Ready, Aim, acquire: Junior market takeovers boosted by fall of sterling in 2016 January 3, 2017 Takeovers of companies listed on London’s junior market jumped by a fifth in 2016, new analysis out today shows. Over the year, 34 companies on the Alternative Investment Market (Aim) were snapped up, an increase from 28 in 2015, according to accountancy group UHY Hacker Young. Aim companies proved particularly attractive in the last quarter [...]
Rail fares have increased twice as fast as wages in the past 10 years January 3, 2017 Ah, January. No alcohol, running in the cold – and the traditional annual rail fare increase. This year, fares are set to rise by 2.3 per cent, while Tube fares are also due to rise (despite Sadiq Khan's assurances to the contrary). And if that doesn't make you miserable enough, new research has shown UK [...]
Britvic continues its Brazilian shopping spree January 3, 2017 Britvic is pressing on with acquisitions in South America with the purchase of a juice business in Brazil. The UK drinks company, known for brands such as 7up , Pepsi Max and Lipton Ice Tea, announced today that it will be buying Brazilian company Bela Ischia for BRL218m (£54m). Read more: Britvic's share price falls after it makes [...]
Euronext has confirmed a €510m offer for LSEG’s French clearing house January 3, 2017 The London Stock Exchange Group today took a significant step in its attempts to complete its mega-merger with Deutsche Boerse, agreeing the sale of its French clearing business. Euronext, the owner of four of Europe's largest stock exchanges, confirmed it has agreed a €510m (£434m) deal for LCH SA, which the LSEG put up for [...]
Vinyl comeback led by David Bowie helps UK music to vintage 2016 January 3, 2017 The vinyl comeback, David Bowie and streaming helped 2016 become a vintage year for UK music consumption. Industry body the BPI counted a total of 123m album equivalent sales (AES) last year, a 1.5 per cent increase on 2015’s figures. This corresponded to an estimated retail value of £1bn. There were 45bn audio streams served in 2016, [...]
Aston Martin Vanquish S review: Lotus steal Matt Becker has transformed this model from glitzy to genius January 3, 2017 To make Aston Martin’s new models drive as beautifully as they look, CEO Dr Andy Palmer went to the company that makes some of the best-handling cars in the world: Lotus. There, he hired a genius called Matt Becker, who’s already helped deliver the divine new DB11. Now the first of Aston’s existing cars to [...]
Dentists are calling for workplaces to cut the cake in 2017 January 3, 2017 New year, new you? Here's another reason to go on a diet this January: dentists are calling for workplaces to cut the cake in 2017. For many, the festive season will have been stuffed with rich foods and heavy drinking – both at work and at home. Read more: Retailers will need to brave fierce [...]
The 10 companies where directors earn the highest salaries January 3, 2017 Thinking of climbing the career ladder in 2017? C'mon, who isn't, let's be honest. It's a new year bringing new opportunity, after all. But if you're looking to make the leap to director level, or are eyeing a change of scenery at that level already, some moves are worth making more than others – when [...]
Pension deficits hit a record year-end high as experts warn on implications January 3, 2017 Britain's pension gap almost doubled during 2016 to the highest ever year-end level, according to data released today. The aggregate deficit of defined benefit pension schemes leapt to £434bn, according to JLT Employee Benefits, up from £233bn, 12 months before. Although deficits have pared back from all-time highs of over £500bn in August, experts predicted bumper pension [...]
City Moves for 3 January 2017 | Who’s switching jobs January 3, 2017 Kingston Smith Kingston Smith has strengthened its tax team with the appointment of Debbie Jennings as a VAT Principal at the top 20 firm of chartered accountants and business advisers. Debbie brings with her over 25 years’ experience in VAT consultancy and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Tax. Her mid-tier client base [...]