News And Announcements
Spire Healthcare to cut investment as profits collapse
Profits at Spire Healthcare remained in intensive care in the first half of the year after an "unprecedented decline" in admissions of NHS patients, but management remained confident in their new strategic direction.
BAE Systems £5bn Qatar contract becomes effective
BAE Systems said on Tuesday that its contract to supply the state of Qatar with Typhoon and Hawk aircraft is now effective.
RM2 signs smart pallet deal with unnamed Walmart supplier
Smart pallet developer RM2 International has entered into an agreement for the deployment of standard ‘RM2 BLOCKPal’ pallets with an unidentified “household name” in the homewares sector in North America.
SCISYS to provide software for TfL bus programme
Software systems, IT-based solutions and support services supplier SCISYS has signed a contract for around £2m with Trapeze Group to provide software design, development and support services to Transport for London for its timetabling and scheduling as part of its ‘Future Bus Systems’ programme.
MediaZest anticipating maiden net profit in first half
MediaZest updated the market on its current trading on Tuesday, reporting a “strong performance” in the first quarter ended 30 June as expected.
Northgate vehicles on hire jump 13% in first quarter
Van hire company Northgate reported double-digit growth in average vehicles on hire for the first quarter on Tuesday ahead of its annual general meeting.
Summer is kind to big supermarkets but Sainsbury's still lags
Over the summer Sainsbury’s enjoyed its best sales this year, though it was still the slowest growing of the big four, where Asda and Morrisons led the pack but still lost ground to the discounters.
Allied Minds launches QuayChain subsidiary to develop smart logistics tech
Allied Minds announced the formation of new subsidiary ‘QuayChain’ on Tuesday.
United Oil raises £3m for new investments through oversubscribed placing
Exploration and development company United Oil & Gas has raised £3m via an oversubscribed placing and subscription with existing and new investors, it announced on Tuesday.
XPS Pensions to expand public sector work with Kier Pensions acquisition
Pensions actuarial, consulting and administration business XPS Pensions Group has, subject to certain conditions, agreed to acquire the assets of Kier Pensions Unit from Kier Business Services - a division of Kier Group - it announced on Tuesday.
Vitec Group buying audio specialist Rycote for up to £8.5m
Broadcast and photographic products and solutions provider, the Vitec Group, has acquired Rycote Microphone Holdings for up to £8. 5m in cash, it announced on Tuesday.
Vivo Energy restructures acquisition of Engen holdings in Africa
Vivo Energy has reached an agreement with Engen Holdings to restructure the acquisition of Engen International Holdings Mauritius by its subsidiary Vivo Energy Investments, it announced on Tuesday.
Louisa Burdett to succeed Doug Webb as Meggitt CFO
FTSE 250 aerospace engineer Meggitt said on Tuesday that former Victrex finance director Louisa Burdett will succeed Doug Webb as chief financial officer when he retires at the end of December.
Marsh & McLennan to buy Jardine Lloyd Thompson for £4.3bn
Shares in Jardine Lloyd Thompson surged on Tuesday after the insurance broker agreed to be bought by US professional services firm Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) for around £4. 3bn.
Grainger signs on Engie Regeneration as main contractor for Newbury scheme
Listed residential landlord Grainger has appointed Engie Regeneration as the main contractor to its Newbury PRS scheme, which is expected deliver 232 new homes for rent and improved pedestrian access from Newbury train station to the town centre.
Riverstone Energy investment Hammerhead secures £175m equity commitment
Hammerhead Resources - the biggest investment of FTSE 250 company Riverstone Energy - has secured a preferred share equity commitment of up to CAD 300m (£175. 19m) that it said would provide it financial flexibility to continue its organic growth program across its resource base, it announced on Tuesday.
Aviva completes buyback of 119m shares
Aviva has successfully completed its share buyback programme, it announced on Tuesday.
Ocado sales hum as new robot warehouse gets up to speed
Ocado kept up the pace of growth in the third quarter as its fourth and most-technologically advanced robot-operated warehouse quickly got up to speed.
Acquisition and disposal drive year-end progress at Paragon
Paragon Banking Group updated the market on its trading on Tuesday, ahead of its 30 September year-end, reporting that it had continued to operate in line with its own expectations.
BBA Aviation to buy Firstmark for $97m
BBA Aviation has announced the acquisition of Firstmark, an aerospace focused aftermarket service provider, for $97m.