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Proton Motor signs cooperation agreement with Modl Proton Motor further addressing the market for stationary power supply through cooperation with Modl Proton Power (AIM:PPS) is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH ("Proton Motor") has signed a cooperation agreement with Modl GmbH ("Modl") to address the need for interruption-free and energy efficient storage for the stationary power supply market. This is particularly relevant in Germany given the recent shutdown of nuclear power stations and the growing reliance on renewable energy supplies which are intermittent requiring increased storage. Modl, Proton Motor's sales partner in southern Germany, has many years' experience in the market and a large customer base for stationary power supply. Modl delivers a complete cabinet solution, including peripherals, while Proton Motor contributes its expertise by supplying the stationary fuel cell system. The market for energy efficient backup power supply is expected to experience significant growth in the near future, as expected power outages and power supply shortages become the focus of operators of mission critical applications such as hospitals, data centres, telecommunications companies and airports. Emission-free, compact energy storage systems are in demand from key decision makers. Both partners will offer complete solutions for Uninterrupted Power Supply ("UPS") and grid shaving applications based on Proton Motors' hydrogen fuel cell technology and Modl's product portfolio. The products are especially engineered to provide a long period of backup power of over five hours, are eco-friendly and compactly designed, offering a real alternative to noisy and high-emission diesel generators or pure battery applications. The products will range from 5 to 120 kW. The first joint projects are underway and the Company will update the market accordingly with developments.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201208060700082995J

Investors in InterContinental Hotels, which is reeling from a price-fixing investigation, hope for better news this week with City analysts betting they may be on track for a $1.5bn (£960m) bonus. That is the amount they could get via extra dividend payments and share buybacks, a move that might also keep activist investor Nelson Peltz happy. The US fund manager recently took a 4.27% stake in IHG. One source of cash is the sale of the flagship New York Barclay hotel, progess on which is expected at the group's half-year results on Tuesday. Last week, the Office of Fair Trading found Holiday Inn-owner IHG had colluded with Booking.com and Expedia to limit discounts. The firms said they did nothing wrong and will challenge the findings, The Independent on Sunday writes.

Outlook The Board is obviously disappointed by the trading results for the year under review. However, the Board starts this year with increased optimism especially with the news of the Post Office contract in Safetell reflecting the quality of our product offering and excellent relationship with that customer. Sales of our OEM product offering to the US market have been slower than anticipated due to the length of software integration periods but the Board expects an improvement in the current year. Although sales of our new SATEON access control software should increase steadily during the year, the Board anticipates that more significant sales growth will be achieved in the following years when the product is more established. Despite the continuing worldwide economic problems affecting trading levels generally, the Board believes that Newmark is well positioned for growth in the medium to long term.

Commenting on the results Maurice Dwek, Chairman of Newmark Security plc, said: "The Board is obviously disappointed by the trading results for the year under review. However, the Board starts this year with increased optimism especially with the news of the Post Office contract in Safetell. The Board expects an improvement in sales of our OEM product offering to the US market during the current financial year as well as significant sales growth of our new SATEON access control software in future years as the product becomes more established. Despite the continuing worldwide economic problems affecting trading levels generally, the Board believes that Newmark is well positioned for growth in the medium to long term".

Electronic and physical security systems provider Newmark Security (NWT) disappointed the markets as it posted an almost 80% drop in pre-tax profits to 189,000 pounds for the year to April, despite revenue climbing 3.5% to 13.1 million pounds. The heavy reduction in the bottom line was primarily attributed to a 194,000 pound impairment provision against certain development costs and professional fees in relation to the dismissal of two former employees. The firm also blamed the reduction in profit to falling public sector spending, which hampered demand for its products.

Shore Capital retained its "buy" stance on RSA Insurance Group (RSA) after the company's interim results beat the broker's expectations, with operating profits hitting 316 million pounds. The broker expects the firm to finish the 2012 financial year with a net asset value of 100p and added that the shares trade at a 19.3% discount to the sum-of-parts valuation of 138p. Shore also pointed to the highly attractive dividend yield of 8.6%. RSA shares advanced by 1.5p to 111.4p.

