M&G buys Financial Times headquarters from Pearson for £115m November 14, 2018 Publishing giant Pearson today agreed to sell the Financial Times's headquarters to investment firm M&G for £115m. The building at One Southwark Bridge, on the bank of the Thames, has been home to the Financial Times since 1987. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2018. Now the newspaper will move back to its [...]
Aggreko trading on track thanks to Winter Olympics and Ryder Cup November 14, 2018 Power generator supplier Aggreko today reported trading in line with expectations for the nine months to the end of September, boosted by contracts with the Ryder Cup and Winter Olympics. The figures Total underlying revenue was up 11 per cent. Underlying revenue for the rental solutions division, which makes up 52 per cent of the [...]
Businesses to splash out over £6bn on Christmas advertising November 14, 2018 UK businesses will fork out £6.4bn on festive advertising this Christmas during the final quarter, according to the Advertising Association. The expenditure, which is up 5 per cent on last year’s record amount, shows the growing competition between companies as they vie to make the season’s most popular advert and achieve festive fame. Many of [...]
Erdogan: Audio recording of Khashoggi murder is ‘appalling’ November 13, 2018 Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today recordings of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder are "appalling" and shocked the Saudi intelligence officer who listened to them. Erdogan's comments came after he spent the weekend in Paris for Remembrance Day commemorations He discussed the murder of Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s Istanbul consulate with the US, French and German leaders over [...]
Flipkart chief executive Binny Bansal resigns after misconduct investigation November 13, 2018 The chief executive of Indian online store Flipkart resigned today following an investigation into an allegation of “serious” personal misconduct. Binny Bansal, who co-founded the online retailer in 2007, denies the allegation, but has stepped down as the company said the claim risked becoming a distraction. Bansal’s departure comes after Flipkart carried out an independent [...]
Landsec profits rise despite retail’s property slump November 13, 2018 Property developer Landsec recorded a rise in profits in its half-year results today, despite a fall in property values caused by the struggling retail sector. The figures Profits before tax rose to £42m, up from £34m last year. Revenue rose 10.3 per cent to £224m compared to the same period of 2017. Dividend per share was [...]
Chewing the cud: Vegan startup Beyond Meat introduces plant-based burger to UK November 13, 2018 US plant-based food company Beyond Meat yesterday moved into the UK, bringing its vegan burgers to British supermarkets and restaurants. The Los Angeles-based business produces the plant-based Beyond Burger, which it says replicates the texture of meat while providing added nutritional benefits. The Beyond Burger went on sale yesterday at 350 Tesco branches across the country. [...]
Taylor Wimpey confident it can beat market uncertainty as low interest rates boost house buyers November 13, 2018 Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey today said it is on track to weather political uncertainty to deliver on guidance thanks to low interest rates and the government's Help to Buy scheme. Sales rates for the year to date were 0.81 per outlet per week in the second half of 2018, unchanged from last year, though cancellation rates were up [...]
Coty’s chief executive resigns days after supply chain issues saw shares dive 22 per cent November 12, 2018 Coty chief executive Camillo Pane has stepped down with immediate effect due to family reasons, the company said today. The cosmetics company named Pierre Laubies, previously chief executive of coffee giant Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), as Pane’s successor. Chairman Bart Becht said: “We are very grateful for Camillo’s many contributions to Coty during his time [...]
Thai chain Giggling Squid has a lot to laugh about as earnings grow November 12, 2018 Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid has reported increased earnings as it continues to expand across the south of England, bucking the UK restaurant industry’s downward trend. The company reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of £3.28m for the year to the end of March, up 54 per cent from last year, while [...]