Universal Music to move UK headquarters from Kensington to King’s Cross October 6, 2015 Universal Music is moving its UK headquarters to King’s Cross, in a major coup for Argent, the developers behind the regeneration of the 67-acre scheme. The music giant, which is currently based in Kensington, confirmed it has signed a long-term lease for the entire office space at Four Pancras Square, a ten-storey building totalling around [...]
Shore Capital posts 92 per cent jump in profit during 30th year in business October 6, 2015 Stockbrokers Shore Capital announced a 92.4 per cent increase in interim pre-tax profit in their 30th year of doing business, up from £5m in the first half of 2014 to £9.5m. The company saw revenues increase by 15.1 per cent, to £25.9m and earnings per share up 67.7 per cent, to 20.8p. Boosted by the [...]
UK M&A activity up 58 per cent as global deals notch up $2.66 trillion total so far in 2015 October 6, 2015 UK companies contributed $282bn (£186bn) so far this year to the global M&A total, which Thomas Reuters figures suggest is $2.66 trillion for the first three quarters. In the latest set of data confirming that 2015 has been a bonanza year for M&A, Deloitte figures suggest the value of deals involving UK companies, as target [...]
Private investment group Ardian makes offer for European food firm Solina October 6, 2015 Independent private investment company Ardian has submitted a binding offer and entered into exclusive talks concerning the purchase of European food company Solina. Ardian was previously Axa Private Equity, before becoming a private firm in 2013. Its portfolio includes investments in food chain Eat, Luton Airport and Wood Mackenzie. Solina, based in Brittany, France, provides [...]
Ernst & Young posts fastest revenue growth in seven years as income jumps to £2bn October 6, 2015 Ernst & Young saw its fastest revenue growth since 2008 last year, with global revenues up 11.6 per cent to $28.7bn (£19bn). The professional services group announced today that it also grew fee income by eight per cent in the year to 3 July, up to £2bn from £1.87bn, while profits grew by six per [...]
BTG share price dives as it warns on half-year revenues October 6, 2015 Shares in specialist healthcare firm BTG dived nine per cent to 602.5p in late morning trading after it warned half-year earnings will fall into the lower end of its guidance range. The company, which focuses on developing and selling treatments for cancer and other disorders, said in a trading update it expects revenue for [...]
UK companies scaling back investments over emerging market slowdown fears October 6, 2015 The UK’S biggest companies are scaling back investment plans as a slowdown in emerging markets and swings in financial markets temper their appetite to take on risk, according to survey figures published this morning. The research, conducted by Deloitte, showed that 73 per cent of chief financial officers (CFOs) said the current level of [...]
Tesco boss Dave Lewis pledges to simplify relationship with suppliers October 6, 2015 Tesco boss Dave Lewis has pledged to simplify the way the supermarket does business with suppliers as part of his efforts to change the behaviour at the group in the wake of its accounting scandal last year. Speaking at the IGD conference in Westminster this afternoon, Lewis announced plans to speed up payments so its [...]
Easyjet passenger numbers rise in September, keeping profit guidance in line with expectations October 6, 2015 EasyJet is forecasting full year profits of between £675m and £700m, on the back of continued strength in passenger numbers. Last month, the number of seats occupied on EasyJet flights hit 6.6m – a 7.6 per cent increase from 6.1m during September 2014. A similar increase took place in full-year flight numbers, with [...]
Ted Baker share price dips on warning over washout August October 6, 2015 Shares in Ted Baker were decidedly passé with investors this morning after a warning over softer trading in August overshadowed a 15 per cent leap in first half pre-tax profits. The fashion retailer, which has 416 stores, concessions and outlets across the world, said sales in August were hit by a number of “external factors”, including [...]
