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Autonomy is buying the digital storage assets of Iron Mountain, a quoted American company, for $380m (GBP234m). The City, which has an unsteady relationship with Autonomy, was generally in favour of the deal, not least because it clearly is an area the company knows well, which should mitigate risk. The shares are on about 22 times’ this year’s earnings. Hold, pending future developments, says the Times.

Clive Thomson, CEO of Barloworld, said: "The group produced strong growth in operating profit and earnings during the period. With order books continuing to increase across most businesses, we anticipate a strong second half of the financial year with earnings expected to be significantly up on both the first half of 2011 and the second half of last year. As the recovery gains momentum in most of our key market segments, particularly mining, our focus has shifted to driving profitable growth and enhancing the overall level of financial returns across our businesses. Our financial position remains strong and we are well placed to take advantage of a number of exciting growth opportunities in the year ahead." 17 May 2011

Salient features • Revenue up 17%to R23.6 billion • Operating profit up 44% to R854 million • HEPS from continuing operations up 255% to 144.3 cents • Russian Caterpillar dealership acquisition performs ahead of expectation • Final cash received from Scandinavian car rental disposal • Order books continue to increase across most businesses • Interim dividend of 50 cents per share up 150% (H1'10: 20 cents)

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201105170813267194G

WPP Digital makes strategic investment in nPario WPP Digital, the digital arm of WPP, announces that it has made a strategic investment of US$5 million for a minority stake in nPario Inc. ("nPario"), a leading provider of technology solutions and applications designed to analyze extremely large volumes of online and offline consumer data ("big data") for monetization and marketing optimization. nPario's founding team has worked on the largest data sets in the world for companies including Microsoft, Yahoo, Adobe, Oracle and SAS. Its clients include interactive entertainment provider Electronic Arts, as well as global logistics provider Aramex and telecommunications service providers Jawwal and Umniah. Following the investment, WPP and nPario will form a strategic partnership that will integrate online and offline data from WPP's Media Innovation Group and Kantar units into the nPario platform. The collaboration will result in the development of new solutions to help marketers and publishers gain faster access to audience insights and increase the effectiveness of marketing investments. This investment continues WPP's strategy of partnering and investing in measurable marketing disciplines.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201105170800016850G

and this 20p level should be a springboard for a return to highter SPs

Domestic market being targeted - if they can break into that then its big news for the Company

Neil Bright, Chief Operating Officer, Energetix Group, commented: "We have been promoting the Pnu Power compressed air batteries in mainland Europe recently and we are pleased to receive an order from the Institute of Energy. This system will initially be evaluated for domestic applications; this is a market we have not focussed on previously, whilst we continue to make progress in our commercial target markets."

Pnu Power order from the European Commission's Institute for Energy Energetix Group plc, (AIM: EGX), which develops and commercialises alternative and efficient energy products, announces that its subsidiary Energetix (Pnu) Power Limited ("the Company") has received an order from The Institute for Energy of the Joint Research Centres of the European Commission for a compressed air battery system. The Institute for Energy will initially use a 1kW unit to evaluate the compressed air battery technology for domestic applications. The mission of the Institute of Energy is to provide support to Community policies related to both nuclear and non nuclear energy in order to ensure sustainable, safe, secure and efficient energy production, distribution and use. The Institute for Energy has locations in Holland and Italy and employs approximately 300 academic and support staff. Its activities include sustainable transport, renewable energy, sustainable nuclear, economic assessment, biofuels, fuel cells, clean fossil fuels, energy efficiency and security of supply.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201105170700166920G

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201105170730087180G

Commenting on the results for the period, Bruce Thompson, Diploma's Chief Executive said: "The Group has delivered an excellent set of results, based on strengthening trends in revenue and operating profits in 2010 which have continued into 2011. The broad spread of markets and geographies served by the Group, combined with strong contributions from newly acquired businesses, provides the Board with confidence that the Group should continue to make progress in the second half of the year."

