Interserve Plc (LON:IRV) shares are under pressure in the wake of Carillion's collapse, on Wednesday the share was down 1.65% at 119p.
It comes amid reports of government scrutiny over the financial health of contractors.
The UK Cabinet Office has set up a team of officials to keep an eye on the outsourcer, which provides security, cleaning, healthcare and construction services, the Financial Times reported.
"Ministers are very worried about Interserve, but the team is small and low-key as they are not wanting to unsettle," an unnamed official told the newspaper.
The company, which employs about 80,000 staff worldwide and 25,000 in the UK, issued multiple profit warnings last year. It blamed challenging market conditions in the UK construction division, large losses on a waste-to-energy project in Glasgow and an increase in the national minimum wage.
In January, shares recovered as it forecast better-than-expected operating profit for 2018 after delivering cost savings of about ?15mln. At the time the group said it expects its net debt to peak in the first half of 2018, partly due to ongoing refinancing activity.
Liberum Securities, which rates the company as a 'buy', in a note today said that that Interserve is "very different from Carillion".
"There is clearly too much debt; with limited headroom and Net Debt / EBITDA is stubbornly over 3.0 times," said Liberum analyst Joe Brent.
"But there are businesses to sell and we believe that shareholders would support a raise."
Brent reckons Interserve could potentially raise between ?185mln to ?340mln of new capital, and that there could even be scope for the share price to double (though the actual 180p price target represents some 51% upside) - that being said, the broker describes its 'buy' rating as being "high risk".
Deltex Medical Group plc (LON:DEMG) share more than doubled in value after announcing new business, in the form of a new account with a "major new hospital in the USA" which will use the technology company's oesophageal doppler monitoring device.
The share was up 1.19p, 118%, trading at 2.30p.
Russia focussed oiler PetroNeft Resources Plc (LON:PTR) moved higher, by some 25%, after it secured a US$2mln loan and updated on its production operations in the Tomsk Oblast.
Utilitywise plc (LON:UTW) was down 16.7% changing hands at 37.92p, after it gave details around the preparation of delayed financial results.
Touchstar Plc (LON:TST) lowered, down 11.5% to 69.9p, due to an equity placing that will raise ?1.3mln.
Takeover news saw Informa Plc (LON:INF) shares lower, down 9% to 679.8p, while UBM Plc (LON:UBM) the company being bought advanced 79p or 10% to trade at 865p.
Burberry Group Plc (LON:BRBY) shares started Wednesday 7% lower, changing hands at 1,658p, after it unveiled a 2% drop in retail revenues, reflecting weaker sales in the UK.
The luxury fashion brand said retail revenue in the three months to 31 December 2017 came to ?719mln, down from ?735mln the same period a year ago. Comparable store sales growth slowed to 2% from 3% the previous year.
Elsewhere, Cineworld Group plc (LON:CINE) was down 4%, trading at 541p, as it launched a ?1.7bn fully underwritten rights issue which will fund the takeover of Regal Entertainment Group.
The cinema operator in December announced it would buy US rival Regal in a deal that values the business at US$3.6bn. Cineworld will issue 1,095,662,872, respresenting 400% of its existing issued share capital and 80% of the enlarged group. Investors to receive four shares at 157p each for every one they hold.
Hurricane Energy PLC (LON:HUR) updated on the ongoing review being conducted by its recently formed Listing and Governance Committee (LGC), as it continues to prepare for promotion to a 'premium' segment of a recognised stock exchange.
It is an "exciting period of growth" for Genedrive PLC (LON:GDR) according to its boss, David Budd, as the medical diagnostics group hurtles towards commercialisation of its Hepatitis C (HCV) ID Kit.
Clinigen Group PLC (LON:CLIN) said it is positioned for another year of growth as it told investors trading at the halfway stage had been in line with expectations. The speciality pharma and services company reported that revenues were up 28% year-on-year, although the figure was distorted by what are called 'pass through costs' associated with the unlicensed medicines it accesses on behalf of patients in need.
OptiBiotix Health plc's (LON:OPTI) work on the emerging field of the human microbiome will be recognised at a leading industry conference next month. For the company is to present an abstract at ProBiota 2018, attended by the movers and shakers of the industry.
Advanced materials group Haydale Graphene Industries PLC (LON:HAYD) has entered into a commercial supply and development agreement with Australian-listed Talga Resources.
Eland Oil & Gas PLC (LON:ELA) has confirmed that the Opuama-8 well has now been drilled and handed over to the field production team. The Elcrest joint venture subsidiary successfully drilled and completed the well, which is now expected to be flow tested before it goes into production.
IronRidge Resources Limited (LON:IRR) has expanded its lithium interests in Ghana with the acquisition of a lithium pegmatite tenure adjacent to its Ewoyaa prospect. The AIM-listed junior is acquiring the Saltpond licence from local Ghanaian firm Joy Transporters.
Shanta Gold Limited (LON:SHG), the East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explore, has appointed Numis Securities as its nominated adviser and sole broker with immediate effect.