6th Oct 2025 10:41
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Monday.
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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
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Speedy Hire PLC, up 11% at 26.725 pence, 12-month range 18.12p-37.5p. The Merseyside, England-based tool and equipment hire company announces a five-year deal with HSS Hire Group PLC that will see Speedy Hire provide services to, and invest in, HSS Hire, which will rename itself ProService Building Services Marketplace PLC. Speedy will replace HSS' UK equipment hire business, HSS Service Group Ltd, as the principal equipment supplier to ProService, HSS' digital marketplace for customer and supplier acquisition. Speedy will pay GBP35 million, funded through existing resources, and HSS Hire will issue 79.4 million shares giving Speedy a just under 10% stake in the renamed company. Speedy expects the commercial agreement to be "significantly accretive to earnings and group operating margin in the first full financial year". Says it expects a "full payback of the consideration from operating cash flow in two to three years excluding any potential cash return from its interest in ProService".
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Treatt PLC, up 2.0% at 278.5p, 12-month range 186.4p-515p. The Suffolk, England-based extracts and ingredients manufacturer recommends that shareholders approve a raised takeover offer from Natara Global Ltd, valuing Treatt at GBP173.8 million. Natara has increased its offer by 12% to 290 pence per share. Treatt agreed to a 260p per share all-cash acquisition by Natara early last month. Hartlepool, England-based Natara, which makes "aroma ingredients" for the flavour and fragrance sectors, is majority-owned by private equity firm Exponent. Natara says it has commitments to accept the offer from Treatt shareholders holding a combined 4.21% of the company. The deal requires a minimum 75% approval vote before it can be sanctioned by the court and proceed. Treatt has advised that shareholders accept the offer at a general meeting on November 3, with the court meeting scheduled for the same day. Treatt expects the deal to close in 2025.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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Ferrexpo PLC, down 2.0% at 51.85p, 12-month range 43.15p-119p. The Baar, Switzerland-based iron ore producer in Ukraine says total commercial production in the third quarter ended September 30 rose 3.3% to 1.51 million tonnes from 1.46 million in the second quarter to June 30, despite "continued curtailment in pelletising capacity". For the nine months to the end of September, total commercial production increases 0.9% to 5.1 million tonnes from 5.0 million the year before. "Strong" demand from Chinese customers for Ferrexpo's high-grade low-alumina concentrates pushed third-quarter commercial concentrate production 36% higher to 871,323 tonnes from 640,202 tonnes in the second quarter, it adds. Total pellet production, on the other hand, sinks 22% on-quarter to 638,963 tonnes. Ferrexpo notes that the Ukrainian tax authorities in March decided to suspend refunds of VAT at its two main operating subsidiaries, Ferrexpo Poltava Mining and Ferrexpo Yeristovo Mining. This resulted in lower liquidity and to Ferrexpo downscaling production to one pellet line. "The refusal by the Ukrainian tax authorities to refund [value added tax] remains the most critical issue for the business...Assuming that VAT refunds will also be suspended for August and September, the estimated total non-refunded VAT would be USD58 million. The cost-cutting measures implemented in the second quarter continued in the third quarter. At the end of September, approximately 20% of the workforce were on furlough or reduced hours," says interim Executive Chair Lucio Genovese.
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By Emma Curzon, Alliance News reporter
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Related Shares:
Speedy HireTreattFerrexpoHss Hire