Royal Mail could be sent packing from FTSE 100 in final reshuffle of the year November 28, 2018 Royal Mail could be sent crashing out of the FTSE 100 next week as insurer Hiscox stakes a claim to replace the UK postal service in the blue chip index. The final FTSE reshuffle of the year takes place on Tuesday and barring a miracle Royal Mail, which delivered a shock profit warning in October, [...]
Hammond: Prime Minister’s Brexit deal minimises economic costs November 28, 2018 Chancellor Philip Hammond defended the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal this morning, claiming it comes at a very small economic cost. Hammond also warned that a no-deal Brexit would be far more expensive than the withdrawal agreement negotiated by Theresa May. May’s deal faces a crucial vote in parliament on 11 December, and Hammond warned the [...]
Patisserie Valerie searching for new auditor November 27, 2018 Patisserie Holdings, the parent firm of embattled cafe company Patisserie Valerie, has begun hunting for a new auditor to replace its under-fire accountant Grant Thornton. The bakery chain is in talks to find a successor to Grant Thornton, according to Sky News, days after the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said it was probing the beancounter over [...]
British academic Matthew Hedges lands back in London after seven-month detention in UAE November 27, 2018 Matthew Hedges, the British academic freed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday after being sentenced to 25 years in jail as a spy, landed back in London this morning. The 31-year-old PhD student thanked the Foreign Office and the British embassy for securing his release, and thanked his wife, Daniela Tejada, who has spent [...]
Luxury furniture firm Smallbone of Devizes teeters on brink of collapse November 26, 2018 High-end furniture manufacturer Canburg, which owns brands such as up-market designer Smallbone of Devizes, is on the edge of bankruptcy as it faces administration. The firm has filed a notice to appoint accountancy firm Grant Thornton as administrator this week, Sky News first reported. Hundreds of jobs could be at risk if proceedings go ahead. [...]
Flybe shares head skyward as it braces for bidding war November 26, 2018 Flybe shares soared over 23 per cent in trading this morning on reports it has landed at the centre of bidding war between industry rivals Sir Richard Branson and Willie Walsh. Walsh’s International Airlines Group (IAG) is in hot competition with Branson’s Virgin Atlantic, according to reports over the weekend which have sent the budget [...]
Melrose share price tumbles following low-ball bids for GKN unit November 26, 2018 Turnaround specialist Melrose led FTSE fallers today as its share price fell over six per cent following reports of disappointing bids for one of its GKN units. Melrose, which bought aerospace company GKN in an £8bn hostile takeover earlier this year, was reportedly forced to reconsider its options after it was low-balled by bids for [...]
GKN owner Melrose considers options after being low-balled by bids for unit November 25, 2018 GKN owner Melrose is licking its wounds after it failed to attract the right price for one of the engineering group’s key divisions. The company’s management is now considering its options after being low-balled by bidders, including private equity firms Apollo and PAI Partners, Sky News reported last night. It expected to get around £2bn [...]
Embattled budget airline Flybe’s shares take off as it confirms Virgin Atlantic talks November 23, 2018 Struggling low cost airline Flybe’s shares soared 23 per cent this morning as it confirmed reports that Virgin Atlantic is in talks to buy it. Billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s airline began talks to buy the company after the Exeter-based airline put itself up for sale earlier this month, Sky News reported last night. Shares later [...]
Virgin Atlantic opens talks to buy struggling budget airline Flybe November 22, 2018 Virgin Atlantic has opened talks with struggling low-cost airline Flybe over a possible takeover. The airline partly owned by Sir Richard Branson has emerged as a surprise potential buyer after the Exeter-based airline put itself up for sale earlier this month, Sky News reported. Sources said Virgin Atlantic saw the move as an opportunity to feed [...]