Aer Lingus sets out terms of €1.4bn IAG offer June 19, 2015 A takeover of Aer Lingus by International Airlines Group (IAG) – the parent company of British Airways – came one step closer this morning, after the Irish airline published the full terms of IAG's offer for the group and called an extraordinary general meeting. The deal has been sparked by Ryanair, which has been told [...]
Auto Trader share price rises as profits jump June 19, 2015 Shares in newly-listed Auto Trader opened 2.7 per cent higher at 316.25p as its full-year results since its IPO suggested car buyers are increasingly internet-savvy. The figures Revenues rose eight per cent to £255.9m in the year to the end of March, Auto Trader said this morning, while operating profits jumped 35 per cent to [...]
Keith Skeoch to step up as David Nish quits as chief executive of Standard Life June 19, 2015 David Nish will step down as chief executive of Standard Life in August after six years in the role, the savings giant said today. He'll be replaced by Keith Skeoch, currently chief executive of Standard Life Investments. Sir Gerry Grimstone, Standard Life's chairman, said Nish had "shown great leadership over the last six years, and [...]
Google could make joint bid for Tesco customer data unit Dunnhumby June 18, 2015 Google could soon be partnering with private equity fund Permira to make a joint bid for Tesco’s customer data business. The two firms are in talks to make a bid for Tesco’s data wing, Dunnhumby, which gathers and analyses data from about 1bn shoppers across the world, according to reports from Sky News and Reuters last [...]
Fitbit share price jumps 52 per cent on market debut in New York June 18, 2015 Shares in wearable fitness gadget maker Fitbit surged 52 per cent in their stock market debut across the pond yesterday, valuing the firm at more than $4.1bn (£2.6bn). The shares, which are now traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker FIT, were priced at $20 per share for the initial public [...]
Charles Stanley’s £6m swing into the red June 18, 2015 Wealth management firm Charles Stanley started the arduous task of trying to turn around the business yesterday after revealing a £6m full year loss. The company, which traces its roots back about 200 years, saw a £6.1m profit last year evaporate to a £6.1m loss for the year ending March 2015, due to higher staff [...]
Dragon Oil shareholders breathing fire over £3.7bn ENOC takeover bid June 18, 2015 Dragon Oil was at the centre of a shareholder showdown yesterday, over whether to accept a £3.7bn takeover offer from Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC). But LGM Investments told City A.M. that it disagreed with Baillie Gifford’s plans to reject the improved 750p per share bid for the Turkmenistan-focused oil producer. “We [...]
William Hill’s finance chief Neil Cooper trades in horseracing for housebuilding at Barratt Developments June 18, 2015 Bookmaker William Hill yesterday said that its group finance director Neil Cooper is leaving after five years to join Barratt Developments. Cooper is going back to his housebuilding roots, having previously held the role of finance director at Bovis Homes before joining William Hill. His contract has a 12 month notice period, but his actual [...]
Sirius Minerals share price closes down 13.4 per cent on York Potash mine planning report June 18, 2015 Shares in Aim-listed Sirius Minerals closed down 13.4 per cent to 18.62 pence per share this afternoon, after a disappointing planning report on its York Potash mine application. Planning officers at the North York Moors National Park Authority said that the application has "a clear and fundamental conflict with both local and national policies". Sirius [...]
Dragon Oil share price dips slightly as shareholder Baillie Gifford unimpressed by £3.7bn takeover off from Emirates National Oil Company June 18, 2015 Dragon Oil's largest minority shareholder Baillie Gifford isn't impressed by Emirates National Oil Company's (ENOC) £3.7bn takeover offer for the oil explorer. The Edinburgh-based asset manager, which owns a 7.2 per cent stake in the company, said the offer "materially undervalues the company's strong growth potential and encourage shareholders to reflect on the growth infrastructure that is presently being [...]