Lok'nStore Group PLC (AIM:LOK) shares traded around 17% higher in Thursday’s early deals, to 1,128p, on the news it has agreed to be bought by Shurgard, Europe's largest developer and operator of self-storage facilities, in a £378 million cash deal.
Cybersecurity firm Darktrace PLC (LSE:DARK) also moved strongly, up around 7% to 465p, as a trading update revealed it had returned to year-on-year recurring revenue growth in its past quarter and underlying profit margins were above previous guidance of at least 21%.
AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) shares moved 122p or 1.14% higher, to 10,854p, after announcing a dividend hike.
Drinks firm Distil (AIM:DIS) plummeted, presently down 19% at 0.51p, after a profit warning revealed sales volumes plunged 47% and profits were down 19% in the past quarter as it said consumers faced continued spending pressures.
The owner of RedLeg, Blackwoods, TRØVE and Blavod rum, gin and vodka brands noted in its defence that the final quarter of its financial year to 31 March is historically its quietest trading period, particularly in the UK.
Elsewhere, European Metals Holdings Ltd (AIM:EMH, ASX:EMH, OTCQX:EMHLF) advanced around 15% higher, to 16.08p, thanks to a positive project update – revealing that its lithium hydroxide monohydrate product has been successfully produced in a test during the recent larger-scale Cinovec pilot programme.
XPS Pensions Group PLC (LSE:XPS) shares were up 7.8%, to 252.4p, as it gave investors an update ahead of its full-year results, due 20 June.
Longboat Energy PLC (AIM:LBE) shares were on the back foot, down 21% to 17.57p, as it reported its full-year results for the twelve months ended 31 December.
Shares in Mast Energy Developments PLC (LSE:MAST) leaped around 90% higher in early deals, trading at 0.56p, after a project update revealed its ahead-of-schedule rolling out reserve power generation in the UK.
Botswana Diamonds PLC (AIM:BOD), up 4% to 0.42p, announced a new ‘significant anomaly’ has been discovered at its Kalahari project.