Pre-tax profits jump 37pc at HICL November 21, 2012 Infrastructure investment company HICL yesterday posted a 37 per cent increase in pre-tax profit to £42.2m over the six months to September. Over the period it made total investments of £106.4m, including in four PFI projects such as Romford Hospital and Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The investment company also raised £250m from a new C share [...]
Optos boosted by Daytona device November 21, 2012 Medical technology company Optos yesterday reported revenue of $196.4m (£123.3m) over the year to September, a 37 per cent increase from last year, helped by the roll-out of its Daytona device that made $21m in revenue over the 12 months. Pre-tax profits rose 16 per cent to £26.3m. The firm added that it planned to [...]
Pirc blasts lack of Aquarius vote November 21, 2012 Shareholder body Pirc has sounded a warning on the lack of vote for miner Aquarius Platinum’s remuneration policy, recommending that investors oppose the re-election of non-executive director and chairman of the remuneration committee Edward Haslam at the annual meeting. Pirc said yesterday it had “serious concerns” over remuneration at the South African miner – which [...]
Qinetiq copes well in spite of defence cuts November 21, 2012 DEFENCE tech group Qinetiq said its first half performance had been strong, in spite of cuts to government spending in the UK and US. The firm yesterday posted a seven per cent drop in revenue for the six months to the end of September to £685.5m. Underlying pre-tax profit rose 21 per cent to £85.8m. [...]
Tractor-maker Deere falls short of forecasts after its costs surge November 21, 2012 DEERE & Co, the world’s largest farm equipment maker, reported a weaker-than-expected quarterly profit yesterday as higher manufacturing costs and other expenses cut into earnings and a strong dollar reduced the value of international sales. US-listed Deere forecast higher sales and earnings for its new fiscal year, but its shares fell almost four per cent [...]
Imagination up against a rival bidder in race to snap up MIPS November 21, 2012 IMAGINATION Technologies’ $60m (£37.6m) pursuit of the operating business of MIPS Technologies faces competition after the target company received a higher bid from a rival firm. Shares in FTSE 250-listed Imagination closed down 3.8 per cent after the bid from CEVA emerged. Imagination, which is looking to buy the MIPS business to gain patents and [...]
ITV and Channel 5 to get new licences but must offer more November 21, 2012 VIEWERS of Downton Abbey might be used to dramatic cliffhangers, but yesterday the threat of another plot twist was removed, after the culture secretary renewed Channel 3’s broadcasting licence for another 10 years from 2014. Culture secretary Maria Miller said that the extension for Channel 3 and Channel 5 will secure around £800m in investment [...]
Singapore’s Olam to sue short seller and critic Muddy Waters November 21, 2012 OLAM took its battle with short-seller Muddy Waters to court yesterday as the Singaporean commodities trader fought off criticism of its accounting practices and debt levels that hit its bond and share prices. Olam, 16 per cent owned by Singapore state investor Temasek, has filed a suit against Muddy Waters and its founder Carson Block [...]
Randstad changes dividend policy after revenues plunge November 21, 2012 RANDSTAD, the Dutch staffing company, yesterday warned of a continued fall in revenue and said it would change its dividend policy in 2013 to cope with the ups and downs of different regions and higher earnings volatility. For the whole firm, revenue per working day fell six per cent in October organically compared with last [...]
Stena Line chief exec to retire November 21, 2012 The chief executive of Stena Line yesterday stepped down from the role after more than 10 years in charge of the ferry company. Gunnar Blomdal will leave his post on 1 January, but will remain on the board of some firms within the wider Stena Group. Carl-Johan Hagman, currently Stena Line chairman and head of [...]
