 48 hours after the successful completion of the return to work shift on Tuesday 30th October 2012." Those who do not return will stay dismissed and could be subjected to illegal strike disciplinary action.

Anglo American's platinum unit, known as Amplats, has come to an agreement with trade unions in South Africa and hopes to see its 12,000 dismissed employees return to work by tomorrow, Tuesday October 30th. Industrial action has been going on for the past six weeks since the initial safety suspension of Amplats' Rustenburg, Union and Amandelbult mining operations. The company last week met with unions NUM, NUMSA and UASA to discuss how to facilitate the return to work of the 12,000 workers. "The discussions between the parties have been focused solely on exploring options of ensuring striking employees return to work and did not include any wage negotiations," Anglo said. The firm has said that its offer to the unions included the reinstatement of the dismissed employees, who will return to work on the same terms as before. They will however receive a "final written disciplinary warning". Chris Griffith, the Chief Executive Officer of Amplats, said: "We welcome the opportunity to have presented this offer to the recognised unions and the strike committee.

Content Distribution revenues jumped 47% on last year with a strong performance seen across all products, the group said. Advertising & Sponsorship revenues surged 56%, while Advertising & Sponsorship (display) saw growth of 132% - this was mainly due to the acquisitions of Spox and Mackolik and the continuing growth of Goal.com. Subscription revenues rose 20%. However, Technology & Production sales fell 5% year-on-year and was slightly below the company's expectations with some contract slippage into the fourth quarter. This division accounts for around a tenth of group revenues.

Digital sports content platform group Perform registered impressive revenue growth in the third quarter and said that while there was some weakness in its Technology & Production division, it's still on track to hit targets this year. Group revenues increased by 44% in the three months to September 30th, from £27.4m last year to £39.5m. That equates to 10% growth quarter-on-quarter. "We are pleased to report that our strong operational and financial performance has continued through Q3, which reflects the successful execution of our growth strategy," said Joint Chief Executive Officer Oliver Slipper. "We have reported substantial increases in revenues and are making significant investments in additional content, new platform development and international opportunities as we build the business to deliver long term sustainable growth. We are on track to deliver full-year 2012 results in line with the board's expectations." Perform commercialises multimedia sports content across internet-enabled digital platforms, driving revenues through a mix of Content Distribution, Advertising & Sponsorship and developing Subscription Platforms.

Pearson said its digital and services businesses continued to grow, with sustained momentum in English language schools in China, school services in India, higher education in South Africa and school learning systems in Brazil. However, textbook publishing remained generally weak, particularly in markets where purchases are publicly-funded. "We have confidently reiterated our guidance because many of our businesses are going strong in this complicated trading environment," said Chief Executive Marjorie Scardino. "But the dynamics of the markets we're in could make that achievement more about resilience than flamboyance. "As always, all the people in Pearson have their shoulders to the wheels that turn in our important fourth quarter," she said.

Financial Times owner Pearson said it was sticking with its full year outlook of growth in sales and operating profits despite tough conditions. The company said that sales were up 5% and operating profit down 5% in the first nine months of the year. Sales were driven by good growth at International Education and the FT Group and a 'resilient' performance in North American Education. The drop in operating profits reflected the sale of FTSE in 2011, acquisition integration costs and continued weakness in UK professional training, the firm said. At Penguin, which the firm is merging with Random House, sales were down 1% compared to 2011, however the third quarter saw ebook revenue rise 35% on 2011. Its Professional Education division struggled, with the take-up of new training programmes being slower-than-expected. As a result, the company expects full-year profits in Professional Education to be significantly lower than in 2011. The highlight was International Education, where sales were up 13% after nine months.

The Daily Telegraph reported the deal was expected to value Northcliffe, whose titles include the Western Daily Press, Leicester Mercury and Hull Daily Mail, at around £110m. Yattendon's newspaper business would get a £20m price tag, both payable in a mix of cash and equity in the new business, the newspaper said. The local newspaper industry has been hit hard as advertisers move online and readers turn to the internet for news. Last year, a review by Ernst & Young showed that Northcliffe had lost 90% of its value in less than five years, dropping from £1.5bn to just £150m.

Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) has confirmed it is in talks over the future of Northcliffe Media after speculation it would sell off its local newspaper division. Reports suggest DGMT is discussing the sale with Trinity Mirror, in a deal that would see Northcliffe's 84 titles sold to a new firm that is backed by private equity. The new firm would also buy family-owned regional newspaper and property group, Yattendon, which has 30 titles. The new venture, called Local World, would be 75%-owned by the three newspaper groups The three newspaper groups will own 75pc of the new venture, in "broadly equal shares". However, it is not thought to include the sale of any of Trinity Mirror's local stable. "No deal or transaction has been agreed, but if these talks move to the point where agreement is reached, an announcement will be made to the market," DMGT's statement said.

Ahead of upcoming job layoffs, Iberia, the Spanish airline owned by International Air Group (IAG), has sent a letter to travel agencies to inform them of flight adjustments for the winter season, Spanish daily Cinco Dias reports. Iberia announced that several routes will be affected due to flight reductions or suspensions stemming from changes to its winter season flight programme. Flights from Madrid to Berlin, Amsterdam, and Stockholm will be suspended. Iberia did not offer more details but has provided travel agencies with instructions on how to handle the most affected passengers. The company will also have less flights to Alicante, Malaga, Sevilla, and Palma de Mallorca between November 13th and January 9th. Shares of IAG were trading 1.5% lower to 157.80p on Monday morning in London.

Aegis Group, the FTSE 100 media and digital communications group, has acquired Hablar, a performance marketing and search agency in Japan, as part of its strategy of increasing its digital profile and capability. Hablar, which was established in 2003, is focused on search marketing and digital performance media, and has a long partnership with Aegis Media in Japan. Hablar will be merged into the existing operations of the iProspect section of Aegis Media Japan, strengthening its capabilities and providing additional service for its clients.

Pearson said its digital and services businesses continued to grow, with sustained momentum in English language schools in China, school services in India, higher education in South Africa and school learning systems in Brazil. However, textbook publishing remained generally weak, particularly in markets where purchases are publicly-funded.