Center Parcs IPO: Owner Blackstone gears up for potential float with loan plan July 31, 2014 Center Parcs has paved the way for a stock market listing after its owner moved to re-jig the firm’s debt pile. The resort’s owner, US private equity giant Blackstone, is understood to be mulling plans to refinance Center Parcs’ complex debt mountain, which includes £1bn of secured financing. The deal would allow Blackstone to take [...]
Applus share price hammered as the year of IPO upsets goes on July 29, 2014 The troubled performance of private equity-backed flotations continued yesterday after the Barcelona-based Applus saw its share price fall to its lowest level since its float only two months ago. Applus shares took a hammering, falling around 13 per cent on the day to finish on €12.20, below its Initial Public Offering (IPO) price of €14.50, [...]
Virgin America launches stock market flotation July 28, 2014 RICHARD Branson’s US airline Virgin America is going public, seven years after the tycoon and his iconic brand launched the firm. The flotation comes almost immediately after the airline made it into the black – it posted a $10.5m (£6.18m) profit for 2013, its first profitable year. The profit was made off revenues of $1.42bn. [...]
B&M Retail hails strong maiden results after IPO delivers windfall payout July 28, 2014 B&M Retail, the discount shopping chain, yesterday reported a strong start to the year in its first trading update since its stock market debut in May. The fast-growing chain, which sells everything from bedding to barbecues, said group sales jumped by 31.9 per cent to £367m in the first quarter to 28 June. UK sales [...]
Virgin America IPO takes off July 28, 2014 The US airline part-owned by Sir Richard Branson is preparing to go public after posting its first annual profit in March. Branson owns a 22 per cent stake in the airline through Virgin Group with VAI Partners, controlled by hedge fund Cyrus Capital Partners, its biggest shareholder with a 71.6 per cent stake. Barclays and [...]
Luton Airport IPO: Owner Aena Aeropuertos gears up for jumbo market debut July 27, 2014 Europe’s biggest stock market listing this year is on the cards after the huge owner of London Luton Airport appointed a host of banks to get the firm ready for a £4bn-plus issue in November. Spanish firm Aena Aeropuertos is gearing up to become a fully-listed public company after the Spanish government announced plans to [...]
Facebook share price soars to record high, double its IPO value July 24, 2014 It wasn't that long ago that Facebook's stock was on a downward spiral, as investors questioned the social network's ability to make money with an increasing number of people logged in via their mobile devices. What a difference two years makes in the world of social media and tech stocks. Today, Facebook shares surpassed $76, [...]
Fat Face puts IPO in past with record sales July 9, 2014 Fat Face said yesterday it had put its botched flotation plans behind it for now and that it was “business as usual” after the retailer delivered record full-year sales and profits. After an impressive start to the year, London’s new issues market balked at the sheer number of companies coming to the market, prompting Fat [...]
Government IPOs to be reviewed after Royal Mail sell off criticism July 9, 2014 Business secretary Vince Cable has launched a review of the way the government conducts IPOs after the controversy surrounding its sell off of Royal Mail. The review, led by City grandee Lord Myners, will look at the disposal of government assets and assess if there are alternatives. It will also look at: What alternative IPO [...]
Matomy raises £40m after IPO plan resurrected July 8, 2014 Israel tech firm Matomy yesterday became only the second firm to list on London’s new high-growth segment after resurrecting a listing plan from earlier this year. The advertising technology company, which shelved plans in March, priced shares at 227p and immediately saw a pop in informal trading, pushing shares up to 237p. [...]