Corero Network Security (LSE:CNS) has secured a five-year managed services contract worth $3.4 million with a UK Tier-1 fixed and mobile telecommunications provider.

Under the agreement, Corero will deploy its SmartWall ONE distributed denial of service protection technology and CORE platform, including Layer 7 TLS capabilities.

The deployment will use an on-premises solution supported by Corero’s UK security operations centre. The company said the arrangement will assist the customer in meeting requirements under the UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and the Telecommunications Security Act.

Corero Adds Three-Year NeoCloud Contract

Separately, Corero has secured a three-year contract worth $0.5 million with a NeoCloud company.

The initial deployment will cover two data centres, with the potential for the technology to be extended across additional facilities in the customer’s portfolio.

Corero said it now provides protection to three of the largest NeoCloud providers as it develops its presence in cloud and artificial intelligence data centre markets.

Contracts Add Multi-Year Managed Services Business

The two agreements add multi-year contracts across Corero’s telecommunications and NeoCloud customer segments.

The UK telecom contract covers managed services over five years, while the NeoCloud agreement has an initial three-year term and provides scope for deployment beyond the first two data centres.

More About Corero Network Security

Corero Network Security plc is a London-headquartered provider of distributed denial of service protection technology. Its products provide automated threat detection, mitigation and network visibility for internet-connected infrastructure.

The company’s SmartWall ONE platform is designed to protect networks against external and internal DDoS threats. Corero operates centres in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and Edinburgh, UK, and its shares are traded on AIM and the U.S. OTCQX Market.

Critical Mineral Resources PLC (LSE:CMRS) has appointed mining executive Brett Capper as Chair of its Technical Committee as the company progresses work on the Agadir Melloul project.

Capper will provide independent technical oversight as the project moves towards feasibility studies and potential production, with the committee responsible for reviewing areas including project engineering, risk and capital requirements.

Capper Brings Mining Project Development Experience

Capper currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Mitsui Resources and has previously held senior project development positions at Rio Tinto and Anglo American.

Critical Mineral Resources said his appointment is intended to support technical decision-making and capital allocation as the company develops an initial mine plan for Agadir Melloul.

Management said the Technical Committee will seek to ensure that the required technical work is completed while managing costs and project complexity.

Agadir Melloul Development Work Continues

The appointment comes as Critical Mineral Resources advances Agadir Melloul in Morocco through the next stages of project evaluation.

The company is developing a portfolio of copper, silver and other critical minerals projects in Morocco and holds an 80% interest in Atlantic Research Minerals SARL.

More About Critical Mineral Resources

Critical Mineral Resources PLC is a London-listed mineral exploration and development company focused on critical minerals projects in Morocco.

Its portfolio includes exposure to copper, silver and other metals, with activities covering the exploration and development of mineral assets.

AEP Plantations (LSE:AEP) reported revenue of $249.7 million for the six months ended 30 June 2026, an increase of 8.3% from the corresponding period a year earlier.

Profit before tax rose 5.1% to $65.8 million. The results included a $9.1 million bargain purchase gain related to the acquisition of Pinago and reflected higher production of fresh fruit bunches and crude palm oil.

At the end of the period, the group held cash reserves of $109.5 million and had bank borrowings of $13.2 million.

Pinago Acquisition Adds 14,300 Hectares

During the period, AEP completed the $158.3 million acquisition of Pinago in South Sumatra, adding 14,300 hectares of mature plantations to its operations.

The transaction increased the group’s total planted area to 87,392 hectares. AEP subsequently increased its ownership interest in Pinago to approximately 99.48%.

The company also acquired PT Jaya Jadi Utama as part of plans to support the development of a new mill in Kalimantan.

Replanting and Shareholder Returns Continue

Alongside its expansion activities, AEP continued its largest replanting programme and returned $25.9 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.

The company also indicated plans to pay an interim dividend.

For the second half of the year, AEP is targeting continued operating performance against a backdrop of elevated crude palm oil prices.

More About AEP Plantations

AEP Plantations Plc owns, operates and develops palm oil and rubber plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The group’s operations include fresh fruit bunch production, milling and processing. Its plantation portfolio includes operations in regions such as South Sumatra and Kalimantan, while its investment programme covers acquisitions, replanting and additional mill capacity.

Aminex (LSE:AEX) has agreed a revised implementation programme for the Ntorya gas development in Tanzania following a meeting convened by the country’s Ministry of Energy.

The revised timetable was agreed after the meeting rejected a proposed delay from project operator ARA Petroleum Tanzania.

Under the new schedule, a workover of the Ntorya-1 well is planned for October 2026, followed by testing of Ntorya-2 in November. Drilling of the newly planned NT-Central well is scheduled for December 2026, with the Chikumbi-1 well expected to follow.

First Gas Targeted for December 2026

First gas from the Ntorya-1 and Ntorya-2 wells is now targeted for December 2026.

The timing is expected to coincide with completion of the pipeline connecting Ntorya with Madimba, which is intended to receive initial gas production from the development.

ARA Petroleum Tanzania confirmed that it has sufficient funding to undertake the revised work programme.

Aminex Addresses Previously Announced Dispute

Aminex said the agreement represents progress towards resolving its previously announced Notice of Dispute concerning the project.

The Ntorya development forms part of the Ruvuma PSA, with ARA Petroleum Tanzania acting as operator and Aminex participating through its wholly owned subsidiary Ndovu Resources Limited.