Ladbrokes Buy 02-Aug-12 £15,720.00 Ian Bull 10,000 @ 157.20p

Energy Technique Buy 03-Aug-12 £60,000.00 Martin Michael Reid 1,200,000 @ 5.00p

Energy Technique Buy 03-Aug-12 £80,000.00 Leigh Stimpson 1,600,000 @ 5.00p

Dr Uwe Krueger, the Chief Executive Officer of WS Atkins, the FTSE 250 design and engineering consultancy, doubled his stake in the company on the same day it was forced to issue a profit warning. Kruegar, who has occupied his role for one year, added another 10,000 shares to his previous holding of 10,053, at 673p each. The announcement was made after trading hours on Thursday.

BoA Merrill Lynch downgrades Brown (N) from buy to underperform, target price cut from 280p to 260p.

Finncap initiates corporate on UBC Media Group, target price 3p.

Panmure Gordon upgrades Rentokil Initial from sell to hold, target price increased from 62p to 73p.

HB Markets initiates hold on RSA Insurance.

Decent recovery so far from the 160's

Dr Terry O'Brien, CEO of LiDCO, commented: "We and Argon are delighted to announce this sales and marketing collaboration with the monitoring pioneer Nihon Kohden. This agreement is aligned with LiDCO's ongoing strategy of increasing sales by predominantly using a distribution route to market. This agreement will give us extensive access to the Japanese anesthesia and surgery markets where Nihon Kohden is already a well established and major presence with a sales force of over 1,000 staff. Japan is a key territory for LiDCO with a potential market for improved intraoperative fluid management disposables of US$285 million per annum." George Leondis, President of Argon Medical Devices, commented: "We are delighted to partner with LiDCO to expand the range of products we manufacture for Nihon Kohden, our biggest customer in Japan. We believe the LiDCOrapid monitor and disposable kits will advance the quality of patient care in Japan, and we are proud to be a part of that."

Nihon Kohden appointed as exclusive distributor for LiDCOrapid in Japan LiDCO Group Plc (AIM:LID), the UK-based hemodynamic monitoring company, is pleased to announce that Nihon Kohden, a pioneer and global market leader in monitoring technology, has been appointed as the exclusive distributor for the LiDCOrapid monitor and disposable kit in Japan. Nihon Kohden will work with LiDCO, and its existing partner Argon Medical Devices, to market and sell LiDCOrapid products in Japan. Under the terms of the agreement LiDCO has appointed Nihon Kohden as the exclusive distributor of LiDCOrapid monitors in Japan. LiDCO will continue to supply Argon with LiDCOrapid Smartcards, for assembly into kits with Argon's blood pressure transducer with Nihon Kohden being the exclusive distributor of these kits in Japan. As previously announced regulatory and reimbursement approval for LiDCOrapid has already been received from the Japanese regulators. LiDCO and its partners Argon and Nihon Kohden now have access to the second largest market in the world for hemodynamic monitoring with approximately 680,000 high-risk surgical patients per annum who would benefit clinically from improved intraoperative fluid management. Nihon Kohden is Japan's leading manufacturer, developer and distributor of medical electronic equipment with direct subsidiaries in the USA, Europe and Asia. The principle of pulse oximetry, a non-invasive measure of blood oxygen levels, was invented by Dr Takuo Aoyagi, a Nihon Kohden scientist. Nihon Kohden will use its extensive Japanese sales network consisting of over 1,000 direct sales staff with over 120 branch offices throughout the country to promote LiDCOrapid.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201208030700082102J

Jefferies has raised its target price for medical devices maker Smith and Nephew from 740p to 780p and reiterated its 'buy' rating for the stock, saying that the group's first-half results showed that progress is being made on its strategic priorities. The broker said that it is seeing the effects of cost savings in the previously "sacrosanct" orthopaedics division, a merger of divisions has been initiated without signs of disruptions. "We consider this encouraging for the longer-term initiatives to deliver innovation and greater share of sales from faster growing product areas and geographies."