Member Info for mulledwine

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107270700181328L

Commenting on the results announcement Mark Battles, Chairman of Avisen, said: "I am pleased to report improvements in the Group's results for the year ended 31 January 2011.The Board believes that the disposal of Inca is an excellent result for the Group, in light of a backdrop of pressure on margins and the need for significant investment in the business in order to remain aligned with new Software as a Service ('SaaS') technologies. The Group's business strategy has been to continue to grow organically and acquisitively and convert this growth into higher profit and cash flow for distribution to shareholders. Whilst the Board has a clear vision and direction for organic growth of Avisen and Storage Fusion, it is aware that it needs to add more scale to enhance the value of the existing business activities and therefore has identified several acquisition opportunities which it is actively pursuing."

Post Balance Sheet Highlights · On 1 April 2011, Avisen disposed of Inca Software Ltd (''Inca'') for £7.3m of cash and the extinguishment of £1.2m of net liabilities. This provides a return on the Company's original investment of 85 per cent. The accounting profit on disposal following the write-off of goodwill and intangible assets of £7.6m is expected to be approximately £0.5m. · In July 2011, Avisen entered into a contract with Unilever to supply a global cost to serve solution for Unilever's global supply chain and customer service function. The contract comprised the sale of a perpetual software licence and the provision of services over a three year period.

Highlights Current year · Total revenues (including discontinued operations) increased from £7.2m in 2010 to £12.3m in 2011 · Revenue from continuing operations increased from £2.3m in 2010 to £2.6m in 2011 · Improvements in total adjusted* EBITDA (including discontinued operations) from an adjusted EBITDA loss of £1.7m in 2010 to an adjusted EBITDA loss of £0.3m in 2011 · Adjusted EBITDA loss from continuing operations improved from £1.6m to an adjusted EBITDA loss of £1.5m · Operating loss from continuing operations of £7.8m (2010: £2.3m) due to a one off impairment charge of £4.5m and strategic, integration and other one-off items of £1.5m · Acquired Xploite plc (''Xploite'') including its subsidiary undertaking Storage Fusion Ltd (''Storage Fusion'') in April 2010 · Disposed of loss making operations in South Africa in July 2010 · In September 2010 Gartner's report, the Magic Quadrant for Storage Resource Management and SAN Management Software, Storage Fusion was noted as a new vendor within the segment · In October 2010, successfully reached an agreement to settle a claim received by Xploite prior to acquisition by Avisen. It was settled for an immediate payment of £0.3m against an original claim amount of £4.5m. The maximum potential settlement has been capped at £0.6m. This claim was in relation to a previous acquisition made by Xploite plc. The Group no longer holds an interest in this acquisition. *Adjusted for integration, strategic costs and other one-off items

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107270700171313L

Xanth - no losses yet! you should have your own blog lol - thats exceptional - if I hadnt of heard of HAWK and IFL I would be smiling from ear to ear but they have been a very bad trade for me .....others making upo for them but its still a bitter pill - GL and hope it continues for you

Peter Hill, Chief Executive, said: "We have a compelling investment case based on the strong market positions of our core Performance Materials and Wireless Systems businesses. Together, these growth businesses have delivered a strong performance in revenue and underlying profits, up 24% and 65% respectively† and are well placed in fast growing end markets. This, and our current strong trading performance, underpins our confidence to deliver on the targets we have set out today. "Laird is a broad-based business, with a strong financial profile and multiple capabilities, serving multiple customers in multiple end-markets. The decisive action we have taken in the first half of 2011, including the cash positive exit from our Handset Antennae business which has masked the advances of our underlying core businesses, enables us to focus on our growth platform to benefit from the continued demand in our end-markets, and the additional demand for our products from new market applications."

