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Commenting on recent trading and outlook, Christopher Humphrey, Chief Executive, said: "We have had a strong start to the year which has increased our expectation for first half performance and is underpinning our confidence for the year as a whole."

Financial position Anite continues to report a robust financial position. Net cash as at 31 August 2011 was £31.8m (30 April 2011: net cash of £27.7m). The reported level of net cash is before taking account of the liability on the Group's currency swap which, as previously announced, has been fixed at £21.6m. This swap is due to be repaid on 31 October 2011, with the Group's other facilities maturing on 30 November 2011, triggering as expected a significant reduction in Anite's future finance costs.

Trading Anite has had a strong start to the year. Overall trading in the quarter ended 31 July 2011 ('Q1' or 'the quarter') was encouraging, with total Group order intake, revenue and adjusted operating profit1 ahead of the same period last year and also the Board's expectations for the period. These trends continued in August. The Handset Testing business was the principal source of the outperformance. The Handset Testing business reported order intake, revenue and adjusted operating profit significantly in excess of the same period last year and ahead of expectations. In addition to strong underlying trading, the performance benefited, in part, from a substantial opening order book and the acceleration of annual orders into the first quarter by one major customer. The growth was driven by LTE revenues with both Conformance Testing and the increasingly important Interoperability Testing area showing significant year-on-year increases. LTE revenue represented 46% of total Handset Testing Q1 revenue, compared to 17% in Q1 last year and 34% in the prior financial year as a whole. The Network Testing business performed in line with expectations in the quarter. The first sales of the Invex 4G benchmarking product were made in the period, although material sales are not expected until later in the year following planned investment in the first half to support the product development. In Travel, revenue and adjusted operating profit in Q1 were in line with expectations. Following material contract extensions with existing major customers, the order book has increased from the improved level reported at the financial year end and the pipeline of new opportunities remains strong. Progress was made on delivering the new TUI UK contract and further development work is ongoing for TUI in Germany. The Board is encouraged by the potential for the Travel business on the back of its improving order book and pipeline.

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Following the selection announcement, Iain Gibson, vice president of Cobham Mission Equipment said: "Cobham Mission Equipment is delighted with its selection by Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force to provide the wing air refuelling pod solution for the KC-390 following a rigorous competitive tendering process. This is an important and significant programme with a new customer and provides a platform for Cobham to further grow its business in Brazil. It also serves to underline Cobham's position as the world leader in providing air to air refuelling systems. We are confident that the wing pod solution for the KC-390, the basis of which has been designed and qualified to the latest and most stringent military requirements, will provide an optimum solution for the KC-390."

Cobham Wins US$60m Initial Contract from Embraer to Provide Aerial Refuelling Systems for Brazilian KC-390 Tanker Aircraft WIMBORNE, United Kingdom - Cobham has been selected to develop and supply the Wing Aerial Refuelling Pod for the KC-390 tanker aircraft under development by Brazil's Embraer and has received an order with an initial contract value in excess of US$60 million. Air refuelling operations will be a key tactical role of the KC-390 following its introduction into service, scheduled to commence in 2015. Selection by Embraer follows a comprehensive competitive process and reflects Cobham's unrivalled experience in the design, development and delivery of air refuelling systems. Cobham will supply Embraer with one of its state-of-the-art air refuelling pods, specially modified to fit the KC-390. The system architecture will be tailored to meet the aircraft's air-to-air refuelling capability requirements, and enable refuelling of a range of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. Embraer's launch customer for the KC-390 is the Brazilian Air Force and it expects to secure significant additional orders from export customers.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201109150700212693O

Andy Stevens, Cobham Chief Executive Officer, said: "The acquisition of Trivec-Avant Corporation brings us a range of SATCOM antenna products and communication related technologies that are highly complementary to our existing business, together with opportunities to win further work from a long established customer base, as well as from our multiple routes to market."

