News

Qonnectis, a data monitoring service provider for utilities and big commercial users of energy and water, narrowed interim losses to £215,992 from £378,240 the year before as sales soared 81% to £291,281.

"Repeat and new sales of the Qonnectis Smart Metering products have continued and, since the period end, further significant progress has been made with the company receiving orders for Leakfrog from South West Water and Three Valleys Water," said boss Michael Tapia.

Airsprung Furniture said current expectations are for the group's sales and operating profits for the year to 31 March 2008 to be ahead of the previous year's levels.

The company said in its interim statement in December last year that it intends to resume dividend payments "subject to trading results continuing to improve"; as a prelude to the resumption of dividend payments, it has resumed interest payments on its preference shares.

Facilities and energy management solutions provider GSH Group saw half-year profits slide slightly as it announced the departure of its chairman.

Stuart Graham will be stepping down as chairman and be replaced by John Kelly, who will become the non-executive chairman with immediate effect.

Pre-tax profit for the period fell to £3.48m from £3.54m previously on turnover that increased 26% to £88.3m. Interim dividend was increased to 2.9p per share from 2.6 p previously.

Aim-listed building services specialist Northern Bear has forecast profits and revenues this year to end March will be at the top end of expectations, driven by acquisition and a move away from new build housing.

"There remains a wide pool of potential acquisitions which meet the company's criteria and therefore there continues to be ample opportunities to substantially increase the size of the business and enhance earnings per share, in line with the company's stated acquisition strategy," it added.

Management consultant NBA Quantum first half profits and sales fell respectively to £67,000 from £73,000 and £216m to £1.44m.

"The first half of the year has seen a continuation of profit levels as the benefits flow from actions taken by management. We intend to continue with measures to improve profitability and expect work in Europe, the Middle East and Far East to add to these successes," chairman Bob Jervis said.

Shieldtech, which provides products and services for homeland security, said it expects trading results to improve substantially in the second half after a 'modest' first half.

Pre-tax losses for the half-year increased to £1.03m from the £104,000 last year on revenue that in came in at £2.4m from nil before.

Software firm Sopheon saw revenue for the year come in at £6.3m compared with £6m from 2006 but pre-tax losses increased to £443,000 versus £303,000.

The group said the declining value of the US dollar weighted on reported revenues, while two major orders deferred for the end of 2007 have now been signed.

Heating systems group Inditherm chopped losses last year, though it cautioned it is still several quarters from breaking even though it expects to make good progress in the current year.

Losses in 2007 were £714,000 compared with £1.16m, on revenues up to £1.86m from £1.56m. The group added it had moved into profit in the first quarter, but does not expect this to last due to sluggish sales in industrial and constructions markets. Medical, outside the US, is more encouraging it says with a good order flow. There is no dividend.