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The group's update maintains: "Actions have been taken to mitigate this event and these have been effective in enhancing operating margins. As a result for the full year, while revenue will be lower than last year, profit is anticipated to be in line with the Board's expectations."

The research and development consultancy, Sagentia, has issued a warning on 2012 revenues after a big project with a north American medical start-up was suspended. Sagentia says the suspension will see revenues in the first half of 2012 coming in lower than the second six months of 2011. The group also expects revenues for full year 2012 to be below 2011.

Plexus said the potential value of the contract was estimated at £1.05m with revenues form the deal expected to start coming in in June or July this year. "The contract...allows us to make further in roads into the lucrative and highly active West African oil and gas arena, a market which we are keen to build our position in," said Plexus Chief Executive Ben van Bilderbeek. "We are excited to be working for Bowleven again and hope to continue this working relationship in the future."

Plexus Holdings (POS), the oil and gas engineering services firm, has secured a contract potentially worth over one million pounds to provide wellhead systems and services to exploration firm Bowleven (BLVN). The firm said the equipment would be used for appraisal activities on two wells, both located in the Bowleven's Etinde Permit area, offshore Cameroon. There was also scope to extend the contract for up to two further wells in the same area, it added.

Recent new business wins in the last two months for its claims management products I-Team and Verify augur well for RIIG. Indeed it now works for six of the leading household insurers. As French argues ìwe have the healthiest pipeline of new opportunities we have ever seen’.

MDM recently secured two tailings reclamation feasibility studies in South Africa as well as a uranium feasibility study. House broker Canaccord Genuity is hiking its 2012 pre-tax profit forecasts from $6.9 million to $7.6 million, which would generate EPS of 14.5 cents. With cash of 45p a share, MDM has a strong balance sheet and has further to run.

Buoyed by strong demand for its services, minerals process to project management outfit MDM Engineering (MDM) has announced it will beat market expectations by at least 10 per cent. AIM listed MDM has benefited from significant improvement in its project pipeline, largely driven by a better environment for long-term capital investment. The news has prompted a 9p rise in the share price to 130.5p this morning, but it follows two upgrades last year which stated results would be better than hoped.

Orosur Mining confirmed the historically identified grades on the Veta II site at its Mahoma gold project in Uruguay and is now planning to expand its drilling programme which will be aimed at defining a resource during the current year. The firm expects that this resource will provide the basis of a feasibility study for mining a total of 25,000 ounces per year. The firm is attempting to offset a delay earlier in the year by accelerating alternative open pit mining, but said this has affected cash costs. Total sales for the quarter ended March 31st were $26.0m compared to $21.6m for the corresponding period of the previous year. The firm's cash position at the end of the quarter was $15.4m, $0.1m higher than at February 28th 2011.

In the future, the company proposes to pay out a dividend of at least 25% of net income going forward. The statement gave no indication whether shareholders would be required to do this calculation for themselves based on published earnings per share figures ... The board will in addition consider special dividends each year on a case by case basis. It also intends to pay an interim dividend in the coming years. Cash at the end of the year increased from $11.99m to $12.46m.

The company did not pay an interim dividend in respect of 2011 but does intend to pay a final dividend of $1m; that's in total, not per share. The company indicated that the payment represents "a yield of 5% at the current share price", so based on last night's closing price of 26p and a US exchange rate of $1.5935, that suggests a dividend payment of 2.07155 cents a share, although using the number of shares in issue figure provided by the company, the dividend works out at 2.049146 cents a share. Hpuse broker finnCap has gone with a figure of 2.0 cents.

finnCap has taken the view that "the 2011 year-end accrued income balance could potentially result in an equivalent reduction to the customer's budget for Norcon services in 2012 and have therefore set a conservative revenue forecast of $55m, 90% of which is already visible. "Assuming consistent gross margins and an increase in operating expenses to account for the new hires, we expect a PBT [profit before tax] of £3.0m for 2012," finnCap analyst Mark Paddon added.

The fruits of the company's investments are not expected to make much difference to the top line until 2013, and will put a dent in 2012 profits. "We are confident that opportunities exist for Norcon to continue to grow organically over the longer term given the new contracts and investments in our core market, as well as the increased pace of international diversification," said Chief Executive Officer Arnold Rørholt. "We look forward with confidence to the years ahead and the contributions our new efforts will bring to the company," Rørholt added.

"The group retains a strong balance sheet and is initiating a strategic programme to strengthen technical and sales resource in various sectors and geographies which should result in improved growth prospects and a broadening of its customer, sector and geographic revenue base," house broker finnCap noted.

Basic earnings per share fell from 9.10c to 7.27c. Diluted earnings per share, which reflect changes in the number of shares in issue were 8.72 cents in 2010. With a tough year behind it, the group is looking to increase the emphasis on geographical expansion and the development of new services, as part of its long-term diversification strategy.

Norcon, the global communications network specialist which posted a profit warning in February, managed to hit lowered expectations with its full year results. The firm, which said it was able to put in a resilient performance in a difficult year as a result of its long-term relations with key customers, generated a pre-tax profit of $5.4m (2010: $6.7m) on revenues of $66.6m (2010: $68.6m). The decline was attributed to a shortfall in new business, increased cost of sales, and higher finance expenses, as flagged at the time of its February profit warning

Real Estate Credit Investments is to implement a more generous dividend policy for holders of its core shares. From the quarter ended March 31st, 2012, the closed-ended investment company is targeting an annual dividend on the core shares of 6% of net asset value per share, payable quarterly.

Occupancy has increased to 78% in the year, up from 76% at the start of the financial year. As at March 31st, 2012, cash reserves were €9.1 million, down from €13m six months earlier. Borrowings, excluding capitalised loan costs, totalled €296m, down from €300.0m at the end of September, representing a loan to value percentage of 60.1% based on an independent portfolio performed at the end of September. Both banking facilities are operating within covenants and the group remains in discussions with the the Royal Bank of Scotland about its banking facility, which matures in October 2012. The group said its main focus at present is to be able to service its borrowings and cover future capital expenditure requirements from operational cash flow.

Property firm Sirius Real Estate traded in line with management's expectations in the financial year just ended. Rental income is expected to have increased to €45.2m from €43.6m (after excluding €1.9m of surrender premiums) the year before, driven primarily by higher average rate per square metre on new sales. In addition, the group expects to see further reductions in non-recovered service charge costs and overhead costs once all the numbers have been totted up, which should add around €1m to profits.

Daisy's net debt at March 31st 2012 will be above March 2011 levels, the group advised. This reflects acquisition and integration cash flows, together with an increase in working capital absorption associated with its mobile business and a higher proportion of larger customer deals. "For the year ahead, the board is pleased with the progress to date across all key divisions, though remains mindful of the challenging market trends and macroeconomic outlook," the company statement said.

In the 12 month period ending December 31st 2011, the unaudited adjusted management accounts of Worldwide included revenues and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £36.4m and £4.0m respectively. Daisy said the purchase price of Worldwide may increase, depending on the performance of the acquired business. Worldwide's existing senior management will be staying with the company. The acquisition will be funded from an increase in existing borrowing facilities together with the addition of Royal Bank of Scotland to the existing four strong group of lenders.