Pets at Home VIP club soars by 270,000 as revenue growth meets expectations April 21, 2015 The figures Like-for-like revenue growth at pet supplies retailer Pets at Home grew 4.2 per cent for the year to 26 March. Total revenue climbed 9.6 per cent to £729.1m while fee income from joint venture veterinary practices soared by 30.7 per cent to £28.2m. Merchandise like-for-like revenue grew steadily by 3.7 per cent but like-for-like [...]
Credit Suisse smashes expectations in first quarter April 21, 2015 The figures Credit Suisse smashed forecasts in the first quarter with net profits up 23 per cent to SFr1.054bn (£740m) with its private bank providing a boost to the bottom line. Analysts had expected that to come in at between SFr900m and SFr1bn Swiss francs for the first three months to the end of March. Net [...]
Greek debt deadline: Greece raids cash piles to stay afloat April 20, 2015 The Greek government is forcing public sector bodies to hand over their cash reserves, as it tries to avoid running out of money while talks with international lenders drag on. The struggling Mediterranean state faces payments totalling nearly €1bn (£720m) in the first two weeks of May, as well as €1.7bn of public sector wages [...]
Everyman in £20m cinema buyout splurge with London screens in Gerrards Cross, Esher, Muswell Hill and Barnet April 20, 2015 Everyman Media Group raised £20m in a share placing yesterday, announcing it had successfully tapped up investors for funds to buy more cinemas. The group, which is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (Aim), is buying four cinemas across London, with a total of 14 screens. As a result, the group will increase the [...]
Full-time job hires pick up in the City as skills shortage persists April 20, 2015 City firms are significantly more likely to hire full-time, permanent employees than they were a year ago, according to a new report out today. There were 32 per cent more permanent roles available in the Square Mile in the first quarter of this year than there were in the first quarter of 2014, according to [...]
UBS: Sterling to be hit by General Election chaos April 20, 2015 No party is set to win a majority at the General Election next month, and analysts at investment bank UBS predict a minority government is the most likely outcome. Such an administration is considered less stable than a majority or coalition government, and so the analysts expect sterling to take a hit after the vote. [...]
Consumer credit firms cut back lending on watchdog delays April 20, 2015 Payday borrowers could be left without credit, as lenders are forced to cut back business on delays to authorisation from the regulator, a former Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) worker said yesterday. The FCA took over regulating the 50,000 consumer credit firms last year, giving them all temporary licences and asking them meet tough new rules [...]
Nomad Foods tycoons swoop for Iglo-owned Birds Eye in €2.6bn deal April 20, 2015 Iglo Foods, the owner of Bird’s Eye fish fingers, was sold to a US consumer foods group chaired by former City minister Lord Myners in a €2.6bn (£1.9bn) deal yesterday. Nomad Foods, which was founded last April to launch consumer takeovers, has bought the group from London-based Permira. UK-headquartered Iglo is Europe’s biggest frozen food [...]
Tesco set to report record loss. Is new boss Dave Lewis the man to lead a turnaround? April 20, 2015 Dave Lewis arrived at Tesco with the nickname “Drastic Dave” – earned after he streamlined Unilever UK in 2007, cutting 40 per cent of costs and 300 jobs. When he took up the role of Tesco chief executive in September he had every reason to live up to that moniker. Facing a £263m accounting error, [...]
Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: Her Majesty grants 141 firms lucrative business prize April 20, 2015 Dozens of British firms are in line for a Queen’s enterprise award today to recognise their achievements in international trade, innovation and sustainable development. The award can provide a massive boost to ambitious firms with robust growth targets. One winner last year was EnergyNet, which organises a global portfolio of investment conferences focusing on the [...]