ANALYST VIEWS WILL THE REFINANCING REINSTATE CONFIDENCE IN THOMAS COOK? April 10, 2012 NICK BATRAM PEEL HUNT Anything that gives the group more time to address the issues is to be welcomed… But the fact that the group is looking to extend the maturity profile of its bank facilities is likely to be a reflection of challenging trading and a turnaround plan that is likely to take longer [...]
Hats off to a jubilee epic Epsom festival April 4, 2012 THE Investec Derby Festival is one of the highlights of the social and sporting season, and this year it promises to be the grandest yet as the Queen marks the beginning of her Diamond Jubilee weekend celebrations on the second day of the festival on Saturday 2 June. The festival at Epsom, for which City [...]
RAPID RESPONSES April 3, 2012 Boomers bite back [Re: Pensioners are winning out in Britain’s battle of the generations, yesterday] Baby-boomers are not stealing their kids inheritance. People starting work then earned far less than their modern equivalents. Property may be comparatively more expensive nowadays, but cars and consumer goods in general are far cheaper. Ian Mair My wife and [...]
Mid-sized firms pick up profits in technology and outsourcing April 1, 2012 THE FASTEST-GROWING mid-sized companies in Britain have brushed off the downturn over the last four years to increase sales by an average 44 per cent, according to research by Investec. Energy, commodities and financial companies feature prominently among rising private businesses, with London-based solar firm Alternergy topping Investec’s Hot 100 table, released today. The research [...]
It’s not all doom and gloom: Our mid-sized firms are flourishing April 1, 2012 THIS week, Investec is publishing our analysis of the UK’s 100 fastest-growing privately-owned mid-sized companies. They provide hope that the country continues to develop world-class businesses that, with proprietary technology and an appetite for international markets, will be global players of the future. For those who believe the UK no longer manufactures anything, or is [...]
Last rites for nuclear power March 29, 2012 BRITAIN’S nuclear strategy has been left in tatters after German utilities E.ON and RWE suddenly ditched their £15bn plans to build two new reactors. The firms blamed “significant ongoing costs” for shelving their scheme, which had been due to supply more than a quarter of Britain’s new nuclear energy by 2025. The news will fuel [...]
Rank walks out on talks over debt-laden Gala Coral’s casinos March 29, 2012 RANK Group yesterday walked away from plans to buy Gala Coral’s casino business after two months of discussions. Rank, which operates its own casinos and owns Mecca Bingo, said the £250m acquisition “would not serve the best interests of [our] shareholders.” But a spokesperson for Gala insisted the gambling company had not been for sale when [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS March 28, 2012 OLD MUTUAL After the sale of its Nordic operations, Deutsche Bank has reinstated coverage of the bank with a “buy” rating and target price of 190p, seeing the valuation as attractive despite a 45 per cent rally since December. HENDERSON GROUP Investec has upgraded the fund manager to “buy” with a target price of 149p [...]
Resolution falls as breakup plan splits investors March 27, 2012 INVESTORS reacted badly to news that insurance firm Resolution plans to split itself in two, pushing shares in the FTSE 100 firm down by over five per cent. Resolution also shelved a promised £250m handout to shareholders because falling bond and stock prices had dented its finances. The developments signal a change in focus for the [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: IS EASYJET’S STRATEGY PROVING SOUND? March 26, 2012 JAMES HOLLINS | INVESTEC EasyJet is driving better-than-expected yields, as well as benefiting from the failure of competitors. The cost efficiencies have also helped. But there are a number of headwinds in the second half, including fuel costs. DOUGLAS MCNEIlL | CHARLES STANLEY Chief executive Carolyn McCall’s second full year in charge is shaping up [...]