Market News - Page 719

Netcall plc (AIM: NET), a leading provider of Low-code and customer engagement software, is pleased to announce that it has secured a minimum £1.4 million contract with a New York Stock Exchange listed group (the 'Customer'). The four-year contract, with an option to extend for a further two years, is for the MatsSoft Low-code platform (“MATS”) and Netcall's Liberty omnichannel Contact Centre solution, delivered as a combined platform via the cloud….

St. Modwen has exchanged contracts for the disposal of a portfolio of 34 assets to Hansteen Holdings PLC for a total cash consideration of £53.7m. Adjusted for assets held in joint venture, St. Modwen's share of the consideration is £47.3m, which compares to a book value for its share of the assets of £48.1m as of November 2017….

Financial Performance

Reported revenue of $27.3bn was 4% higher, with growth in all of our global businesses.
Reported operating expenses of $17.5bn were 7% higher, primarily reflecting investments to grow the business, mainly in RBWM and GB&M, and continued investment in digital across all our global businesses.
Reported profit before tax of $10.7bn was 5% higher, reflecting a net favourable movement in significant items and favourable currency translation. Adjusted profit before tax of $12.1bn was 2% lower, as revenue growth and lower expected credit losses were partly offset by higher operating expenses.
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NWF Group plc, the Fuels, Food and Feed specialist distribution business, has been notified that Richard Whiting (Group Chief Executive) has sold 47,538 ordinary shares of 25 pence each. Following the sale, Richard Whiting has an interest of 310,767 ordinary shares of the Company representing approximately 0.6% of the issued share capital….

As communicated in the Company's year end results, announced on 5 June 2018, the Company has a solid and profitable foundation for further growth. The Board believes that the ongoing appropriate incentivisation of the management team through share ownership is an important factor for the future success of the Company….

Mark Wilson, Group Chief Executive Officer, said:

Aviva has grown operating earnings per share by 4% and increased the dividend by 10%.
The 10% increase in the interim dividend is our fourth consecutive half-year of double digit dividend growth and further proof of Aviva's progress.
During these choppy market conditions, it is reassuring that Aviva's results are consistent, dependable and growing.
Aviva remains financially strong with a capital surplus of £11 billion. In the first half of 2018, we started a £600 million share buy-back and paid off €500 million of expensive debt.
We remain on track to achieve our financial targets….

Strong financial performance – with double-digit revenue growth in Information Services, LCH and Capital Markets
Revenue up 12% to £953 million (H1 2017: £853 million); total income up 12% to £1,060 million (H1 2017: £946 million)
Adjusted operating profit1 up 21% to £480 million (H1 2017: £398 million),
Adjusted EPS1 up 25% to 88.7 pence (H1 2017: 71.2 pence).
Interim dividend increased 19% to 17.2 pence per share (H1 2017: 14.4 pence per share), in line with stated dividend policy…

Good half year progress: growing confidence for the year…