Ranked: S&P Global’s $44bn mega-deal tops list of biggest 2020 acquisitions May 27, 2021 In what was a tough year for businesses across the world, it was a fruitful one for 6,000 mergers and acquisitions. While the pandemic threatened companies of all sizes, some managed not just to survive but to continue growing in the last 12 months. After a year unlike any other, which acquisitions were the biggest [...]
AJ Bell profit soars as it attracts new, younger customers May 27, 2021 AJ Bell has benefited from the renewed interest in investment, boasting record levels of new customers and inflows in the first half of the year. Revenue jumped 21 per cent to £73.9m in the six months to the end of March while profit before tax soared from £22.7m to £31.6m. It came as AJ Bell [...]
Daily Mail group revenue plunges £95m but investments offset the loss May 27, 2021 The group behind the Daily Mail has seen revenues tumble 12 per cent over the past six months, the newspaper group said this morning, but its investments may have offset the loss. The newspaper group raked in nearly £100m less in the six months to 31 March, earning revenue of £547m, down from £642m in [...]
United Utilities profits dip as lockdowns hit water usage May 27, 2021 United Utilities saw its annual pre-tax profit dip by 21 per cent to £383m as it navigated its way through the pandemic. The company, one of the largest publicly traded water firms in the world, said that profits were hit by lower water consumption and higher infrastructure spending. The drop in profit was in line [...]
Aviva reports highest quarterly insurance sales in a decade May 27, 2021 Aviva has delivered its highest insurance sales in the first quarter for a decade, while savings and retirement flows soared to a new quarterly record. The insurance giant said its core general insurance gross written premiums grew four per cent to £2bn while its core operating ratio fell to 90.6 per cent. Its SME sales [...]
Aviva Investors to shutter property fund over liquidity concerns May 19, 2021 Aviva Investors will shutter its suspended UK property fund this summer over concerns about liquidity and the value of the portfolio. The asset manager suspended the fund in March last year after the outbreak of Covid-19 sparked uncertainty over its valuation. In a statement today Aviva said it had become “increasingly challenging to generate positive [...]
Crest Nicholson sells stake in Surrey film studio for £45m May 14, 2021 UK property developer Crest Nicholson has sold its 50 per cent stake in a film studio joint venture for £45m. Crest Nicholson, which usually focuses on house building, said it has entered into an agreement with JV partner Aviva to sell its share of Longcross Studio in Surrey. The transaction, which is expected to complete [...]
Hiscox tops list of insurers facing business interruption claims May 12, 2021 Hiscox faces paying the out on the largest number of business interruption claims, according to data compiled by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Hiscox has accepted 6,692 business interruption claims for Covid-19 losses and faces making a decision on whether another 3,122 pending claims are valid, data published by the FCA today shows. The insurance [...]
Bitter clash at Astrazeneca as 40 per cent of shareholders reject CEO pay package May 11, 2021 A share bonus hike for Astrazeneca’s chief executive was only narrowly approved in a vote where nearly 40 per cent of the pharma’s shareholders rejected the proposed pay package. The pharmaceutical giant did pass the proposal, however, which could take Pascal Soriot’s total pay, including a £1.3m salary, above the £15.4m he received last year. [...]
Astrazeneca shareholders in row over chief executive’s £2.3m bonus hike May 9, 2021 Astrazeneca shareholders have been plunged into a bitter row over plans to hike chief executive Pascal Soriot’s pay by £2.3m. The French pharma boss has been praised for rolling out the company’s Covid-19 vaccine at cost price, as well as driving up its share price since he took over in 2012. But major shareholders have [...]