Aldi market share lifts in tough climate October 11, 2011 BUDGET supermarket groups are growing sales faster than rivals in Britain’s grocery sector as cash-strapped shoppers battle to preserve their income by trading down, market research showed yesterday. Kantar Worldpanel said grocery sales rose 5.1 per cent year-on-year in the 12 weeks to 3 October, up from 4.5 per cent in the previous 12 week [...]
Leahy looks for £500m for his China venture October 11, 2011 FORMER Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy is looking to raise up to £500m to invest in Chinese shopping centres with the support of a former colleague. Leahy and Paul Mercer are working with stockbroker Numis to handle a fundraising in the hope of capitalising on China’s economic growth, which has remained strong despite the global [...]
Did you hear the one about the comedy club IPO? October 11, 2011 THE COMEDY group that helped launch the careers of Peter Kay and Eddie Izzard is planning an IPO to fund its ambitious growth plans. Jongleurs will raise new funds in an AIM listing in the next 18 months, with a new TV station and a string of new comedy clubs on its wish-list. The company [...]
Turmoil drags down funds at Ashmore October 11, 2011 SHARES in investment manager Ashmore dropped yesterday after a weak September performance at some of its funds. Ashmore’s Emerging Market Liquid Investment fund fell eight per cent and its Local Currency Debt fund dropped 10.2 per cent last month, according to analysis published yesterday by Peel Hunt. Mark Williamson at Peel Hunt said he was [...]
Gulliford sells PR firm to Lord Bell’s Chime October 11, 2011 SIMON Gulliford has sold his consulting firm to Lord Bell’s Chime Communications in a deal that could net the marketing boss up to £5m. Chime will buy Gulliford Consulting for an initial £2.5m, with a further £2.25m performance related payment deferred. The deal for the entire company is mostly comprised of cash, with a small amount [...]
PERFUMIER SAYS GROWTH STILL BLOSSOMING October 11, 2011 Swiss fragrance and flavour maker Givaudan, which makes fragrances for Dior and Prada, stuck to its mid-term goals despite its nine-month sales missing forecasts, saying some higher raw material costs could be passed on to customers.
Fitness First mulls £630m Asia sell-off October 11, 2011 THE PRIVATE equity owners of Fitness First are considering offloading their lucrative Asian and Australian arms through a flotation or a sale for more than A$1bn (£638m). BC Partners, which last week pulled an initial public offering for the gym chain’s Singapore business, is said to have received takeover approaches already. It has not ruled [...]
Profits taste sweet for Candy & Candy October 11, 2011 PROPERTY developer brothers Christian and Nick Candy celebrated a return to profit for their interior design company yesterday after it lost £4.4m in 2010. Candy & Candy reported a £1.1m pre-tax profit in the year to June 2011 after completing its flagship project designing the interiors of the opulent One Hyde Park development in Knightsbridge. [...]
Takeover row deepens as Moulton attacks Clarity October 11, 2011 JON Moulton’s investment vehicle has accused Clarity Commerce of lacking credibility with customers, after the software firm rubbished its £9.7m takeover offer. Enigmatic Investments, controlled by Moulton’s (pictured) buyout company Better Capital, defended its bid and highlighted the £1.6m loss from continuing operations which Clarity posted for the year to 31 March. “Enigmatic Investments has [...]
Rockhopper’s Falklands well comes up dry October 11, 2011 FALKLANDS oil explorer Rockhopper said the latest well in its controversial drilling campaign in the south Atlantic islands has come up dry. However, the firm’s shares closed over 12 per cent higher as the drilling at the Sea Lion field suggested oil reserves 20 per cent bigger than first thought, with a mid-case estimate of [...]