Targets: Reflecting the Board's confidence in the future growth prospects for the Company ("Laird"), Laird today announces medium to long-term targets** of: · 2011 basic underlying EPS expected to be not less than 16.0 pence* (2010: 11.8 pence) · Organic revenue growth averaging 10% per annum · Underlying return on sales margin of 15% · 2011 full year dividend of 8.0 pence to be recommended, up 27% (2010: 6.3 pence) · 2012 full year dividend of 10.0 pence, and 2013 full year dividend of 12.0 pence to be recommended · Resulting Annual compound dividend growth 2010 to 2013 of 24%

Highlights: · Strong performance from core businesses† o Organic revenue growth† of 20% o Revenue† £243 million, up 24% on 2010 o Underlying profit before tax†up 65% to £25.4 million · Performance Materials revenue up 15%; underlying operating profit up 20% - both at constant currency; organic revenue growth of 13% · Wireless Systems† revenue up 70%; underlying operating profit up 228% - both at constant currency; organic revenue growth of 33% · Return on sales† of 11.7% (2010: 9.6%) · Interim dividend declared of 2.7 pence (2010: 2.1 pence), up 29% on 2010

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107270700191476L

Rogs - sorry just noticed your post today - not sure if there is a less risky these days but if you mean shares that are not penny shares then RR. - AVN - COV - BLVN - POG - RB. - PZC - CUP are a few - just recently exited PTEC - CHTR and kicking myself for getting out way too early on HAIK - and to level it up Im hammered in HAWK and IFL but please research thoroughly but at the moment even researching to the hilt can mean nothing.GL

Net Debt and Refinancing of Existing Banking Facilities Net debt increased from £112.3 million at 3 April 2011 to £148.0 million reflecting the debt funded acquisitions of BeamOne and Sterilgamma. We are pleased to announce that we have signed a new 5-year unsecured Multi-currency Revolving Facilities Agreement ("the Agreement"), which replaces the Company's previous facility, due to mature in January 2012. The Agreement has been entered into with a group of 7 banks and comprises a Sterling denominated multi-currency facility of £105 million and a Euro denominated multi-currency facility of €130 million.

Trading Update Overall trading has been in line with the Board's expectations for the first quarter and is on track for the full year. Reported revenues increased by 8.7% to £76.6 million compared to the same period last year (Q1 2010/11: £70.4 million) whilst adjusted operating margins improved 40 basis points. Underlying revenues, excluding currency effects and prior year non-core business were £77.0 million, 14.5% above last year's underlying revenues (Q1 2010/11 £67.3 million). The organic underlying revenue growth rate was 7.3% excluding the recently acquired subsidiaries, BeamOne LLC ("BeamOne") and Gamma Service Produktbestrahlung GmbH ("Gamma Service").

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107270706531484L

sheffieldowls - hi - I am not currently a holder in Lamprell although I have been in the past. I do hold here but as its only from earlier this year then I have someway to go to match your profit! Likewise I have held Coal of Africa but not currently although it is one of many on my watch list. GL ( if I reach 1000% profit here and you are still holding then I guess you will be having one almighty party! )

New products boost PZ Cussons Date: Tuesday 26 Jul 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Soapmaker PZ Cussons said new product launches have been helping it win market share in the UK as it reported a rise in profits for the year to 31 May. Pre-tax profits rose to £108.1m from £101.8m in the same period last year, on revenues that climbed to £820.7m from £771.6m. In Africa, source of most of the company’s revenues, sales rose to £339.1m from £325.2m. Nigeria is benefitting from stability now following the re-election of the incumbent president, the company said, with high oil prices also giving the economy a boost. PZ Cussons sells personal and home care products and electrical items in Africa. Europe revenues rose to £305.5m from £280.8m, helped by product launches in Britain. The Carex and Original Source ranges have been extended, PZ Cussons said. “Asian” revenues rose to £176.1m from £165.6m, with strength in Indonesia offsetting a subdued performance in Australia, where the consumer is coming under pressure.

Goldman Sachs downgrades Cookson Group from buy to neutral, target price cut from 1040p to 890p

Brewin Dolphin downgrades Cranswick from add to hold, target price cut from 860p to 700p.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107261501001032L

IC VIEW: HighEnough ARM is growing market share in a growing market. But while management highlights that licences signed today can generate royalties for the next five years, the shares - trading on a hefty 55 times forecast earnings - more than reflect such prospects. High enough. Last IC view: High enough, 528p, 1 Feb 2011