The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Wednesday.
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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
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Halfords PLC, up 5.4% at 10.3 pence, 12-month range 123.9p-227p. The motoring and cycling products retailer says revenue for the year ended on March 31 surges 15% to £1.59 billion, from £1.38 billion. Pretax profit, however, falls 55% to £43.5 million from £96.6 million. It declares a final dividend of 7.0 pence per share, up from 6p a year prior. The full year dividend totals 10p per share, up 11% from 9.0p a year prior. Looking ahead, the firm expects year-on-year profit growth in financial 2024 and is comfortable with current analyst consensus of £53.3 million worth of underlying pretax profit.
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Alfa Financial Software Holdings PLC, up 5.0% at 198p, 12-month range 116.71p-208p. The firm’s largest shareholder lends its backing to EQT AB, which is mulling a bid for the software developer focused on the asset finance industry. Swedish private equity firm EQT says it entered into an irrevocable undertaking with CHP Software & Consulting Ltd, which is controlled by Alfa Financial Founder % Chair Andrew Page. CHP holds just shy of a 60% stake in Alfa Financial. EQT, while yet to make a firm offer for Alfa Financial, has proposed acquiring the company at 208 pence per share. It would value the firm at around £614.4 million.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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AEW UK REIT PLC, down 2.5% at 99.89p, 12-month range 83.77p-121p. The UK regional commercial property-focused real estate investment trust says its net asset value per share slips to 105.48p at the end of March, from 120.63p a year before. Swings to a pretax loss of £11.3 million from £46.7 million a year before. ‘We are pleased that NAV per share has grown in the latest quarter and are confident that the company’s track record of outperformance, robust positioning and the reliable payment of an eight pence annual dividend for the past seven consecutive years will stand it in good stead once market sentiment recovers,’ Chair Mark Burton.
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