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Ladbrokes confirms approach to Sportingbet By BFN News | 11:45 AM | Thursday 23 June, 2011 Ladbrokes PLC (LAD) Sportingbet PLC ORD 0.1P (SBT) Ladbrokes has responded to an earlier statement by Sportingbet following recent speculation in the press. The Board of Ladbrokes has confirmed that it has had highly preliminary conversations with Sportingbet but says there can be no certainty that these will lead to any offer being made for Sportingbet. Richard Glynn from Ladbrokes commented: "The Board has set out previously a clear organic strategy for Ladbrokes. We also stated that we would explore appropriate opportunities that may help us accelerate that process and bring benefits to our shareholders. These talks should be seen in that context and are highly preliminary." Further announcements will be made as appropriate. At 11:45am: (LON:LAD) share price was +0.65p at 147.15p (LON:SBT) Sportingbet share price was +5.63p at 48.13p Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

Thomas Teichman, Chairman of SPARK Venture Management Ltd (which manages all SPARK's assets) and Director of Mind Candy Inc. said " At start up we backed the brilliantly creative and visionary founder of Mind Candy, Michael Acton Smith, in 2004, and are impressed and delighted by its rapid growth and popularity among children in over 180 countries. Its the second time we have successfully backed the founder in the last 12 years having backed Firebox.com, a successful B to C business, also at start up by Michael in 1999."

SPARK Ventures plc SPARK announces significant uplift and partial sale of Mind Candy. SPARK Ventures plc ('SPARK' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce that it has sold half of its stake in a start-up investment, Mind Candy Inc. (trading as moshimonsters.com), at an enterprise value of US$200m generating a cash receipt of £3.1 million. This represents a 15x return, a 1400% return on cost and an IRR of 71 % since seed investment by a syndicate led by SPARK in 2004. Moshimonsters has continued its very fast growth in the last six months. It now has over 50m registered players worldwide, has successfully launched the sale of physical monster toys in major toy shops and launched the Moshimonsters magazine - quickly becoming the best selling children's magazine in the UK. Moshimonsters has a significant American and international client base. Mind Candy has become one of the world's leading developers of social multi-player children's games, helping children to play skill enhancing games and connect in a social network with each other safely. Mind Candy is headquartered in London and has around 70 staff. It has already agreed licensing deals with many top tier retailers and consumer products businesses in Europe and the USA such as Penguin Books. SPARK has consequently increased its valuation of its stake in Mind Candy from £0.7m at 31 March 2010 to £6.0m now. The previous valuation reported by SPARK in its interim results for the six months to 30 September 2010 was £1.0m reflecting an enterprise value of $35m. This new £6.0m value is derived from an enterprise value of $200m being the price a new investor has paid to buy 50% of SPARK's stake. It therefore represents a third party valuation. Previously the business was valued by SPARK according to a sales multiple.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201106231111599873I

EBRD Debt restructuring update Kazakhstan Kagazy plc announces that it has agreed a term sheet with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ("EBRD") in relation to the Restructuring of the Group's loan with EBRD of USD38.6 million (the "Restructuring"). The Restructuring is dependent upon further documentation preparation and formalization and is subject to final documentation, which is anticipated to be signed in the third quarter of 2011.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201106230947049755I

Down to 563 then back some

Chemring profits up despite budget cuts Date: Thursday 23 Jun 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Military decoy flare and mine detection firm Chemring managed to post a sharp rise in sales and profits in the half-year to 30 April despite constraints on military spending in Britain and the US. Revenues climbed by 29% from the previous year to £329.8m, while underlying pre-tax profits were up by 17% at £49.6m. Revenues in the Counter-IED business soared by 132% to £95.7m to become the company’s biggest division. Revenues were lifted by sales of systems used by the US Army in Afghanistan. Revenues in the Countermeasures division fell 3% to £89.6m. Chemring said a reduction in demand for certain decoys seems to be in anticipation of a phased withdrawal from Afghanistan over the next three years. Munitions revenues were up by 57% at £85.4m and pyrotechnics revenues fell by 14% to £59.1m. “The extended timescales for approval of last year's US defence budget, the current UK defence budget constraints, and the shifting approval of export licence applications for various parts of the Middle East have reduced the pace of growth over the last twelve months,” the company said. “However, with organic growth of 18% in the first half of the year, strong performances from the Counter-IED and Munitions businesses, an increase in non-NATO customers, and a current order book that is 52% higher than at April 2010, the group remains on course to meet the board's full year expectations.”

