UK Small Caps

LONDON (ShareCast) - London-based pub group Fuller, Smith & Turner said it continues to trade strongly and expects full year results to exceed expectations.

In the 11 weeks to 30 January 2010, like for like sales in Managed Pubs and Hotels grew by 2.6%. Like for like sales growth for the full 44 weeks to 2.8%.

Its managed Pubs and Hotels enjoyed record sales in December and The Fuller's Beer Company sold a record volume of own beer in the same period. However it added that the severe weather in January took "the gloss off these sales."

Looking ahead the group said it was cautious about the UK economic outlook and the prospects for its customers for 2010 and beyond.

"With inflation set to increase and tax rises and spending cuts inevitable after the general election, we will have to compete even harder for our customers' business," it said in a company statement.

Fuller's is recommending the payment of a second interim dividend of 5.35p per ordinary 'A' share and 0.535 pence per ordinary 'B' share. It also expects to pay a small final dividend in June.

Insurance broker Brightside Group says that second half trading was strong and 2009 figures will slightly exceed market expectations.

Brightside brokered 30% more policies than 2008. The total figure was 197,059. The life assurance business is running at an annualised rate of 10,000 policies.

The medical reporting business received 130% more instructions in 2009.

In December, Brightside raised £20m from a placing at 22p a share. The new shares represented 21.7% of the enlarged share capital.

This cash will help to accelerate growth in 2010. Brightside also intends to invest in new technology.

Brightside entered into five year call options with Southern Rock Insurance Company. These will enable Brightside to buy the eBike and eCar insurance businesses as well as the technology behind its online policy distribution platform.

Future Film Group plans to join AIM before the end of February.

UK film finance and production company Future Film organises financing for film and TV productions. There are offices in London and California. The company receives fees for services provided and it minimises the risk related to the performance of the film. Film Future says that it has raised more than £2bn for over 120 films in the past nine years. There are plans to expand in Australia, South Africa and Spain.

Just before Christmas the company launched a joint film fund with Canadian company Mediabiz International. The money raised was expected to reach $133m.

Future Film also owns post-production facilities and is involved in new online film channel Projector.tv.

Future Film is currently 93%-owned by chief executive Stephen Margolis. There is no indication about how much will be raised in the flotation or the value of the company. Last August, the Sunday Times said that Future Film was looking to float and raise £5m, which would have given it a market value of around £20m. That does not mean that the plans are still the same.

Shares in Supercart (LSE: SC.L - news) rallied after the shopping trolley maker received a £480,000 order from Toys 'R' Us.

The order is for delivery in the first quarter of 2010, the group said. 'I am extremely pleased that this significant order from Toys 'R' Us, together with a healthy level of activity in our US operations, has given us an excellent start to 2010,' said chief executive Mike Wolfe.

'The market was slower than anticipated in the final quarter of 2009 but orders are, as predicted, now coming through.'