Bargain Booze owner toasts to better than expected hike in profit July 13, 2015 Conviviality Retail, the company behind the off-licence chain Bargain Booze, saw pre-tax profits rise by 4.4 per cent last year after broadening its range of wines and ales to woo more affluent shoppers. The Aim-listed group, which suspended trading last week after confirming it is in takeover talks with wholesaler Matthew Clark, reported profits of [...]
Bluefield Partners plans solar fund IPO to raise £142m July 13, 2015 Bluefield Partners yesterday said it is planning to float a second solar energy fund on the London Stock Exchange, which it hopes will raise at least €200m (£142m). Unlike its first listed fund, which invests in UK solar energy assets, the Bluefield European Solar Fund will look for opportunities in Eurozone countries – excluding [...]
Shanks launches green bonds listing July 13, 2015 UK WASTE management company Shanks yesterday opened trading at the London Stock Exchange, to mark its “green bonds” being the first retail offering to be listed on the bourse’s green market. To be classed as green bonds, they have to demonstrate that the proceeds will be invested in environmentally beneficial projects.
Burberry braced for another chequered shareholder meeting July 12, 2015 Burberry is expected to face another turbulent annual meeting this week, a year after investor advisory group Pirc urged shareholders to vote against chief executive Christopher Bailey’s “excessive” pay. The luxury fashion chain, which will hold its annual general meeting on Thursday, awarded Bailey a £7.9m pay package last year, including a £1m salary, a [...]
Keep Greece flying: Ryanair offers Greek flights for €5 July 10, 2015 Never one to let a bandwagon trundle past un-jumped on, Ryanair has slashed prices by 30 per cent for routes to and from Greece, as part of a campaign to "Keep Greece Flying". Read more: Ryanair shares up as it approves IAG's Aer Lingus offer The airline said prices on its Athens routes to and from [...]
Go Tell A Watchman: Harper Lee’s new novel becomes Amazon’s most pre-ordered book since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows July 10, 2015 Harper Lee's hugely anticipated novel Go Set A Watchman has become Amazon's most pre-ordered title since the final Harry Potter book, The Deathly Hallows. The novel is due to be published on 14 July – almost 55 years to the day Lee's debut came out to much acclaim. It went on to win the [...]
Ryanair share price up after approving IAG’s offer for Aer Lingus stake July 10, 2015 Ryanair’s board has voted unanimously to sell its 29.8 per cent stake in Aer Lingus to International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways. Despite attempts by the low-fare airline to keep hold of its stake in its Irish rival, it was ordered to sell it by competition regulators in 2012. After months of [...]
InterContinental Hotels share price jumps after selling off InterContinental Hong Kong for $938m July 10, 2015 Shareholders’ hopes will be raised after InterContinental Hotels Group said it had sold the InterContinental Hong Kong, one of its flagship hotels. The hotelier announced the sale of the five star hotel to Supreme Key, a consortium of investors, early this morning. The deal is a continuation of IHG’s sell-off strategy, under which the chain [...]
After US launch Primark heads for Italy; opening first stores in Milan next year July 10, 2015 Primark is so inspired by its "Primarni" nickname, it's entering the Italian market ahead of schedule, it said today. The fashion brand will open the first of up to three Italian stores in Milan next summer, according to owner Associated British Foods. Shares in the group rose, following a trading update reporting a “modest decline” [...]
Coty lands sweet smelling $12bn Procter & Gamble beauty deal July 9, 2015 In a transaction valued at $12.5bn (£8.1bn), multinational consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) has agreed to sell 43 of its brands to global beauty products manufacturer Coty. The various brands acquired by Coty include Max Factor, Hugo Boss and Lacoste, and all compete in the hair care, retail cosmetics and fine fragrance sectors. [...]