Company News
Investec highlights strong cash flows, M&A optionality at Imperial Brands
Analysts at Investec sounded a positive note on shares of Imperial Brands despite the company's slight earnings miss for the full year, pointing to its "strong" cash-flows and M&A optionality, which led them to the conclusion that the discount they were trading on relative to the sector was too "harsh".
Director dealings: Partner of BT chairman collects 200,000 shares in telecoms giant
Magdalena du Plessis, the wife of BT chairman Jan du Plessis, picked up 200,000 ordinary shares in the telecommunications giant on Tuesday at a cost of £2. 52 each.
Fevertree Drinks sees full year 'materially ahead' of current market views
Fevertree Drinks said on Tuesday that results for the year to the end of December are set to be “materialy ahead” of current market expectations following a strong performance in the year to date.
IAG traffic remains on upward trajectory
International Consolidated Airlines Group, better known as IAG and as the owner of British Airways and Iberia, continued to grow capacity and passenger traffic in October.
SSE and Innogy in 'well-advanced' merger discussions
British energy supplier SSE is in talks with the parent company of rival Npower, German firm innogy, about potentially forming the UK's largest power company.
First Derivatives ticks all the boxes
UK-based software and consultancy services firm First Derivatives saw its revenue grow by 21% in the first half of its trading year, led by strong growth in its software wing and heightened demand for its managed services and consulting solutions.
High street retailer New Look brings back former executive to right ship
Alistair McGeorge, executive chairman of low-cost fashion retailer New Look, said on Monday that the high street brand's previous management should be held accountable for its weakened sales performance and dragging the company to a heavy loss as a result of it making the group "too young and edgy. ".
Lionsgold fintech unit receives FCA e-money approval
Gold-focussed exploration company and gold-holding fintech developer Lionsgold announced on Tuesday that its majority-owned fintech subsidiary TRAC Technology has received approval as an EMD Agent from the Financial Conduct Authority.
Altus Strategies granted Zolowo exploration licence in Liberia
Africa-focussed exploration project generator Altus Strategies announced on Tuesday that it has been granted the Zolowo exploration licence in the Lofa County of north western Liberia, targeting Archaean greenstone-hosted gold deposits.
Paragon Entertainment issues profit warning amid slow progress
Attractions design, production and fit-out company Paragon Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it expects to complete the 2017 financial year with sales “broadly in line” with the board's expectations, at £15. 0m.
NetScientific's Vortex BioSciences makes first commercial sale of VTX-1
Healthcare intellectual property commercialisation group NetScientific noted on Tuesday that its portfolio company, Vortex BioSciences, has announced its first direct commercial sale of its VTX-1 Liquid Biopsy System - a fully automated benchtop system for collecting intact circulating tumour cells (CTCs).
Wednesday preview: Will Marks & Sparks fly? Otherwise look to Tullow, Persimmon
Marks & Spencer interims are the big talking point ahead of Wednesday's release, while others reporting include Persimmon, Esure, JD Wetherspoon, OneSavings Bank, Sophos and Tullow Oil.
Sylvania acquisition of Phoenix Platinum goes unconditional
Low-cost platinum group metal processor and developer Sylvania Platinum confirmed on Tuesday that the acquisition by Sylvania from Pan African Resources of 100% of the shares in and claims against Phoenix Platinum Mining was now unconditional.
Strat Aero unit wins partnership with Integrated Water Services
Unmanned aerial vehicle-focussed aerospace company Strat Aero announced on Tuesday that its 100% owned subsidiary Geocurve has been selected as a specialist surveying partner by Integrated Water Services - a services provider to the UK water sector.
Victoria evaluating opportunities including acquisition of Keraben Grupo
AIM-listed flooring designer and manufacturer Victoria said on Tuesday that it is evaluating a number of opportunities, including the potential acquisition of European ceramic tile manufacturing business Keraben Grupo.
Adept4 extends Office 365-based IT solution offerings
Information technology-as-a-service provider Adept4 announced a recent extension to its 'asset light' IT solution offerings on Tuesday, which it said leverage its expertise and customer base in Microsoft Skype for Business and telephony.
Tertiary Minerals wins high-profile US industry award
Fluorspar company Tertiary Minerals announced on Tuesday that its 100% owned subsidiary, Tertiary Minerals US, has been chosen to receive the Bureau of Land Management's 2017 Hardrock Small Operator Award for its “outstanding and innovative” reclamation and sustainable mineral development work on its MB Fluorspar Project in Nevada.
Hiscox gross written premiums rise, hurricane claim estimates revised down
Insurer Hiscox reported a rise in gross written premiums for the first nine months of the year, as it revised down its estimates for claims related to recent hurricanes.
G4S trading in line but FY organic revenue guidance scaled back
Security services firm G4S, which won its spot on the FTSE 100 back in the summer, said on Tuesday that trading in the nine months to the end of September was in line with expectations, but its guidance for full-year organic revenue growth was scaled back.
Disney reportedly in talks to buy Fox's 39% stake in Sky
Walt Disney is reported to have held negotiations with 21st Century Fox over the sale of a large part of its operations, including its share of Sky.