Financial Information For the year ended 31 December 2010, Trivec generated operating profits of US$22.4 million and EBITDA of US$22.6 million. At 31 December 2010 Trivec had gross assets, excluding debt and cash, of US$11.7million. After an allowable expense relating to goodwill amortisation (see note 3) Cobham is paying 4.5x 2010 EBITDA, in part reflecting the fact that 2010 was a year with exceptionally high land sales. It is expected that the acquisition will be immediately earnings enhancing and will cover its cost of capital in the first year of ownership.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201109150711122880O

Ian Cheshire, Kingfisher's Group Chief Executive, said: "We are backing Britain, investing to grow our B&Q and Screwfix businesses in the UK, creating jobs and supporting local communities. We have the balance sheet strength and financial flexibility to do this. Although the economic outlook is uncertain, this investment demonstrates our confidence in the UK's longer-term growth prospects." Euan Sutherland, Chief Executive of Kingfisher UK & Ireland, said: "We are delighted to be bringing B&Q's choice, convenience and value to areas where B&Q has not been represented and adding extra jobs to the roles already safeguarded. At Screwfix, we have been trialling a smaller store format for some time and it has proved very popular with customers. The new format opens up a lot of new locations that would not otherwise have been possible. It gives us scope to expand the Screwfix network to over 300."

Kingfisher to create over 1,200 jobs across the UK through store expansion Kingfisher, Europe's leading home improvement retailer, announces that it is to create over 1,200 new jobs across the UK this year as it expands its B&Q and Screwfix operations. The expansion plans will bring Kingfisher's total investment in the UK this year to £130 million, with a combined total of over 80 new Screwfix and B&Q stores being opened during 2011.

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Commenting on the results, Paul Sheffield, Chief Executive said: "Kier has had another successful year in a tough economic environment; underlying revenue and profit before tax are well ahead of last year and cash generation has been very strong, with average month‑end cash balances at a high level. "Our diverse skills and integrated business model have provided greater resilience during these challenging economic conditions. We are encouraged by the prospects we see in markets such as power and waste, in mixed‑use regeneration and in the growth we see in public sector outsourcing. "Kier continues to benefit from its long‑term client relationships and the numerous frameworks in which we are involved. Our network of local offices allows us to respond to the ever‑widening requirement of customers for local capability to deliver 'bundled' services. "Today we have announced a full‑year dividend of 64 pence per share, a 10% increase on last year. This demonstrates the strength of our financial position and the confidence we have in our business going forward. Although we expect the next 12 months to be challenging, we remain confident that our positioning across a wide spectrum of service areas, coupled with our committed and professional staff, will enable us to deliver a good performance in the new financial year."

Strong results with underlying pre‑tax profits* up 24% to £68.9m (2010: £55.5m**) · Underlying EPS* up 26% to 148.4p (2010: 117.7p**), enhanced by a 2% reduction in the effective tax rate · Full year dividend up 10% to 64p (2010: 58p) · Exceptional items total a credit before tax of £7.0m (2010: charge of £2.0m) · Net cash at £165m (2010: £175m) after investment of approximately £50m during the year, with average month end net cash of £129m (2010: £95m) · Construction margins improved to 2.7% (2010: 2.6%) and Services margins resilient at 4.5% (2010: 4.5%) · Order books for Construction and Services increased to £4.3bn (2010: £4.2bn), with a strong pipeline of further opportunities * Underlying pre‑tax profits and EPS are stated before amortisation of intangible assets of £3.4m (2010: £2.9m) and before exceptional items comprising a pension credit resulting from the change from RPI to CPI of £25.7m, a write‑down of the value of our land and work in progress of £33.5m, a reduction in the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) fine and associated appeal costs of £15.6m and external costs related to the acquisitions of Beco Limited and the property portfolio from Lloyds of £0.8m. ** Excluding Homes 2010 one‑off land transaction profit of £7.1m.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201109150700192650O

Southern Cross Healthcare Group PLC ("Southern Cross" or "the Company") Corporate Update Southern Cross announces that it has reached agreement with its lenders on an extension to its banking facilities until 21 September. This further extension allows Southern Cross Group to continue its restructuring which is expected to include a longer term banking agreement. The extension, accompanying the rent concessions by Landlords who have deferred rent payments due in September, will provide support for the process under which it is planned to transition homes to new operators nominated by Landlords, at the same time ensuring continuity of care for residents. The restructuring process progresses and Southern Cross expects to make a further announcement within the timeframe of the banking facilities extension.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201109150700572885O