Good figures but Market appears to think the future may be an issue ---the US will always be at war ! and if they are the UK wont be far behind - budget cuts are though an issue.

Outlook We hope to grow both our businesses in the year ahead, despite the continuing uncertain economic climate. Fowler Welch has significant business development opportunities throughout its operations and particularly, of course, in the North West. We have expanded our leisure airline for summer 2011 with four additional aircraft, a new base at Glasgow and a growing package holiday programme. Both businesses have started the year reasonably satisfactorily, although we expect these challenging economic conditions to continue to impact on yields in the Aviation sector for the foreseeable future.

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I am pleased to report on the Group's trading for the year ended 31 March 2011. Group turnover increased to £543m (2010: £435m) and profit before tax amounted to £26.2m (2010: £22.2m) with earnings per share of 12.2p (2010: 11.1p). Underlying profit before tax and before specific IAS 39 fair value movements was £25.9m (2010: £19.1m). In consideration of the Group's current trading performance, the Board recommends a final dividend of 0.83p per share (2010: 0.75p). If approved at the Group's Annual General Meeting to be held on 8 September 2011, this dividend will be payable on 21 October 2011 to shareholders on the Group's register at the close of business on 16 September 2011. The associated ex-dividend date will be 14 September 2011. Profitability increased in Aviation, primarily due to increasing load factors, but decreased in Distribution, due to start-up costs at its new North West distribution centre and the rationalisation of its container operations. Capital expenditure for the year was £68.0m (2010: £32.1m). This expenditure related principally to long term maintenance spend on aircraft airframes and engines and the freehold acquisition of the distribution centre at Heywood, near Manchester, "the Hub". Net cash flow from operating activities amounted to £113.8m (2010: £73.2m), driven principally by improved forward bookings at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, the Group's ATOL bonded tour operator. As at 31 March 2011, the cash position amounted to £106.8m (2010: £52.2m), including money market deposits, at which point Jet2.com had received circa £135m of advance payments from customers in respect of future flights.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201106230700089501I

Alistair Black, Chief Executive of ATH Resources, said: "This planning approval provides continued employment for 90 people in the area and is an important contributor to the future of the ATH business and the local economy in this part of Dumfries and Galloway."

Planning approval received for an extension to its existing site at Glenmuckloch ATH Resources plc (AIM:ATH), one of the UK's largest coal producers, is pleased to announce that its application to mine 0.5 million tonnes of coal reserves from the Glenmuckloch East extension has been approved by the local planning authority in Dumfries and Galloway. As anticipated in planning processes of this nature, a number of matters remain to be concluded prior to the start of work at the mine which is scheduled to commence production towards the end of 2011. The Glenmuckloch East mine is an extension to ATH's existing operation at Glenmuckloch which will finish in the autumn of this year.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201106230700089503I

Good figures from CHG

Prospects The global defence market has undergone a recent period of instability. The extended timescales for approval of last year's US defence budget, the current UK defence budget constraints, and the shifting approval of export licence applications for various parts of the Middle East have reduced the pace of growth over the last twelve months. However, with organic growth of 18% in the first half of the year, strong performances from the Counter-IED and Munitions businesses, an increase in non-NATO customers, and a current order book that is 52% higher than at April 2010, the Group remains on course to meet the Board's full year expectations. As a short-cycle business with rapid development timescales, Chemring remains excellently placed to deliver continuing growth for the future.

Dr David Price, Chemring Group Chief Executive, commented: "The Group performed strongly in the first six months of this financial year, with revenue up 29% to £329.8 million and underlying profit before tax2 up 17% to £49.6 million. Underlying earnings per share2 increased 18% to 20.8p. This performance was achieved in spite of the growing difficulties facing the UK and US defence markets. Delivery of 18% organic growth1 in the first half of the year, with strong performances from the Counter-IED and Munitions businesses, an increase in non-NATO customers, and a current order book that is 52% higher than at April 2010, means the Group remains on course to meet the Board's full year expectations. As a short-cycle business with rapid development timescales, Chemring remains excellently placed to deliver continuing growth for the future."

INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE HALF YEAR TO 30 APRIL 2011 KEY HIGHLIGHTS · Revenue up 29% to £329.8 million (2010: £255.9 million) · Organic1 revenue growth of 18% · 25% of revenue to non-NATO customers (2010: 16%) · Current order book at record high of £988 million · Acquisition of General Dynamics Detection Systems business announced · Underlying earnings per share2 up 18% to 20.8p (2010: 17.7p3) · Interim dividend per ordinary share up 18% at 4.0p (2010: 3.4p3)

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201106230700099515I