Petroceltic boss Brian O’Cathain bites back after Worldview Capital repeats allegations February 9, 2015 Oil boss Brian O’Cathain, chief executive of Irish firm Petroceltic, last night hit back at activist shareholder Worldview Capital, which is calling for his resignation, and accused it of “trying to take over the company, but not at fair value”. The Swiss group issued a circular yesterday in which it claimed that Petroceltic will run [...]
Camden crowdfund to expand brewing site February 9, 2015 CRAFT beer company Camden Town Brewery yesterday cracked open a £1.5m crowdfunding equity campaign to raise funds for a new brewing site. The fund, titled Hells Raiser says 100 jobs could come from the expansion. For £10 funders will get an equity certificate, with heftier sums getting beer-related rewards.
Premier Technical Services Group IPO: Electrical safety firm raises cash for £45m listing February 9, 2015 A leading electrical safety firm responsible for working on the King’s Cross redevelopment has raised £8m by floating on London’s junior stock market. West Yorkshire-based Premier Technical Services Group (PTSG) is set to start trading on the alternative investment market tomorrow after raising new funds and selling existing shares to outside investors in an offer [...]
Imagination picks former Sony Mobile chief Bert Nordberg as next chairman February 9, 2015 British microchip designer Imagination Technologies yesterday appointed Bert Nordberg as its new chairman. Nordberg, the former president and chief executive of Sony Mobile communications, will succeed Geoff Shingles, who is retiring on 20 March. “It is a great pleasure to welcome Bert to Imagination,” said Imagination’s Senior independent director David Anderson in a statement. “His [...]
Oaktree’s $10bn fund on track yet returns drop February 9, 2015 OAKTREE Capital Group, the world’s largest distressed-debt investor, last night announced a fourth quarter net profit of $24.4m (£16m) for the three months to 31 December, down from $64.9m a year earlier. The company joins the long list of firms affected by the unexpectedly low oil price, which dropped 39 per cent in the quarter, [...]
Oakley Capital’s assets expected to rise in value to over £255m February 9, 2015 Private equity and venture capital firm Oakley Capital Investments said it expects four per cent growth in the value of its holdings in a trading update yesterday. The Aim-listed firm is most known for its investments in private mid-market businesses including hospitality and tourism publisher Time Out. Oakley offered a value range of between £255m [...]
Civil engineers want politicians to put infrastructure at heart of manifestos February 9, 2015 THE INSTITUTION of Civil Engineers (ICE) has today released a manifesto for the upcoming election, in which they call on politicians to prioritise infrastructure, and for the next UK government to focus on a long term infrastructure plan. ICE have laid out 10 key policies they want the political parties to adopt. They include the [...]
Broadband roll out disputed as two million homes go superfast February 9, 2015 THE GOVERNMENT and BT say that they are on track to reach their target to get superfast broadband in 95 per cent of homes by 2017, announcing yesterday that 2m households are now connected to internet with speeds of 24mb/s. However, Chris Bryant, Labour’s shadow minister for culture and the digital economy, expressed his concerns: [...]
Exova’s latest buy takes firm into new sector February 9, 2015 TESTING and advisory firm Exova Group has bought environmental testing company Environmental Evaluation (EEL) for an undisclosed amount. Oldham-based EEL employs 83 staff and specialises in asbestos management services for the nuclear decommissioning industry. Edinburgh-based Exova said the deal would extend its geographical reach and capabilities in the UK, “as well as opening up growth [...]
Bordeaux is back on the investment table as Hong Kong buyers boost price February 9, 2015 BORDEAUX prices are back at 2010 levels, with the cost of some of the French regions’ best-known brands returning to pre-crisis peaks. Bordeaux Index, which monitors fine wine prices, said yesterday that while prices had soured in recent years, the supply excess had now “worked out of the market” and export demand is increasing again, [...]