Small caps followed the majors this week as the FTSE AIM All-Share index climbed 0.8%. However, the FTSE AIM 100 index declined 0.5%.
BioNeutral Group (OTCBB:BONU) said it has developed a new antimicrobial technology platform that kills bacteria quickly and efficiently, designed specifically for industrial uses. BioNeutral Group also said that it has retained James T. Harrington as a business consultant and appointed him to the company's advisory board.
Biocompatibles (LON:BII) said its German partner Merz still hasn’t decided when to re-start sales of facial filler Novabel. The product, developed by BII, was withdrawn in June when a small number of patients reported an adverse reaction to the treatment. Merz has made strides in developing a reversing agent and remains committed to re-introducing Novabel.
The newly enlarged Motive Television (LON:MTV) has begun trading on AIM after its reverse takeover of AdecqDigital and a £4.75 million fundraising. With the acquisition, the company is targeting an emerging technology market with a new product range.
Shares in multimedia producer Ten Alps (LON:TAL) took a beating after the group announced the UK Department for Education has terminated its Teachers TV project with effect from 29 April 2011.
Synchronica (LON:SYNC, TSX-V:SYN) has received the relevant counter-signatures and purchase orders from a pan-African operator group, with the launch of its Mobile Gateway product expected shortly. Earlier this week, the company completed the iseemedia takeover, as it closed the bid with a 86% stake in the Canadian company. The remaining equity will now be bought via a statutory process, before 31 December 2010.
Telit Communications’ (LON:TCM) subsidiary Telit Wireless Solutions said it will soon launch a new module featuring wireless M-Bus transfer technology that forms the basis of smart meters. The launch of the ME50-868 module into the market will take place in November 2010.
Instem Life Science Systems (LON:INS) has commenced trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange after raising £9.15 million in its initial share offering (IPO).
The momentum in Walker Greenbank’s (LON:WGB) performance continued with the business selling more than ever before as it reported first half revenues rose more than 15%.
Avia Health Informatics (LON:AVIA) is set to launch the Odyssey VillageAssess software suite in November. VillageAssess is designed specifically to support healthcare workers in remote locations around the world. Avia chairman Barry Gidding told Proactive Investors that the product launch is a key milestone.
Shares in emission reduction and clean energy projects developer Camco (LON:COA) are trading at an unwarranted discount to fair value, according to recent research by KBC Peel Hunt.
Helius Energy (LON:HEGY) believes there are no valid grounds for the appeal against its proposed Avonmouth biomass project on the Bristol Channel. The Coedbach Action Team (CAT) initially lodged its appeal last week, after a failed legal challenge in September, when the High Court in Cardiff refused to grant CAT permission to apply for a judicial review of the project. The company this morning confirmed that the CAT has applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal both the judicial review judgment and the refusal to grant a Protective Cost Order.
Focus Solutions Group’s (LON:FSG) first half performance was ahead of expectations with revenues and profitability increasing more than projected.
Daniel Stewart & Co said that a recent announcement from Geron Corp that it has begun testing an embryonic stem-cell treatment augurs well for peer ReNeuron Group’s (LON:RENE) own disability treatment that targets a huge market.
Bottom-line profitability is a key aim for Fusion IP (LON:FIP) in 2011, chief financial officer Tony Gardiner told Proactive Investors. Gardiner believes the company can achieve a maiden profit in the current financial year with future funding rounds providing the triggers for Fusion to re-value its equity in each portfolio company. This week, Fusion IP reported a significantly improved financial performance with a massive increase in revenue to £4.4 million (FY09: £0.6 million). "This has been an encouraging year,” chief executive David Baynes said. “We have taken considerable strides towards profitability.”
The next year should be one of massive transformation for the technology firm Seeing Machines (LON:SEE). Analysts expect its sales to more than double in that period, which means the group will be cash generative and profitable.
Linc Energy (ASX: LNC, OTCQX: LNCGY) has exercised its option to acquire 10 per cent of AFC Energy (LON:AFC) by investing £2.97 million at a discount of 7.5 per cent to the 30 day VWAP, equalling an exercise price of 17.72 pence per share.
Metminco (ASX:MNC, LON:MNC) will raise A$30 million through a placement of 150 million shares at A$0.20 per share, with BGF Equities acting as the lead manager.
Oxford Nutrascience (LON:ONG) announced the launch of Chewyz, a reduced sugar, high fibre, vitamin-enriched soft chew which will initially will be sold through Tesco Nutri Centre stores.
StatPro Group (LON:SOG) has further strengthened its position in South Africa with a contract for its analytics platform from the country’s fourth largest bank.
ViaLogy (LON:VIY) says it now has a chance to show its seismic technology’s “enormous commercial potential” after securing an offshore contract from a Fortune 500 company. Investors cheered the news, sending shares in the company up 15.
Africa-focused investment group Lonrho (LON:LONR) has successfully placed US$10 million of additional convertible bonds, thus completing the bond issue announced last week to the full maximum of US$70 million. The company earlier said it had completed the convertible bond issue, raising US$60 million, and that it believed it could raise a further US$10 million due to significant demand.
Video search engine blinkx (LON:BLNX) rallied 8% after giving investors a heads-up that its first half revenues are expected to double year on year. First half revenues are expected to reach US$27 million, while operating profit is also set to beat expectations at US$1 million compared to current analyst consensus of US$0.63 million.