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The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Thursday. ---------- SMALL-CAP - WINNERS ---------- Macfarlane Group PLC, up 6.1% at 70.00 pence, 12-month range 61.60p-122.00p. The packaging and labelling supplier expects results for 2025 in line with expectations. Back in October, it warned full-year adjusted operating profit will be 20% to 25% below market expectations. At the time, it put the market view at £24.7 million. Now, it says the market view is £19.1 million. Macfarlane says operations at the Pitreavie business are recovering after a fatal incident there earlier this year. ‘We have committed £1.2 million of investment in new equipment to restore the business to full operational capability by the end of Q1 2026, helping to accelerate the process of recovery and creating capacity for growth,’ it adds. ---------- SMALL-CAP - LOSERS ---------- Macau Property Opportunities Fund Ltd, down 35% at 8.72p, 12-month range 6.01p-29.01p. The Macau-focused property investment company, which back in November announced plans to raise £1.7 million, says this placing will no longer proceeds. It was ‘unable to raise the required minimum amount’. It warned in November than an absence of funds would mean the firm would be unable to satisfy December loan instalments. These amount to £1.5 million. ‘The company will seek to continue its discussions with its lenders and, if possible, accelerate the sale of properties, but there is no certainty as to the outcome,’ the firm adds. One eventuality could see the firm being forced by the lender to sell two of its Penha Heights units. But due to market conditions, it warns that a sale of the assets may not provide it with enough proceeds to satisfy the loan. ‘There is also a risk that the group could become obligated to dispose of its other outstanding properties on an expedited and/or depressed basis, and this could lead to the need for restructuring, liquidation or insolvency proceedings and shareholders losing all or part of their investment,’ it warns. ---------- Evoke PLC, down 8.0% at 28.10p, 12-month range 27.85p-77.80p. The William Hill owner expects gambling sector tax measures to increase its duty cost by between £125 million and £135 million on an annualised basis, once fully implemented from April 2027. It expects a £80 million cost in 2026. Both estimates are before mitigation measures, which it expects to take away about 50% of the gross impact. Evoke, which in addition to William Hill owns the 888 and Mr Green brands, noted that it paid £329 million in taxes and duties in the UK, equal to 60% of its UK profit. ---------- Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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