Red Emperor Resources (LON:RMP) shares shed 7.5% to 0.80p in late afternoon trading as the company entered into an amended heads of agreement with Oil Ventures Pty Limited for the acquisition of a number of strategic leases in California.
The initial agreement was signed in October 2017, but Oil Ventures could not agree on commercial terms with the two majority mineral rights owners of two highly prospective Aras of Mutual Interest identified by Oil Ventures in the Sacramento Gas Basin.
Real Good Food PLC (LON: RGD) shares dropped 19.6% to 11.25 as the company finalised the terms of the previously announced funding arrangements with its three major shareholders.
Omnicane Limited and Napier Brown have each provided £3.3mln in return for secured loan notes while certain funds managed by Downing LLP have agreed to provide at least £1.6mln, with a possible additional £500,000 on the table.
1.30pm: Just Group shares rise as retirement sales jump
Just Group PLC (LON:JUST) shares rose 9.5% to 153.8p in lunchtime trading as the group made a ‘strong start to the year’ as it increased retirement income sales and guaranteed income for life sales.
The retirement-focused financial services company said for the three months ended 31 March, the company’s new business sales grew 41% to £617mln from £436mln a year ago, while retirement income sales grew 43%.
Meanwhile Future PLC (LON:FUTR) shares jumped 8.7% to 500.0p as the former magazine publisher that made the transition to online publishing, enjoyed significant growth in the first half of its financial year.
Group revenue in the six months to the end of March rose 25% to £51.1mln from £40.9mln the year before. Like-for-like revenue growth was 7%.
And Gfinity Plc (LON:GFIN) shares added 11.7% to 14.2p following news that the esports group has appointed heavy-hitting sports executive Garry Cook as its new executive chairman.
Cook was previously a non-executive director at the AIM-listed firm but will take over from Tony Collyer, who is to step down with immediate effect after a four-year stint as chairman.
11.30am: WH Ireland shares fall as the company warns about increased loss
WH Ireland Group PLC (LON:WHI) shares fell 12.5% to 107.5p in late morning trading as the company warns it will post an increased loss for the 16 month period to 31 March.
The FTSE AIM-listed firm said the loss was cause by the combination of reduced transactions from the Corporate and Institutional Booking division and the continuation of higher costs in the Private Wealth management division.
Meanwhile Tekcapital PLC (LON:TEK) shares dropped 8% to 17p on Thursday morning as the AIM-listed firm said its portfolio company Belluscura PLC has completed a further tranche in the private placement to raise an additional US$603,000 through the issue of equity.
The company said that proceeds of the private placement will be used for further investment in Belluscura’s products in development.
And Royal Mail PLC (LON:RMG) shares fell 5.8% to 563.0p as the company posted a 36% decline in full year profits after taking a hit from a pension charge in the UK.
The postal operator said profit before tax fell to £212mln in the year to march 25, 2018, from £335mln a year ago.
9.15am: Byotrol shares jump as it secures first mass-market retail trail in the US
Byotrol PLC (LON:BYOT) shares rose 14.3% to 4.4p in early morning trading as the anti-microbial technology company said it has secured its first mass-market retail trial in the US for its 24-hour germ-kill surface sanitizer ‘Byotrol24’.
The trial is due to take place over approximately 10-12 weeks at the national retailer Target Corp (NYSE:TGT).
Byotrol said: “We are expecting the trial to start next month in approximately 10% of Target's 1,829 stores, following which Target will decide whether it wishes to roll-out into nationwide distribution.”
Ocado PLC (LON:OCDO) was the biggest riser early on with shares jumping 36.8% to 755.2p as the FTSE 250-listed firm unveiled its fifth major partnership deal with American giant Kroger.
Under the terms of agreement Ocado’s technology will be used in the US exclusively by Kroger for grocery and other food distribution related activities.
And Active Energy Group PLC (LON:AEG) shares jumped 17.5% to 4.7p as the company said it is to acquire controlling interest in PowerWood Canada Corp, a privately owned Canadian forestry company.
The AIM-listed firm said the proposed acquisition would secure feedstock and support the proposed roll-out of CoalSwitch in the province of Alberta.
Proactive news headlines:
Active Energy Group PLC (LON:AEG) is to acquire a controlling interest in PowerWood Canada Corp, a privately owned Canadian forestry company. PowerWood holds substantial forestry assets in Alberta, Canada, under forestry management agreements, and deciduous cutting rights issued by the Crown Province of Alberta.
Esports group Gfinity Plc (LON:GFIN) has appointed heavy-hitting sports executive Garry Cook as its new executive chairman.
Financial results for the first quarter confirmed SDX Energy Inc (LON:SDX, CVE:SDX) is benefitting from its operational successes in Egypt and Morocco. The months were punctuated by exploration and appraisal achievements, which add to the group’s growing production profile.
Hurricane Energy PLC (LON:HUR) returned with another Lancaster field project update, telling investors that the newly-fabricated buoy for the early production system has now departed dry dock in Dubai.
Tekcapital PLC (LON:TEK) has announced that its portfolio company Belluscura PLC has completed a further tranche in the private placement to raise an additional US$603,000 through the issue of equity. Big Pic in February.
Namibia-based tantalum miner Kazera Global PLC (LON:KZG) is to undertake a drilling programme across its whole licence to gauge the potential in its entirety. Kazera holds a 75% stake in African Tantalum (Aftan), which operates the Namibian Tantalite Investment Mine (NTI).
Tlou Energy Limited (LON:TLOU) (ASX:TLOU), the company focused on delivering power in Botswana and southern Africa through the development of coal bed methane, has released a new corporate presentation, which is available from the company's website https://tlouenergy.com/presentations
ReNeuron Group Plc (LON:RENE), a UK-based global leader in the development of cell-based therapeutics, said, as previously announced, it is hosting a capital markets event today focused on the company's exosome nanomedicine platform. The group said it will not be providing any new material information.
Metminco Limited (ASX & AIM: MNC) advises that its latest presentation has been released to the Australian Securities Exchange and is available on the company's website.
Taptica (LON:TAP), the global end-to-end mobile advertising platform for advertising agencies and brands, announces the publication of a Q&A manuscript from chief executive officer, Hagai Tal, on the company's website.
W Resources PLC (LON:WRES), the tungsten, copper and gold, exploration and development company with assets in Spain and Portugal, announced that its latest corporate presentation is now available on the group’s website.