Astrazeneca: ‘We’re too big to base our CEO’s pay on FTSE 100 peers’ Business Astrazeneca is too big and complex to base its chief executive’s pay packet on the rest of the FTSE index, according to the chair of its remuneration committee. Writing in the pharmaceutical giant’s annual report, chair Sheri McCoy said “UK-listed FTSE companies are not the right peer group for us to use” given the group’s [...]
Vitality: ‘Why your health and life insurance premium won’t go down’ insurance In this episode of Boardroom Uncovered, Neville Koopowitz, the chief executive of health and life insurance giant Vitality.
Club L London almost triples in size as it targets international expansion Retail Fashion retailer Club L London is targeting international expansion after almost tripling its sales and headcount over a two-year period. The Manchester-headquartered company achieved a turnover of £44.4m for the 14 months to 31 March, 2024, newly-filed accounts with Companies House have revealed. The latest sales figure comes after Club L London’s turnover stood at [...]
Ann Summers slips further into the red as sales dip February 18, 2025 Ann Summers slipped further into the red as it battled “significant external pressures” including the cost-of-living crisis, rising inflation and Google’s safe search restrictions. The retailer fell to a pre-tax loss of £13.1m for the year to 29 June, 2024, after it also made a loss of £3.8m in the prior 12 months. Newly-filed accounts [...]
‘This is Keir Starmer’s Poll Tax’: Labour warned inheritance tax protests won’t stop February 17, 2025 The Labour government’s reforms to farmers’ inheritance tax announced in the Autumn Budget has been branded as “Keir Starmer’s Poll Tax”. William Lees-Jones, who owns and runs Manchester-based JW Lees, which has produced real ale since 1828, added that the Prime Minister is “losing the argument and feeling rattled”. The pubs boss has liked the policy, which [...]
Alton Towers operator Merlin Entertainments names new top boss February 17, 2025 Merlin Entertainments, the global giant which runs the likes of Alton Towers, Legoland and Madame Tussauds, has named a new full-time chief executive. Fiona Eastwood has been appointed to the role after serving on an interim basis since November 2024. Eastwood succeeds Scott O’Neil who stepped down after two years in the job. O’Neil had [...]
Assura: FTSE 250 firm rejects £1.5bn takeover approach February 17, 2025 FTSE 250 healthcare real estate investment trust Assura has rejected a takeover offer worth more than £1.5m – the fourth such deal it has turned down in the last six months it has been revealed. The Altrincham-headquartered business hit the headlines at the end of last week when it emerged it had been approached by [...]
FTSE 250 Assura receives unsolicited takeover approach February 15, 2025 Assura, the FTSE 250 healthcare real estate investment trust, has received an unsolicited takeover approach from private equity giant KKR and a major universities pension scheme. The Altrincham-headquartered company confirmed late on Friday that it had been contacted by KKR and USS Investment Management, which is representing Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The parties have until [...]
Chopstix doubles its sales in four years as UK expansion continues February 14, 2025 Asian food eatery chain Chopstix more than doubled its sales over a four-year period ahead of being snapped up by a European giant, it has been revealed. The London-headquartered business has posted a turnover of £64.5m for the 12 months to 28 April, 2024, its final full year before being acquired. A 51 per cent [...]
Nikon: Profit cut in half amid falling demand February 14, 2025 Profit was cut in half at the European arm of Nikon amid falling demand in its healthcare business, it has been revealed. The division of the Japanese giant has reported a pre-tax profit of €13.5m (£11.2m) for the 12 months to 31 March, 2024, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The latest figure comes [...]