A busy Friday for small-cap corporate news was anchored by a significant regulatory milestone: the UK government cleared Vossloh's takeover of Cordel Group (AIM:CRDL) under national security law, removing the last major condition from the recommended cash deal. Elsewhere, housebuilder MJ Gleeson delivered in-line full-year results with a 10% jump in completions, while Quantum Helium's near-doubling of Q2 oil revenue sent its shares surging 20%. Across the resource sector, drill results from Shuka Minerals and Panther Metals added further momentum, and Avingtrans launched a £21m fundraise to expand its Michigan nuclear facility.
Cordel clears NSIA hurdle in Vossloh takeover
Cordel Group (AIM:CRDL) received confirmation that the UK government will take no further action under national security legislation, removing a key regulatory condition from Vossloh's recommended cash acquisition. The decision clears what had been the principal outstanding hurdle to the deal completing. Cordel shares stood at 12.15p with the NSIA process now concluded.
Gleeson delivers in-line FY2026 profit as Homes completions jump 10%
MJ Gleeson (LSE:GLE) reported full-year 2026 profit in line with expectations, with its Homes division completing 10% more units than the prior year, a result that lifted the shares 4.18% to 242.75p. Chief executive Graham Prothero acknowledged ongoing uncertainty in the broader housing market but pointed to a materially stronger Homes business as the platform from which to capture any recovery. The results underscored the group's operational progress even as macro conditions remain difficult to call.
Quantum Helium Q2 oil revenue nearly doubles on Sagebrush-1 test
Quantum Helium (AIM:QHE) reported a 92% jump in second-quarter gross oil revenue, driven by higher oil prices and additional barrels flowing from an extended well test at Sagebrush-1. The near-doubling of revenue sent the AIM-listed helium explorer's shares up 20% to 0.027p. The Sagebrush-1 test has added a meaningful incremental sales stream alongside the group's core helium development activities.
Shuka Minerals hits zinc grades up to 22.8% in new Kabwe drill zones
Shuka Minerals (AIM:SKA) reported zinc mineralisation from two exploration holes drilled into previously untested zones at its Kabwe project in Zambia, with peak grades reaching 22.80% zinc. The holes extended the known orebody approximately one kilometre north of the main drilling area, opening a new front at the deposit. The results lifted the shares 10.2% to 2.7p.
Seed Capital Solutions scraps 4DM deal after Spanish regulators block foreign control
Seed Capital Solutions (AIM:SCSP) abandoned its acquisition of 4DM after Spanish authorities indicated they would not authorise a foreign investor taking control of an AI company operating in a sector deemed strategically sensitive. The regulatory veto left the deal without a viable path to completion, forcing the termination. Shares in Seed Capital Solutions were unchanged at 0.75p.
Arc Minerals schedules August drilling campaign in Botswana
Arc Minerals (AIM:ARCM) confirmed that drilling at its Botswana project is scheduled to begin in August, following what chief executive Rémy Welschinger described as significant progress across both its Botswana and Zambia operations in the second quarter. The update lifted the shares 5.18% to 0.5785p. The company has been advancing exploration across both jurisdictions ahead of the planned drill programme.
LPA Group wins £989,000 in rail aftercare contracts
LPA Group (AIM:LPA) secured a series of rail contract awards totalling £989,000 over a five-week period, covering components and jumper systems with deliveries beginning in October. The AIM-listed engineering company's aftercare business continued to build a steady pipeline of repeat-order work from the rail sector. Shares were unchanged at 66.5p.
Genedrive's newborn hearing test cited in Parliament as personalised medicine example
Genedrive (AIM:GDR) gained a significant public endorsement when a government minister named its newborn hearing-loss genetic test as a live example of personalised medicine during a House of Commons committee session. The parliamentary profile boost lifted the shares 6.2% to 1.301p. The test, which identifies genetic variants affecting aminoglycoside antibiotic response in newborns, has been positioned as a flagship application of pharmacogenomics in the NHS.
Panther Metals intersects sulphide mineralisation at Wishbone VMS prospect
Panther Metals (AIM:PALM) reported sulphide mineralisation across two drill holes at its Wishbone volcanogenic massive sulphide prospect, with chief executive Darren Hazelwood describing the results as evidence of a large-scale VMS system taking shape at the project. The update added 2.31% to the shares, which closed at 133.0p. Wishbone has become a central focus of Panther's Canadian exploration programme.
Impax Asset Management posts AUM growth despite net outflows
Impax Asset Management Group (AIM:IPX) reported a lift in assets under management in its third quarter, growing the total despite net outflows that were partly attributable to a one-off exit tender at one of its listed investment trusts. The sustainable economy-focused fund manager's ability to grow AUM through that headwind reassured investors, with the shares jumping 10.73% to 105.191p.
Avingtrans raises £21m to near-triple nuclear revenues at Michigan facility
Avingtrans (AIM:AVG) launched a £21m fundraise to fund expansion of its Michigan nuclear manufacturing facility, anchored by an £11m cornerstone commitment. The capital raise supports a strategic target to grow nuclear revenues to approximately £90m over five years, roughly three times current levels. The shares rose 3.33% to 651.0p as investors backed the growth plan.
Thruvision wins NPSA validation for walk-through security screening system
Thruvision Group (AIM:THRU) secured validation from the UK Government's National Protective Security Authority for its 8108 WalkTHRU solution, which was tested under the NPSA's Discriminative Threat Detection Systems Test Method and confirmed capable of screening for mass casualty threats. The accreditation strengthens Thruvision's credentials for government and critical infrastructure deployments. Despite the positive news, the shares eased 3.57% to 0.675p.
EnQuest clears pre-emption rights on Malaysian PSC acquisition
EnQuest (LSE:ENQ) confirmed that pre-emption rights on its acquisition of three Malaysian production sharing contract interests have been cleared, allowing the deal to proceed as previously announced. The removal of the pre-emption hurdle represents a material step towards completing the transaction. Shares edged up 0.73% to 22.514p.
Dekel Agri-Vision grows CPO and cashew volumes through H1
Dekel Agri-Vision (AIM:DKL) reported volume growth across both its crude palm oil and cashew operations in the first half of the year, with chief executive Youval Rasin expressing confidence heading into the second half. The update pointed to improving operational momentum across both of the group's West African processing assets. Shares were unchanged at 0.375p.
