ANALYST VIEWS | WERE HAMMERSON’S RESULTS IN LINE WITH EXPECTATIONS? July 23, 2012 ALISON WATSON LIBERUM CAPITAL NAV and earnings were marginally ahead and dividend in-line. The underlying portfolio was broadly flat with UK retail parks the poorest performer. Yield expansion across the portfolio was offset by both rental growth from its index linked leases and development surpluses in its French portfolio. JAMES CARSWELL PEEL HUNT Today’s figures [...]
Business group slams plan for energy reform July 23, 2012 BUSINESS leaders and MPs yesterday criticised the government’s draft Energy Bill, saying that in its current form it will fail to provide a secure and affordable supply of energy. “The bill does not bring the clarity and certainty that investors require. This could mean a higher cost of capital and potentially higher bills,” said Corin [...]
Rothschild blames deal drought for lower income from advisory July 23, 2012 ROTHSCHILD, the centuries old banking dynasty, has posted a nine per cent drop in its advisory and banking business due to a slowdown in global M&A activity last year. Results from the family firm’s holding company, Paris Orleans, show revenues for its Global Financial Advisory and Corporate Banking arms dropped to €768.1m (£600.6m) for the [...]
Better outlook for companies July 23, 2012 BUSINESS confidence is on the up in July, after dipping sharply into January, according to a report from Lloyds TSB today. The balance of confidence – positive responses minus negative responses – grew to 12 per cent in July, compared to just eight per cent in January. But aside from January 2012, the figure has [...]
Private equity eyes up UT unit July 23, 2012 PRIVATE equity firms Carlyle Group and BC Partners have teamed up and are in advanced talks to buy United Technologies’ industrial businesses, according to three people familiar with the matter, in a deal that could be valued at more than $3.5bn. The private equity consortium has emerged as the leading candidate to buy the pump [...]
RUSSIA BECOMES 156TH MEMBER OF WTO July 23, 2012 Russia formally notified the World Trade Organisation that it had ratified its membership agreement yesterday, meaning it will on 22 August become the 156th member to the trade rules club. President Vladimir Putin (above) signed the bill at the weekend. Russia’s $1.9 trillion GDP had made it the largest economy outside the group.
Cuts pay off for Philips as sales beat forecasts July 23, 2012 PHILIPS Electronics surpassed expectations yesterday by posting a five per cent sales rise and a €167m (£130m) net profit, in a sign that the manufacturer’s aggressive cost-cutting and restructuring operation is reaping rewards. The Dutch firm’s €5.9bn revenue in the three months to July was driven by strong performances in its healthcare and lighting divisions. [...]
Amazon keeps lion’s share of UK market July 23, 2012 ONLINE retail giant Amazon has built up its spot at the top of the UK entertainment market, largely at the expense of supermarket rivals and specialists like HMV, according to research published yesterday. Kantar Worldpanel figures for the 12 weeks to 10 June show that Amazon strengthened its market share by 3.2 percentage points, boosted [...]
Benckiser buys Peet’s Coffee July 23, 2012 PEET’S Coffee & Tea said yesterday it has struck a deal to be acquired for about $1bn (£644m) by Joh. A. Benckiser, the investment vehicle for Germany’s Reimann family. The sale will give Peet’s a financial jolt as it competes against larger coffee and tea shops and will broaden the reach of the Reimann coffee [...]
32Red turnover surges by 50pc July 23, 2012 ONLINE bookie 32Red saw a 50 per cent jump in turnover in the first half of the year, a sixth successive period of growth, the company announced yesterday. The Gibraltar-based firm now expects revenues for the year to beat market forecasts and will launch operations in Italy later in the year. 32Red said revenues of [...]
