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The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Wednesday. ---------- SMALL-CAP - WINNERS ---------- International Personal Finance PLC, up 19% at 212.50 pence, 12-month range 119.50p-214.50p. Shares in the provider of credit products and insurance services rise as it announces it would be minded to accept a takeover bid from a suitor of around £500 million, should an offer come. IPF confirmed talks with asset-based financing provider BasePoint Capital. A price per share of 223.8 pence has been mooted, a sum IPF would recommend to shareholders should an official bid materialise. The deal would value IPF at about £502.7 million. The price per share is a 25% premium to its Tuesday closing price. Separately, IPF reports a rise in half-year pretax profit, an increase in its dividend but a fall in revenue. Revenue falls 6.4% on-year to £347.8 million in the first six months of 2025, from £371.7 million but pretax profit rises 37% to £49.9 million from £36.5 million. IPF lifts its dividend by 12% to 3.8p per share from 3.4p. ---------- HydrogenOne Capital Growth PLC, up 9.3% at 28.43p, 12-month range 18.84p-52.00p. The investor in clean hydrogen companies says its best option is to pursue a managed realisation of its remaining investments. ‘To facilitate this process, the board has determined that it would be in the best interests of shareholders to terminate the existing arrangements with the current investment adviser, HydrogenOne Capital LLP, and appoint a new investment adviser to assist the company,’ it adds. It picks RWC Asset Management LLP, part of Redwheel Group, as investment adviser. In addition, it names Global Fund Management Services Ltd as new alternative investment fund manager. ‘The board believes that the appointment of Redwheel and GFM is in the best interests of shareholders as the company navigates a challenging period ahead,’ HydrogenOne says. The company adds that it plans to make an application to change its name. ---------- SMALL-CAP - LOSERS ---------- FDM Group Holdings PLC, down 31% at 134.80p, 12-month range 129.80p-449.50p. Shares hit this 12-month low on Wednesday. The IT-focused professional services provider expects an annual results ‘significantly lower than its previous expectations’. ‘Our engagement with our clients remains positive and there are many ongoing conversations regarding future deployments and projects. However, the inherent lack of certainty and confidence in many of our end markets is resulting in much-lengthened timelines, with client procurement processes elongated and commercial decisions frequently delayed or deferred,’ FDM says. Pretax profit in the first six months of 2025 slumps 48% to £8.0 million from £15.5 million, while revenue falls 31% to £97.3 million from £140.2 million. ---------- Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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