Home Retail bolsters board with IT veteran December 5, 2012 HOME RETAIL Group has appointed IT veteran Jacqueline de Rojas to its board after the owner of Argos stepped up its efforts to shift the retailer away from its trademark printed catalogue business and become a “digital-led” chain. De Rojas, who heads up technology and software firm CA Technologies’ UK business, joined Home Retail’s board [...]
NBGI backs £23.5m management bid for McCambridge cake division December 5, 2012 NBGI Private Equity has agreed to back a £23.5m management buy-in of the cake division of McCambridge Group, one of the largest producers of private label cake in the UK food industry. The business, which operates from four primary manufacturing locations in the UK and a further facility in Poland, will be renamed once the [...]
IAG November traffic rises on good results at British Airways December 5, 2012 INTERNATIONAL Airlines Group (IAG) yesterday posted a rise in November traffic, as strong growth at British Airways again made up for weakness at Spain’s Iberia. Traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometres, rose by 3.6 per cent versus November 2011, while passenger load factor – a measure of how well it fills its planes – was [...]
Pirc raises flags over Sportingbet December 5, 2012 Shareholder advisory group Pirc has criticised Sportingbet ahead of the online bookie’s AGM this month, warning of a lack of independence on the board and hitting out at the executive pay plan. Pirc said yesterday that they oppose the election of board member Rory Macnamara, and claimed that exit payoffs for bosses are excessive. This [...]
Unite Group secures £116m sales December 5, 2012 Unite Group, the UK’s biggest student accommodation provider, yesterday said it had concluded the sale of four properties for a combined total of £116m. Two of the disposals, totalling £39m, were made to third party purchasers and two were sold to co-investment vehicles for £77m. It said the sales meant that the group was on [...]
Stagecoach is on track with 39pc profit rise December 5, 2012 SHARES in Stagecoach rose 5.9 per cent yesterday to 308.7p after the bus and train operator posted a 39 per cent rise in half-year profit. The firm said revenues rose 8.5 per cent to £1.4bn in the six months to the end of October, pushing pre-tax profit from £88.7m to £123.7m. Stagecoach’s train business, which [...]
EasyJet growth sends McCall’s pay up as airline alters targets December 5, 2012 EASYJET boss Carolyn McCall earned almost £2m last year, a rise of 28 per cent, as the budget airline looks to overhaul its bonus structure at the behest of investors. In a year when the firm reported a 28 per cent rise in profits to £317m and a doubling of its dividend, McCall was awarded [...]
Fastjet soars on Emirates tie-up talks December 5, 2012 LOW-COST African carrier Fastjet is in partnership talks with Emirates, the firm said yesterday. “Talks are at an early stage but this represents a great opportunity for both parties,” said Fastjet chief executive Ed Winter. Fastjet has wasted no time since launching its first commercial flight in Tanzania last month, starting discussions to buy South [...]
Diageo cheers vodka sales as it mulls buy out of Ketel One December 5, 2012 SPIRITS group Diageo yesterday said it would consider buying out the 50 per cent of premium vodka brand Ketel One it does not already own if it came on the market. The owner of Smirnoff vodka paid $900m (£559.1m) in 2008 to acquire half of Ketel One and form an exclusive marketing and distribution joint [...]
New Year present for Polymetal investors as firm plans dividend December 5, 2012 FTSE 100 miner Polymetal said yesterday it will pay its first ever special dividend, handing back $191m (£118m) to investors after solid financial results. Polymetal will pay a special dividend of $0.50 per ordinary share on 21 January next year. Chief executive Vitaly Nesis said: “The implementation of our new dividend policy reflects the importance [...]
