1st Aug 2025 22:04
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of earnings and trading updates by London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday and Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Empresaria Group PLC - Crawley, England-based staffing provider in the professional, IT, healthcare, property and commercial sectors - Receives a non-binding indicative proposal regarding a possible cash offer by Legacy UK Holdings Ltd worth 62 pence per share. At this level, Empresaria says it would be minded to accept. Comes as Empresaria notes Planmatics Ltd doesn't intend to bid for the firm.
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Aoti Inc - Oceanside, California-based wound healing-focused medical technology company - Peel Hunt says certain pre-IPO shareholders intend to sell 10 million shares, around 9.4% of the company's share capital, to eligible institutional investors. Price will be determined by an accelerated bookbuilding process. Peel Hunt LLP is appointed as sole bookrunner on the placing.
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Foxtons Group PLC - London-based estate agents - Pretax profit jumps 35% to GBP10.2 million in the six months to June 30 from GBP7.5 million a year prior. Revenue climbs 10% to GBP86.1 million from GBP78.5 million. Earnings per share rise 32% to 2.5 pence from 1.9p, dividend is boosted 9% to 0.24p per share from 0.22p. Lettings revenue is up 4%, Sales revenue up 25%, Financial Services revenue is flat. Profit growth outpaces revenue, driving a 230 bps increase in adjusted operating profit margin to 14.3%, reflecting growth in higher margin property management revenues, acquisition synergy delivery, ongoing cost control initiatives and the operating leverage within the business model. Lettings trading is in line with expectations in July, but sales growth is more subdued than anticipated at the beginning of the year, primarily driven by borrowing costs not reducing at the pace initially forecast. Expectations for full year adjusted operating profit is unchanged.
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Northcoders Group PLC - Manchester-based software coding training provider - Issues trading update for the six months ending June. Despite a challenging operating environment, delivers improved profitability and maintains a resilient balance sheet. Revenue is expected to be GBP3.7 million down year-on-year from GBP4.4 million, reflecting the previously announced slower access to Government funding. Nevertheless, expects gross profit margin to increase to 70% from 67%, driven by enhanced delivery efficiency and cost control. Anticipates adjusted Ebitda to be around GBP0.4 million, unchanged on-year.
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Hargreaves Services PLC - Durham, England-based industrial services company - Pretax profit rises 4.8% to GBP17.5 million in the year to May 31 from GBP16.7 million a year prior as revenue climbs 25% to GBP264.4 million from GBP211.1 million. Basic EPS is 44.8 pence, up 19% from 37.8p. Final dividend is lifted 2.8% to 18.5p from 18.0p, takes total payout to 37p from 36p. "Looking ahead, Hargreaves Services is well-positioned to capitalise on its strong pipeline of opportunities within the infrastructure sector. The Services business has already secured over 70% of its budgeted revenue for the upcoming year, showcasing its resilience and strength in key areas such as clean energy, water, and infrastructure projects. With further prospects emerging in these sectors, the group continues to demonstrate its capacity to adapt and thrive amidst evolving market conditions, ensuring sustainable growth and delivering continued value to shareholders," company says.
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Datalex PLC - Dublin-based airline e-commerce solutions provider - Post-tax loss narrows to USD2.3 million in the six months to June 30 from USD6.1 million a year prior. Revenue grows 9% to USD14.5 million from USD13.2 million, reflecting continued momentum in platform adoption and customer go-lives on the Stellex platform. Platform revenue increases 33% to USD9.6 million, Services revenue declines 19% to USD4.4 million and Consultancy revenue is relatively in line with the prior year at USD0.5 million. In addition, announces a process to secure a EUR6 million debt facility. Proceeds will be used to accelerate investment in the core platform and product roadmap, a "critical enabler" of Datalex's medium-term strategic objectives to scale the business. Also plans to cancel listing on Euronext.
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NAHL Group PLC - Kettering, England-based consumer marketing services provider focused on the legal services sector - Continues to trade in line with market expectations for the full year. Revenue in the six months to June 30 is expected to be broadly in line with the previous year at GBP19.2 million, while underlying operating profit is expected to have increased by 67% to GBP3.2 million from GBP1.9 million. Free cash flow doubles to GBP1.4 million from GBP0.7 million. As a result, net debt at June 30 reduces 21% to GBP5.6 million from GBP7.1 million.
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Strix Group PLC - Isle of Man-based supplier of kettle safety controls and other devices for water heating and temperature control, steam management, and water filtration - Updates on trading for the six months ended June. Following a strong Q1 performance, Billi and the Consumer Goods division have seen a good trading performance during the period and achieved growth in line with expectations, while the Controls division came under pressure in Q2 from geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties, Strix says. Macro-uncertainties, particularly surrounding indirect tariff impacts and a weaker USD, have led to reduced Q2 sales volumes and contributed to order delays in the Controls division. Strix expects trading volumes to return to a more typical H2 weighting, consistent with historical trends. Also confirms that a "competitive refinancing process" has been formally initiated to provide cost effective and flexible funding to support the medium-term investment-driven growth aspirations.
