Shepherd Neame turnover drops after contract losses September 25, 2019 Turnover at Shepherd Neame fell nearly seven per cent after the pub operator lost contracts with Asahi and Lidl. The brewer, which owns and operates 322 pubs in Kent and the south east, reported that turnover was down 6.9 per cent to £145.8m in the year ended 29 June, compared to £156.6m in 2018. Read [...]
Ebay chief executive steps down September 25, 2019 Ebay chief executive Devin Wenig has stepped down as the online retail giant presses ahead with a potential asset sale. Chief finance officer Scott Schenkel has been appointed as interim chief executive while the board searches for Wenig’s replacement. Ebay said it would continue a strategic review of its assets that began in March. The [...]
Local newspaper group Archant shuts printing site as boss steps down September 25, 2019 The chief executive of Archant is stepping down as the local newspaper group announced it is shutting its internal printworks, putting jobs at risk. The publishing firm, which owns titles including the Ham & High and Hackney Gazette, said boss Jeff Henry will step down at the end of September after five years at the [...]
Hong Kong bourse ‘may increase’ £32bn offer for London Stock Exchange, says Swiss peer September 25, 2019 Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing (HKEX) will likely raise its blockbuster offer for the London Stock Exchange (LSE), according to the chief executive of a fellow bourse heavyweight. Swiss stock exchange boss Jos Dijsselhof has told City A.M. that he expects HKEX to up its current £32bn takeover proposal for its London counterpart, but he remains convinced [...]
Oasis and Warehouse profit rises as retailer mulls cuts September 25, 2019 Oasis and Warehouse Group reported a return to profit in its latest full-year results as the retailer prepares to cut jobs and contracted hours across its store portfolio. The high street chain said this morning that profit before tax was £1.6m, compared to a loss of £10.1m the previous year. Total sales were up 6.5 [...]
Boris Bus-t: Red bus maker Wrightbus goes into administration, putting 1,300 jobs at risk September 25, 2019 Britain’s embattled manufacturing industry was dealt a fresh blow this morning as Wrightbus entered administration, putting nearly 5,000 jobs at risk. The company, which is famous for building the so-called Boris bus Routemaster model in London, had been suffering from cash flow shortages, and had been looking for a new owner. Read more: Wrightbus in [...]
Revenues rise at hostel chain Safestay after strong summer September 25, 2019 Hostel chain Safestay reported a jump in revenue following “positive summer trading”, but pre-tax losses climbed following the introduction of a new accounting standard. Safestay revenue rose 24 per cent from £6.5m to £8.1m during the sixth months ending 30 June, while like-for-like sales grew four per cent. Read more: UK hotel profit soars as [...]
Philip Morris and Altria end merger talks and Juul boss steps down as vaping in spotlight over deaths September 25, 2019 Tobacco giants Philip Morris International and Altria have ended their merger talks after a series of deaths in the US raised questions about the future of vaping, which industry insiders had hailed as safer than cigarettes. “After much deliberation, the companies have agreed to focus on launching Iqos in the US as part of their [...]
Government hints at election, prorogation and Brexit extension September 25, 2019 The Attorney General has hinted that the government may be poised to seek an election for a third time, during a fiery opening session after parliament reconvened. Answering questions in the wake of yesterday’s Supreme Court judgement that the original suspension was “unlawful, void and of no effect”, Geoffrey Cox told MPs the government would [...]
West End landlord Shaftesbury ‘unaffected’ by retail restructurings September 25, 2019 West End landlord Shaftesbury said it has been “largely unaffected” by a recent string of retail and restaurant closures and restructurings. In a trading update this morning the real estate investment trust said it had “limited exposure” to occupier insolvencies. Read more: West End landlord Shaftesbury sued by tycoon shareholder Samuel Tak Lee Tenant insolvencies [...]