Union confirms strike at Lonmin January 20, 2014 Lonmin is the latest of the South African platinum miners to receive notice of a strike from the militant Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the dominant union representing the FTSE 250-listed firm’s workers. The strike will start on 23 January, with Amcu demanding higher pay. Workers at rival miners Anglo American Platinum and [...]
Amara Mining output rises 86pc January 20, 2014 Amara Mining, the West Africa-focused gold miner, yesterday posted an 86 per cent rise in production in the fourth quarter compared to the previous quarter and said full-year production hit 42,348 ounces. The Aim-listed company set its 2014 production guidance at 60,000 to 70,000 ounces. “We note the update provides no cost guidance and suspect [...]
Plans to rethink West End ahead of Crossrail rush January 20, 2014 WEST End leaders have hired consultants to come up with a plan for improving the busy shopping district to cope with a surge in visitors when Crossrail opens in 2018. Westminster City council, Transport for London and the New West End Company – the group that represents businesses in the area – have commissioned Arup [...]
Store makeovers help Superdrug keep its tills ringing at Christmas January 20, 2014 SUPERDRUG yesterday posted a rise in like-for-like sales over Christmas thanks to a revamp of its stores and shoppers buying gifts such as perfume over the festive period. The health and beauty retailer, which launched 50 years ago on Putney High Street and now has 850 shops in the UK & Ireland, said like-for-like sales [...]
Portmeirion set to smash sales record for the fifth year running January 20, 2014 PORTMEIRION is expecting its fifth consecutive year of record sales after strong Christmas demand for its luxury tableware. The Aim-listed tableware producer, which also owns Spode, Royal Worcester and Pimpernel, yesterday forecast revenues of over £58m before tax for the 2013 calendar year. The figure is five per cent up on 2012. Portmeirion said it [...]
Laura Ashley rewards investors with a £7.5m bonus dividend January 20, 2014 LAURA Ashley said yesterday it is to reward shareholders with a £7.5m bonus dividend as a token of appreciation. The home furnishings and fashion retailer, which is majority owned by the Malaysian conglomerate MUI, declared an interim dividend of one pence per share for the year to 25 January. “This is to show our appreciation [...]
RBS disposes of Bankside offices January 20, 2014 The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has hired property consultants Cushman & Wakefield and DTZ to dispose of its largest London office campus at 2 Bankside as part of the bank’s strategy to scale back its office property portfolio. The building forms part of the Bankside development on the South Bank, which was bought in [...]
Aukett Fitzroy enjoys profit surge January 20, 2014 Aim-listed architectural firm Aukett Fitzroy Robinson has said that profits more than doubled last year, buoyed by returning confidence in the construction sector and its key markets. The firm, which bought the European arm of American rival Swanke Hayden Connell last month for £1.6m, said pre-tax profits jumped by 162 per cent to £550,000 in [...]
Panama Canal rejects EU mediation January 20, 2014 The Panama Canal Authority (PCA) has turned down an offer by the EC to mediate in a multi-billion dollar dispute with a Spanish-led construction consortium which threatens to halt work on widening the century-old waterway. The consortium, known as Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), had threatened to suspend work unless the PCA paid $1.6bn [...]
Peugeot board agrees tie-up with Dongfeng January 20, 2014 FRENCH car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen has taken a decisive step towards a tie-up with China’s Dongfeng as the board approved the outline of a contentious survival plan that divided the founding Peugeot family. In a blow to chairman Thierry Peugeot, who had championed an alternative plan, the board agreed in principle to a capital [...]