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SDI Group PLC - Cambridge, England-based maker of scientific and technology products for digital imaging and sensing control applications - Pretax profit falls to GBP5.5 million in the financial year to April from GBP5.7 million a year prior although revenue rises to GBP66.2 million from GBP65.8 million. Gross margin increases to 64.9% from 63.1%. SDI says it delivered a resilient performance - in line with market expectations - within a complex and rapidly evolving global economic environment. Notes strong cash generation, allowing continued investment into the portfolio and further acquisitions. Enters financial 2026 with a strong order book and continued clear strategy for growth. Expects to deliver financial 2026 performance in line with current market expectations for revenue of GBP75.2 million, adjusted operating profit of GBP11.5 million and adjusted pretax profit of GBP9.8 million.
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Kerry Group PLC - Tralee, County Kerry-based provider of nutrition products - Pretax profit rises to EUR353.6 million in the first half of 2025 from EUR317.0 million a year prior while revenue edges up to EUR3.46 billion from EUR3.42 billion. Declares dividend of 42.0 euro cents versus 38.1c a year ago. Ebitda margin improves by 100 basis points to 16.1%. Maintains constant currency adjusted EPS guidance. Chief Executive Edmond Scanlon says: "The first half of the year reflected a good performance particularly given market conditions, where we delivered volume growth and strong margin expansion, driving constant currency EPS growth of 9.8%." He adds: "Volume growth was led by a strong performance in the Americas, with Europe in line with expectations, and growth in APMEA reflective of variable market dynamics. Our strong Ebitda margin expansion was driven by efficiencies delivered through Accelerate Operational Excellence as well as portfolio and product mix benefits."
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Seplat Energy PLC - Nigeria-based energy company - Pretax profit rises to USD292.9 million in the six months to June 30 from USD178.9 million a year prior as revenue balloons to USD1.40 billion from USD422 million. Production averages 134,492 barrels of oil equivalent more than doubled from 48,407 a year prior, above the midpoint of 2025 guidance of 120 to 140 kboepd. Unit production operating costs of USD12.5 per boe are higher year-on-year from USD9.7/boe, but below guidance of USD14-USD15/boe, due to timing of planned maintenance. Adjusted Ebitda soars to USD735 million from USD267.3 million. Maintains 2025 guidance for production of 120-140 kboepd, capex of USD260-USD320 million and unit operating costs of USD14.0-USD15.0/boe.
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Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd - oil and gas exploration in South Africa, Namibia and Guyana - Net loss narrows to USD2.3 million in the year to March 31 from USD21.1 million a year prior. Prior year figures include USD8.6 million write down of investment in associate and USD8.8 million write down of a license. At March 31, Eco Atlantic had cash and cash equivalents of USD4.7 million, no debt, total assets of USD21.6 million, total liabilities of USD1.2 million and total equity of USD20.4 million. "The remainder of 2025 and into 2026 has the potential to be a highly exciting period for Eco. We have farm-out processes underway, data analysis ongoing and a drilling campaign to plan for. All of which has the potential to deliver significant value for all of Eco's stakeholders in due course," company says.
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Franchise Brands PLC - Manchester, England-based owner of the ChipsAway, Willow Pumps and Metro Rod brands - Pretax profit increases 9.6% to GBP11.7 million in the six months to June 30 from restated GBP10.7 million a year prior. System sales increase by 2.5% to GBP209.4 million from restated GBP204.2 million while statutory revenue rises by 0.2% to GBP70.4 million from GBP70.2 million. Basic EPS increases by 14% to 2.21p from restated 1.94p, dividend grows by 5% to 1.15p per share from 1.10p. "A resilient performance despite geopolitical uncertainty resulting in challenging macroconditions in most key markets, with good progress made on Group integration," company says. Notes resilient underlying demand for the group's essential services resulted in all key divisions achieving record System sales. Says the outlook for the second half of the year remains similar to the first half, with resilient demand for essential services but a continuing weak macroeconomic background. The board is taking a "prudent" approach to expectations for the second half of 2025 and now expects adjusted Ebitda for the full year to be at a similar level to 2024 of GBP35.1 million.
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By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter
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Empresaria GroupAoti, Inc.FoxtonsNorthcoders GrpHargreaves ServDatalexNahl GroupStrixSDI GroupSeplat EnergyEco (atlantic)Franchise Brands