The project is intended to supply gas to Tanzania’s domestic market, subject to completion of the planned development work and associated infrastructure.

More About Aminex

Aminex PLC is an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Ntorya gas field in Tanzania through Ndovu Resources Limited.

The company participates in the Ruvuma PSA alongside operator ARA Petroleum Tanzania and works within Tanzania’s petroleum regulatory framework, which includes the Ministry of Energy, the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation.

Ecora Royalties (LSE:ECOR) reported a 75% increase in portfolio contribution to $31.3 million for the first half of 2026, while royalty and streaming revenue more than doubled from the prior-year period.

The company said the increase was primarily driven by its base metals exposure. Adjusted earnings rose more than fivefold, while free cash flow increased and net debt declined to $74.9 million.

Ecora also increased its interim dividend following the first-half performance.

Voisey’s Bay and Copper Assets Support Portfolio Contribution

Operational activity during the period included the ramp-up of cobalt production at Voisey’s Bay and higher realised copper prices at Mantos Blancos and Mimbula.

Ecora’s portfolio partners also continued work on several development projects, including Santo Domingo, Nifty and Cañariaco, as well as the Phalaborwa rare earths study.

The company said cash generation and debt reduction remain areas of focus as it develops its portfolio of royalty and streaming interests.

Portfolio Focuses on Critical Minerals

Ecora’s portfolio includes exposure to copper, cobalt, uranium, vanadium and other commodities. Copper represents a central part of the company’s portfolio strategy.

The group provides financing to mining projects in exchange for royalty and streaming interests, giving it exposure to production and commodity prices without directly operating the underlying mines.

More About Ecora Royalties

Ecora Royalties PLC is a London- and Toronto-listed royalty and streaming company focused on critical minerals.

Its portfolio spans commodities including copper, cobalt, uranium and vanadium, with underlying projects associated with markets including electrification, infrastructure, energy and industrial applications.

Motorpoint Group (LSE:MOTR) said trading volumes and margins are running ahead of its expectations, prompting the UK vehicle retailer to raise its profit outlook for the year ending 31 March 2027.

The company now expects profit before tax for FY27 to be materially above current market consensus. Based on the figures provided by Motorpoint, this would represent year-on-year profit before tax growth of between 30% and 44%, following an 82.9% increase in FY26.

Technology Investment Supports Trading

Motorpoint attributed the trading performance to accelerated investment in technology, data and artificial intelligence, alongside favourable vehicle supply conditions.

The company operates an omnichannel model that allows customers to buy, sell and finance nearly new vehicles online, through its physical stores or using a combination of the two channels.

Motorpoint also operates Auction4Cars.com, an online wholesale platform through which part-exchanged and directly purchased vehicles are sold to business customers.

Motorpoint Adds Store Opening for Spring 2027

Alongside the trading update, Motorpoint said it has secured an additional store opening scheduled for spring 2027.

The company currently operates Motorpoint.co.uk and a network of 22 stores serving retail customers, alongside its Auction4Cars.com business-to-business platform.

More About Motorpoint

Motorpoint Group is an independent UK omnichannel vehicle retailer specialising in nearly new cars for retail and trade customers.

Its operations cover vehicle purchasing, sales and financing through physical stores and online channels, while Auction4Cars.com provides a separate wholesale route for business-to-business vehicle sales.

Avon Technologies (LSE:AVON) said its Team Wendy Ceradyne unit has received a $20.3 million delivery order from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency for second-generation Advanced Combat Helmets.

The order reaches the maximum volume authorised under the current option year of the Advanced Combat Helmet GEN II framework.

Order Covers Advanced Combat Helmets

The latest award relates to the supply of protective helmets to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency and represents the full ordering capacity available under the framework’s current option year.

Team Wendy Ceradyne operates within Avon Technologies and supplies ballistic and impact protection equipment for military applications.

The company said the order supports its continuing relationship with the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency and its activities in the military protective equipment market.

More About Avon Technologies

Avon Technologies plc specialises in protective equipment for military and law enforcement customers. Through its Avon Protection and Team Wendy businesses, the group supplies respiratory protection systems as well as ballistic and impact protection helmets.

According to the company, its products are used by more than 4 million service personnel and first responders across more than 70 markets worldwide.

Halma (LSE:HLMA) has agreed to acquire Pyxis, a U.S.-based provider of water quality monitoring and analysis technologies, for an initial consideration of $170 million.

The transaction covers three Pyxis companies and includes potential additional earn-out payments of up to $30 million, subject to performance through March 2029.

Pyxis is forecast to generate revenue of $39 million in the year ending March 2027.

Pyxis to Join Environmental & Analysis Sector

Following completion of the acquisition, Pyxis will operate as a standalone business within Halma’s Environmental & Analysis sector and will continue to be led by its existing management team.

The acquisition will add Pyxis’s real-time water quality monitoring and analysis products to Halma’s existing environmental technology operations. Pyxis provides equipment for industrial, municipal and environmental water applications.

Halma intends to retain Pyxis’s operational autonomy while providing access to the group’s international network and resources.

More About Halma and Pyxis

Halma plc is a global group of technology companies operating across safety, environmental & analysis, and healthcare markets. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100.

Halma employs more than 9,000 people across over 20 countries, with operations in the UK, Europe, the US and Asia Pacific.

Pyxis was founded in 2013 and is headquartered near Houston, Texas. The company develops and manufactures water quality monitoring and analysis technologies, including sensors, handheld devices and connected monitoring systems used across industrial, municipal and environmental water applications.