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AB Foods dampens full year expectations By John Harrington Date: Wednesday 27 Apr 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - British Sugar and Primark owner Associated British Foods saw adjusted earnings per share grow by 7.9% year on year at the interim stage, ahead of some brokers' expectations, but warned full year results will only be roughly on a par to last year. Group revenue rose 9% to £5,207m in the 24 weeks to 5 March, up from £4,976m in the corresponding period a year earlier and ahead of the £5.16bn predicted by broker Charles Stanley. Reported profit before tax was more or less unchanged at £319m versus £320m the year before. Adjusted profit before tax, which excludes one off items, rose 7% to £353mm. Adjusted earnings per share rose 7.9% to 32.9p, up from 30.5p a year earlier; Charles Stanley had forecast 32.3p. Sugar profits in the first half were higher than last year with substantial improvement in the operations in Spain and China. Primark delivered revenue growth of 13% at constant currency in the half year driven by a programme of new store openings and a like-for-like sales increase of 3%, in line with market expectations. “We are determined that Primark will retain its position as price leader and margins in the second half will be lower than previously planned,” cautioned group chairman, Charles Sinclair. “The higher cost of UK sugar production this year and the cost of third party sugar purchases will also affect second half profitability. We continue to expect good revenue growth for the full year although adjusted earnings are now expected to be similar to last year's very strong result,” Sinclair added. The interim dividend has been hiked to 7.9p from 7.6p the year before.

http://sharecrazy.com/beta/Tips/5185/the-niche-group-speculative-buy-at-703p-with-a-95p-target-price

Offer Extended to 6 May 2011 On 7 March 2011, the board of directors of Pearson plc ("Pearson") and Education Development International plc ("EDI") announced the terms of a recommended cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of EDI to be made by Pearson. Pearson announces that, as at 1.00 p.m. on 26 April 2011, valid acceptances had been received in respect of a total 45,023,842 EDI Shares, representing approximately 79.88 per cent. of the issued share capital of EDI. This total includes acceptances received in respect of 17,091,460 EDI Shares (representing approximately 30.33 per cent. of the issued share capital of EDI) which were subject to irrevocable commitments procured by Pearson. Pearson also announces that the Offer, which remains subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Offer Document, has been extended to 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 6 May 2011. EDI Shareholders who wish to accept (and have not yet validly accepted) the Offer are urged to take action as soon as possible, and in any event by 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 6 May 2011.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104270700054992F

2010 Key Events · Company met production guidance by producing 200,028 oz of gold and gold equivalents, a 23% increase on 2009 · EBITDA of US$121.3 million (2009: US$57.1 million) was 112.4% higher than the previous year due to higher production and realized prices · At US$496 per ounce in 2010, total cash costs at MNV were well contained (2009: US$486) considering the higher royalties paid due to the higher gold price · Novo continued to ramp up mining and processing with a steady decrease in cash costs of US$597 in 2010 · JORC compliant audit supports GKZ reserve at Belaya Gora of 0.82 million oz · Commissioning of mining at Belaya Gora · Continued to develop the ore processing flow sheet for Taseevskoye · Development accelerated at two advanced stage exploration projects (Unkurtash and Lyubov) · New acquisitions in 2010 included Blagodatnoye and Belaya Gora Flanks · Cash, short term deposits and short term investments were US$222.5 million at 31 December 2010, after the early repayment of US$66.2 million of debt in 2010 Post Year End · Group currently debt free after early repayment of all outstanding loans · Initial C1+C2 reserves of 1.71 million oz at Unkurtash are with Kyrgyzstan GKZ for approval

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104270700064701F

Managing Director, Geoff Davis commented: "The Company has attained its forecast gold production for the quarter and is on track to meet its annual forecast production. At the Co-O Mine, the Saga Shaft is progressing and the Level 1 adit to access the Royal and NT veins is well underway. The accelerated development programme will continue to open up new levels and new veins. Drilling at the Co-O Mine continues to deliver some outstanding results, and potential resource additions in the area of the Royal and North Tinago veins are taking shape. The permitting process for the new Co-O Mill is progressing and currently on track to be completed by the end of September 2011. At the Bananghilig prospect drilling with six rigs is continuing. Initial findings of an extensive regional mapping programme over the Tambis region will be reported shortly."

FINANCIALS (unaudited) As at 31 December 2010, the Company which is debt free, had total cash and cash equivalent in gold on metal account of approximately US$92.4 million (31 Dec 2010: US$87.2 million). During the quarter, · the Company sold 25,911 ounces of gold at an average price of US$1,401 per ounce (Dec 2010 qtr: sold 23,224 ounces of gold at an average price of US$1,384 per ounce); · incurred exploration expenditure of US$7.1million (Dec 2010 qtr: US$7.1 million); · expended US$2.4 million on capital works associated sustaining capital at the mine and mill and also with the construction and furnishing of the Group's new office premises in the Philippines (Dec 2010 qtr: US$2.2 million); and · spent US$4.6 million on general and accelerated mine development, inclusive of shaft sinking costs (Dec 2010 qtr: US$2.1 million).

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104270700084901F

Chris Yewdall, Chief Executive of DDD said: "The partnership with Intel is the culmination of many months of close collaboration with Intel's PC Client Group team and is a major milestone for DDD. "Intel's selection of TriDef to enable significant aspects of their 3D product offering underscores the recent progress we have made in delivering a market-leading 3D content solution for the PC market."

