DQ Entertainment, an entertainment, production and distribution group, has signed several new licensing and merchandising deals in respect of its intellectual properties during the quarter ending March 31st. During the period the firm also successfully delivered six new TV productions. Food additive supplier Anpario has acquired Meriden Animal Health for a total consideration of up to £4.13m. The purchase, which significantly strengthens its position in China, is expected to be immediately earnings enhancing. The cost will be funded from existing cash resources. The Parkmead Group, an emerging independent oil and gas company, has said its total assets rose by 8% to £13.4m in the six month period ended December 31st. Like-for-like revenue fell from £2.1m to £1.3m, while losses before tax jumped from £0.4m to £2.6m. This was in part due to soaring admin expenses and finance costs. Cash rose slightly from £1.1m to £1.8m. Intandem Films, a London-based international movie company, posted a loss before tax of £0.37m (2010: -£0.29m) equating to a loss per share of 0.29p (2010: -0.18p). The firm currently has net assets of £746,851 and is debt free. "I believe that the conditions in the film industry are such that there will be exceptional growth in revenues over the next five years," the company's CEO said. "The last six months have seen considerable progress towards Intandem's objective of becoming a leading independent film company." Ultimate Finance Group, a provider of financial solutions to small to medium enterprises, reported a 25% rise in turnover from £4.3m to £5.4m year-on-year for the half year ended December 31st. Operating profit was up 28% to £0.5m, while pre-tax profit dropped slightly from £0.337m to £0.329m. An interim dividend of 0.40p was proposed, compared to 0.35p for the same half the previous year. Shopping trolley and basket maker Supercart posted a rise in like-for-like revenue from £5.6m to £6.4m for the six months ended December 31st, while profit before tax was £14,000, compared to a loss of £5,000 the year before. Basic earnings per share were 0.01p (2010: -0.01p). Net Cash at December 31st was £528,000 (2010: £1.25m). "Although, in what is traditionally our busier trading period, we have achieved a modest improvement on the equivalent period in 2010, the results are at a much lower level than we had expected," the firm said. Alternative Networks, a UK business communications service provider, said mobile network services growth had been encouraging with an overall 5% comparative increase in gross profits in the first five months of the financial year. "The group has continued to make good progress in winning market share and the total number of mobile subscribers has grown organically by about 8% year-on-year," the firm said. Net cash balances at March 31st are expected to be about £13m, up from £10.9m at September 30th. The group intends to propose a full year net dividend of 11p for the year ending September 30th 2012 (2011: 10p). NR
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