A landmark takeover bid dominated small-cap newsflow, with evoke (LSE:EVOK)'s William Hill and 888 empire set to be absorbed in a £243m share-based deal that sent its shares surging more than 15%. Elsewhere, a validated glioblastoma biomarker at Imaging Biometrics (LSE:IBAI) opened a commercial revenue pathway and triggered one of the session's sharpest moves, while Iofina (AIM:IOF) and Image Scan Holdings (LSE:IGE) both advanced on operationally significant announcements.
Bally's-Intralot strikes £243m deal for William Hill owner evoke
Evoke (AIM:EVOK) agreed to be acquired by a Bally's-Intralot consortium in a share-based transaction valuing the group at £243m, with an alternative cash offer pitched at 52p per share, subject to a capped payout of £117.1m. The deal would bring the William Hill and 888 brands under new ownership, marking a significant consolidation in the listed gaming sector. Evoke shares jumped 15.1% to 46.039p on the announcement.
Imaging Biometrics validates glioblastoma biomarker and opens commercial path
Imaging Biometrics (AIM:IBAI) reported that its IB Neuro software's standardised relative cerebral blood volume (sRCBV) output from the 146-patient EAF151 Phase II trial produced the strongest statistically significant association with overall survival among all biomarkers assessed, a validation that the company said charts a clear commercial revenue path. The result positions sRCBV as a clinically meaningful endpoint in glioblastoma treatment monitoring. The shares surged 53.33% to 0.92p in response.
Iofina secures brine supply deal to lift IO#11 output
Iofina (AIM:IOF) signed an additional brine supply partnership to support its IOsorb plant IO#11 in Central Oklahoma, with the agreement expected to lift annual iodine production by an estimated 45-65 tonnes. The deal reinforces the company's strategy of expanding low-cost feedstock access to drive output growth at existing facilities. Iofina shares rose 7.76% to 45.8p.
BTG Consulting acquires MVLOnline to expand digital liquidations platform
BTG Consulting (AIM:BTG) acquired specialist solvent-liquidation website MVLOnline.co.uk, folding it into the group's existing digital platform to strengthen its members' voluntary liquidation offering. The bolt-on deal extends BTG's reach in the growing market for online-first insolvency services. Shares edged up 1.2% to 126.5p.
Image Scan wins European defence contract for ThreatScan systems
Image Scan Holdings (AIM:IGE) secured a contract to supply 25 ThreatScan portable X-ray systems to a European government defence organisation, won through competitive tender. The majority of revenue from the order is expected to fall within the current financial period, providing a near-term earnings contribution. The contract news lifted the shares 16.57% to 2.04p.
Touchstone launches US$10m-15m equity raise to fund new drilling
Touchstone Exploration (AIM:TXP) launched an equity fundraise targeting between US$10m and US$15m to finance new well drilling, low-cost workovers, and the reduction of aged payables across its Caribbean operations. As part of the raise, the company is offering new shares to UK retail investors at 7p via Winterflood's WRAP platform. Touchstone shares were quoted at 7.0p.
Touchstone opens retail tranche of equity offer via Winterflood WRAP
Alongside its institutional raise, Touchstone Exploration (AIM:TXP) made the offer available to UK retail investors through Winterflood's WRAP platform, with new shares priced at 7p. The retail component forms part of the same US$10-15m overall fundraise, broadening the investor base for the capital raise.
Revolution Beauty cleared as FCA closes investigation with no action
Revolution Beauty Group (AIM:REVB) confirmed that the Financial Conduct Authority has closed its investigation into the company and will take no action against the group or its founders. Chairman Iain McDonald welcomed the outcome, which removes a significant regulatory overhang that had weighed on the stock since the inquiry began. Shares rose 4.65% to 4.5p.
URU Metals demotes Zeb Target 2 after ground geophysics survey
URU Metals (AIM:URU) completed ground geophysics at its Zeb Nickel Project, confirming magnetic bodies in both the northern and southern Target 2 areas but concluding that the zone warrants only secondary follow-up status behind the company's priority Target 1. The reclassification reflects a tightening of exploration focus rather than a negative result, though the shares slipped 2.46% to 5.706p.
genedrive receives £0.76m R&D tax credit from HMRC
genedrive (AIM:GDR) received an R&D tax credit refund of approximately £0.76m from HMRC, covering the financial years ended 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2025. The cash receipt provides a modest liquidity boost as the diagnostics company continues to develop its molecular testing platform. Shares ticked up 1.69% to 1.2711p.
Bluebird Mining Ventures records first full month of revenue
Bluebird Mining Ventures (AIM:BMV) reported its first full month of revenue in May, alongside progress on asset restructurings and new hires, as the company builds out its operational base. The treasury retains exposure to both gold and Bitcoin, reflecting a dual-asset approach to capital preservation. The milestone update drove the shares up 31.24% to 0.0689p.
Agronomics investee Bond Pet Foods clears FDA hurdle for lamb protein
Agronomics (AIM:ANIC) reported that portfolio company Bond Pet Foods received a US FDA Letter of No Objection clearing its precision-fermented Lamb Protein Yeast for use in healthy adult dog food at inclusion rates up to 15%. The regulatory clearance marks a commercial milestone for the cultivated-protein investee and advances Agronomics' thesis around alternative protein adoption. Agronomics shares were down 1.7% at 6.3892p.
Agronomics portfolio company HydGene selected for Greentown Go Make 2026
In a second portfolio update, Agronomics (AIM:ANIC) said investee HydGene Renewables has been selected for the Greentown Go Make 2026 open-innovation programme, securing structured access to Shell Catalysts & Technologies and Technip Energies to advance its low-carbon hydrogen technology. The selection provides HydGene with industrial-scale development partnerships at a critical stage of its commercialisation roadmap.
Forgent schedules aircore drilling at Peak Hills gold-copper project
Forgent (AIM:FORG) confirmed it will begin an approximately 2,860-metre aircore drilling programme at its Peak Hills gold-copper project in the week commencing 21 June, targeting seven priority areas. Initial assay results are expected in early August, providing a near-term catalyst for the exploration-stage company. Shares gained 6.67% to 0.016p.
ADM Energy lifts Vega Upstream JV stake to 25% with US$200,000 top-up
ADM Energy increased its economic and asset interest in the Vega Upstream JV to 25% following a US$200,000 top-up payment, and issued replacement warrants as part of the restructured terms. The closing of the broader Midcon acquisition was pushed back to 26 June, extending the timeline on that separate transaction.
Defence Holdings secures £226,000 Ministry of Defence testing contract
Defence Holdings landed a proposed three-month contract with the Ministry of Defence worth approximately £226,000, covering a trial of integrated intelligence and decision-support capability. The contract, if confirmed, would represent a meaningful near-term revenue contribution for the early-stage defence technology company.