Very nice indeed. Confirmation that link up is with Intel

Chairman The Directors are delighted to announce that Alan McClue (aged 64) has accepted an invitation to join the board as Chairman, with effect from 1 May 2011. Mr McClue has been granted 250,000 options to purchase shares in the Company exercisable at 21.5 per share and 375,000 options exercisable at nil consideration in certain circumstances as determined by the Board. As announced at the AGM, Steve Driver who was appointed Chairman at the AGM following the retirement of Mike Davis, will now revert to being a non executive director. Mr McClue commenced his business career with Mobil Oil Corporation in the early 70s followed by a period with Pegler Hattersley PLC where he was responsible for the manufacture of OPC valve products. He has acted as Chief Executive or Chairman of several public companies including: Petrocon Plc - oil field rentals and OPC valves, Porter Chadburn Plc - Engineering sector and Ptarmigan Plc. He served as a director of G M Firth Plc - Metal Stockists. He was, until the company was bid for by a UK listed company, Chairman of TI Technologies (Pty) South Africa - Africa's largest printed circuit board manufacturer. He was also Chairman of Mount York Limited, an engineering company listed on the CISX, and most recently Chairman of AIM Listed Mount Engineering plc until it was bid for by a US Corporation. He has investments in a number of private engineering sector companies.

Trading update and appointment of a new Chairman Driver, the global construction consultancy, announces the following trading update prior to entering a close period before the announcement of its interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2011. Trading The Directors are pleased to report that trading for the six months ended 31 March 2011 is in line with the expectations reported by the Directors at the Annual General Meeting held on 1 March - that of a small underlying loss. Following losses incurred in the first quarter of the current financial year, the Directors are pleased to report a return to profitability in each of the three months during the second quarter. The improved performance was principally due to an upturn in the European region across each of the service streams. The Directors expect to announce the Group's interim results on 29 June 2011 and look forward to updating shareholders on further progress.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104270700084965F

CONT. Our international marketing campaigns promoting rare stamps and historical signatures as an investment opportunity continue to deliver an increasing number of new prospects. The conversion of those prospects benefited sales in the first quarter to some extent, although more significantly, we are currently working on over £2m of enquires generated from recent marketing campaigns in March and April. The strength of our current order book puts the business in a healthy position for the second trading quarter. We are well placed to maximise the additional revenue opportunities from the Royal Wedding and sales in April of collectibles issued in advance of the wedding are already providing an additional boost to second quarter revenues. The extensive display of Royal Wedding commemorative collectibles available to purchase from our dedicated display at 399 Strand will ensure we maximise footfall, one-off sales and new client recruitment during the celebrations. Sales remain broadly flat in our Publishing division, although we have recently completed a rationalisation programme, which will improve profit contribution from this low growth part of our business going forward. Further growth is anticipated from the launch of our new website and development of online publishing opportunities later in the year. The business remains well placed to continue to deliver the growth in sales and profitability expected by the market. In particular, we look forward to realising the return from the extensive investment we have made in our databases and websites over the past two years. If approved today, the Company's final dividend of 3.25p per share will be paid to Shareholders on 16 May 2011 and our interim results for the six months ending 30 June 2011 will be announced on 5 August 2011." For further information, contact: The Stanley Gibbons Group plc Michael Hall, Chief

Ahead of the Annual General Meeting to be held later today, the Board of the Company updates the market with the following Trading Statement: "Turnover for the first quarter, which is traditionally the quietest trading period, was 36% above the same period last year. On a like-for-like basis, excluding sales from the Benham Group acquired in September last year, turnover was up 24%. Overall trading in the first quarter has been strong across most operating divisions, particularly philatelic trading and retail operations. Retail sales from our flagship premises at 399 Strand were up 25% compared to the prior period. Sales in the prior period were however impacted by the disruption during the substantial refurbishment works undertaken in the first quarter last year. We are in the final testing stages of the website development project and expect to launch the principal components of the new site in May. The new website will feature over 400,000 additional stamps available for sale on launch as we list our extensive stockholding of lower value stamps on the site for the first time. Previously, those stamps were only available to purchase through visiting our retail premises at 399 Strand.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104270700094976F

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20110427070426P94AE

Angus MacSween, CEO of iomart Group plc, stated: "The acquisition of Switch Media is a further step in the achievement of iomart's strategy of building a leading hosting company in the UK. Switch Media is an excellent complementary business to Easyspace in the small company segment of the hosting services market and will enhance the growth of iomart through expansion of the Group's customer base and access to new clients."

Acquisition of Switch Media iomart Group plc (AIM:IOM), the managed hosting and cloud computing services company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Switch Media Limited ("Switch Media") for a total cash consideration of £1.25 million. Based in Liverpool, Switch Media supplies domain name and shared hosting services to small businesses, operating in a similar market to iomart's Easyspace division. Switch Media has over 10,000 customers providing a strong base of additional business from which the Group can expand its small company hosting business. For the year to 31 December 2010, Switch Media had EBITDA adjusted for non-recurring items of £79,000 and turnover of £1.3m. iomart believes it can achieve a significant level of cost savings on the integration of Switch Media into the Group through the reduction of overheads. As a result, the acquisition should result in a significant improvement in Switch Media's EBITDA margin and is expected to be immediately earnings enhancing to the Group as a whole. Of the total consideration of £1.25m, £1.025m has been paid on completion and a further £225k is payable no earlier than October 2011 subject to certain performance criteria being met. In addition, it is expected that Switch Media will have net cash on completion of approximately £100k resulting therefore in an initial net cash outlay of £925,000.