· Revenue increased by 31% to £112.6m (2010: £86.2m) as strengthening trends in 2010 continued into 2011 in all sectors. · Adjusted operating profit increased by 51% to £22.1m (2010: £14.6m); record adjusted operating margin of 19.6% (2010: 16.9%). · Underlying revenue and operating profits, after adjusting for currency effects and acquisitions, increased by 21% and 39% respectively. · Free cash flow of £7.3m (2010: £10.3m, before proceeds of £6.3m from sale of businesses) reflects impact of stronger trading on working capital. Strong free cash flow forecast for second half. · Net debt of £0.9m, after significant cash investment of £27.4m made during period in acquiring businesses and minority interests (cash funds of £30.1m at 30 September 2010). · Interim dividend increased by 25% to 3.5p per share reflecting the strong improvement in trading.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201105170700126903G

Martyn Williams, CEO of Ark, commented: "In our strategic restructuring announcement of 9 September 2010, we identified a number of short term objectives and were pleased to deliver on the first of these, the sale of the majority of our wound care business, in the period. We have seen real progress across all our activities and believe we are well placed to deliver on the remaining objectives we have set ourselves for this year."

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201105170700147002G

Commenting on the IMS, Jamie Boyton, Executive Chairman, said: "We entered 2011 with a solid foundation, having made a substantial investment in fleet and inventory in the second half of 2010, a trend which continued into 2011. Market conditions have continued to be supportive in Q1 and we are particularly pleased to see the strength of demand within our existing client base, as well as adding both BHP Billiton and Allied Gold (Gold Ridge) to our growing portfolio of quality customers. We remain confident the business will continue to grow strongly over the foreseeable future."

Trading Update and Outlook The Company is pleased to report that it has recorded the strongest quarterly revenue result in its history, generating revenue of $27.4mn in Q1'11 which represented a 102% increase on Q1'10. These record results were achieved in Q1, which is traditionally the weakest quarter for utilisation during the year, particularly given the seasonal impacts in Mozambique and Zambia. Earnings for the Group continue to be in line with expectations. Headline operating trends for the period showed year on year improvement, with rig utilisation of 79% (up from 59% in Q1'10) and ARPOR increasing to $148,000 per month (up from $119,000 in Q1'10), on a weighted average rig count of 75 rigs. Utilisation rates have made further positive progress in Q2 2011 in line with quarterly historic trends, although ARPOR is slightly down. The recent trends in ARPOR are particularly encouraging with Q1'11 ARPOR being 24% higher than Q1'10, representing the highest ARPOR since Q1'09. The demand environment has continued to improve, with the majority of the Group's major clients seeking to expand their activities over the course of 2011. The Group ended the period with 77 rigs in the fleet which is consistent with its historical growth rate of 1 rig per month. The increased market activity has continued the need for further investment in inventory to satisfy client demand as well as provide sufficient inventory to maximise utilisation of the Company's assets. Overall market conditions have generally been in line with expectations although the Company continues to face a number of cost pressures that began to emerge in H2'10. Adverse currency movements and salary pressure from rapidly improving market conditions and an increasingly tightening labour market are being supplemented by increasing lead times on major capital items and key consumables. However, improved rates from current and new contracts are starting to be realised and are serving to offset these cost pressures.

Capital Drilling Limited (CAPD: LN), the emerging and developing markets drilling company, provides its Interim Management Statement ("IMS") for the period to 17 May 2011. Highlights · Revenues up 102% year on year to $27.4m for the 3 month period to 31 March 2011 compared with $13.6m for the same period last year · All key metrics improving with rig utilisation averaging 79% over the Q1 period (up from 59% in Q1'10), monthly Average Revenue Per Operating Rig ("ARPOR") of $148,000 (up from $119,000 in Q1'10), on a weighted average fleet of 75 rigs (up from 62 in Q1'10) · Added a further 3 rigs in Q1'11 taking the fleet size to 77 rigs at 31 March 2011 · Challenges remain with continuing currency appreciation, an increasingly competitive labour market and increasing lead times on major capital items and key consumables · Two new contracts awarded in May with BHP Billiton in Chile and Allied Gold in the Solomon Islands, utilising existing rigs. Both contracts have now commenced · Tendering market remains strong - continuing expansion demand from existing clients coupled with increased activity from junior explorers