Fat Face moves closer to stock market debut January 20, 2014 Clothes shop Fat Face is ratcheting up its plans to seek a listing on the London Stock Exchange, and has brought in a slew of bankers to advise on a possible flotation. Bridgepoint, the private equity group that owns Fat Face, hired financial advisory group Lazard in December to assess options. And after strong Christmas [...]
Former US Treasury secretary Geithner joins Warburg Pincus November 18, 2013 FORMER US Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner is joining Warburg Pincus as president and managing director, the private-equity giant said this weekend. Geithner, who played a major role in the US response to the global financial crisis, stepped down as US Treasury secretary in January after four years in the role. He will work closely with [...]
New Look chief says IPO at least 12 months away November 12, 2013 NEW LOOK chief executive Anders Kristiansen yesterday poured cold water on rumours that the group was planning a return to market, stating that an initial public offering could be at least a year away. The last months have seen a wave of public listing including Bargain Booze owner Conviviality Retail, with retailers Bonmarche and Poundland [...]
Card Factory recruits advisers November 10, 2013 The Card Factory, the high street retailer started by a husband and wife duo in 1997, has appointed UBS and Morgan Stanley to help float the company. The business, which is owned by buyout firm Charterhouse, could be floated in London next year with a price tag of up to £1bn. The company was started [...]
Poundland picks banks for flotation November 6, 2013 POUNDLAND has hired two banks to oversee its upcoming initial public offering that is expected to value the bargain chain by more than £800m. The private-equity owned group is close to hiring Credit Suisse and JP Morgan to lead the flotation and is due to formally announce the appointments in the next few days, a [...]
Poundland hires retail analyst Dorgan as it eyes 2014 flotation November 4, 2013 PHILIP Dorgan, one of the retail sector’s top analysts, has joined Poundland, fuelling further speculation that the bargain chain is heading for flotation next year. Dorgan, who has worked over three decades as an analyst, was most recently at broker Panmure Gordon, but was made redundant from the firm in July. One of the most [...]
Rothschild to advise on Poundland’s flotation November 4, 2013 BUDGET retailer Poundland has lined up Rothschild to advise on its upcoming public offering, which is expected to value the firm at more than £700m. The investment bank, which declined to comment on the issue, is expected to bring in other advisers to work on the flotation in the next few weeks. Poundland – which [...]
Government workfare scheme to continue despite legal challenge October 30, 2013 THE GOVERNMENT yesterday lost a legal challenge to a controversial scheme that required jobseekers to work for free or risk losing their benefits – but insisted that the scheme will continue. Judges at the Supreme Court ruled that the back to work scheme was legally flawed because jobseekers were not given enough information. Geology graduate Cait Reilly [...]
Poundland eyes 2014 flotation as sales surge October 1, 2013 POUNDLAND is eyeing a possible initial public offering (IPO) in the first half of next year as the private equity owners of the discount retailer look to cash in on its surging sales. The chain, which has benefitted from thrifty shoppers seeking value during the economic downturn, posted a 15 per rise in sales to [...]
Back-to-work scheme ruled illegal by court February 12, 2013 THE GOVERNMENT’S back-to-work programme was thrown into disarray yesterday after a judge ruled that many schemes that make the unemployed work for free are unlawful. Graduate Cait Reilly, 24, claimed victory after the Court of Appeal ruled that a programme she took part in – which required her to undertake work experience at Poundland or risk [...]