Intel buys Altera for $17bn as PC market falters June 1, 2015 TECH giant Intel is buying Altera in an all-cash deal valued at around $16.7bn (£11bn), offering $54 per share, confirming earlier reports of a potential acquisition. “Intel’s growth strategy is to expand our core assets into profitable, complementary market segments,” said Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich. “With this acquisition, we will harness the power of Moore’s [...]
Online marketplace Notonthehighstreet appoints retail veteran Darren Shapland as its chairman June 1, 2015 Online platform for independent retailers notonthehighstreet.com has appointed Darren Shapland as its new chairman. Shapland currently serves as the chairman of the retail businesses Poundland, Topps Tiles and Maplin Electronics. He is also a non-executive director at Ladbrokes and Wolseley, chairing the audit committee. The experienced retailer has also previously worked with other major firms. [...]
Jamie Oliver looking for a pukka pay day as restaurants go to tender June 1, 2015 British private equity firm 3i has been named as one of several prospective bidders being courted to buy a significant stake in Jamie Oliver’s burgeoning restaurant empire. 3i, which counts itself among some of the UK’s oldest private equity firm’s, has previously invested in restaurant chain Giraffe, which it subsequently sold to Tesco. Bids for [...]
Strong UK market lifts manufacturers amid lacklustre export sales June 1, 2015 The UK’S manufacturing sector grew at a slightly quicker rate in May, according to a survey, but its growth remains subdued due to weak demand from abroad and lower investment in the oil industry. Markit’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, a survey of private sector firms, ticked up to a score of 52, from April’s [...]
Eurozone growth outlook improves as producers point to a faster expansion June 1, 2015 THE EUROZONE’S economic prospects have received a boost as survey figures published yesterday implied growth in its manufacturing industry was speeding up. Markit’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) climbed to a score of 52.2 for May from April’s 52 – scores above 50 point to growth. The currency bloc’s manufacturing growth was led by Spain, whose PMI reached [...]
London house prices pull away from UK again June 1, 2015 HOUSE prices in the capital surged again in April, despite fears over taxes during the election, as London’s market remains detached from that of the rest of the UK. Figures from the Land Registry show the average price in London rose 2.3 per cent in April alone, and 10.9 per cent in the year, coming [...]
Campaign group TaxPayers’ Alliance accuses local authorities of hoarding assets June 1, 2015 Councils across the country are “hoarding assets,” a lobby group has claimed in a new report today. New research from the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) found that council holdings as of last year include golf courses, restaurants, hotels, shopping centres, a cheese factory and a model railway, among other assets. The TPA said local authorities own [...]
Treasury’s environmental tax revenues hit £44.5bn in 2014 June 1, 2015 ENVIRONMENTAL taxes have increased by an average of five per cent per year over the past 22 years, the Office for National Statistics said yesterday. The levies, such as fuel duty and energy production charges, raised £44.5bn last year. That revenue represents 2.5 per cent of GDP, a rate which has remained roughly steady since [...]
Top 100 firms double in value to $16.2 trillion: Apple heads list as HSBC named UK’s most valuable company June 1, 2015 The world’s biggest 100 firms now have a combined value of more than $16 trillion (£10.7 trillion), almost double their market capitalisation in 2009, a PwC study reveals today. Technology firms have driven the boom in valuations – just 12 firms in the sector have a combined valuation of $2.8 trillion. Six years ago, the [...]
Ultra Electronics Holdings enhances war capabilities in $265m Kratos Defence bid June 1, 2015 UK defence firm Ultra Electronics Holdings announced it had agreed to acquire the electronic products division (EPD) of Kratos Defence and Security Solutions yesterday for up to $265m (£174m). Ultra Electronics said the acquisition will strengthen its position in the growing market of electronic warfare and provide long-term contracts to boost its order book visibility. [...]
