Market Briefs

Inspired Hits Record Low on £40 Million Placing Plans

Inspired Gaming Group, the server-based gaming specialist, has fallen to a historic stock-exchange low on plans to raise £40 million by way of a discounted share placing.

The placing's proceeds, the company said in its interim results Monday, will be used pay £20 million in cash costs associated with its exit from the pubs sector, as well as to repay debt and fund growth.

Shares, which trade on the London Stock Exchange, fell 8.25 pence, or 16.75 percent, to 41 pence -- 9 pence below the placing price; the company's £92 million in net debt, moreover, exceeds its market capitalization, £29.9 million, three times over.

To view the full article, including IGN's Take on possible M&A, click here.

Weekly Statistics from Bloomberg.com

Listing

Low Close: 34.5 pence

High Close: 41 pence

Weekly Change: - 15.8 percent

Market Capitalization: £25.3 million

Probability Reveals Strong Trading, Mobile to Outdo Online in Asia, Chief Says

Probability released a strong first-quarter trading update Wednesday, a performance which the company's chief executive, Charles P. Cohen, told Interactive Gaming News was driven by momentum in customer registrations and existing players.

The company, which trades on the London Stock Exchange, reported 75,225 new registrations during the three months to June 30, while its customer acquisition rate was up 19 percent against the fourth quarter.

Net gaming revenue was up 7.5 percent to £1.24 million, from £1.16 million during the previous quarter.

To view the full article, click here.

Weekly Statistics from Bloomberg.com

Listing

Low Close: 52 pence

High Close: 53 pence

Weekly Change: - 1.8 percent

Market Capitalization: £8.03 million

On the Rise and Rising

With Playtech Ltd. anticipated to report another quarter of strong revenue growth -- 73 percent versus the previous-year quarter by one estimate -- questions remain regarding the sustainability of, and drivers behind, that growth.

Evolution Securities, a brokerage in London, last week initiated coverage of Playtech and, bucking a trend of recent "buy" recommendations, drew attention to the company's paucity of "useful" publicly available information.

Ivor Jones, an analyst with Evolution, remarked in a research note that he knew neither where its revenue derived from, geographically, nor who its corporate clients are.

To view the full article, click here.

Weekly Statistics from Bloomberg.com

Listing

Low Close: 476.25 pence

High Close: 531 pence

Weekly Change: - 10.3 percent

Market Capitalization: £1.16 billion