B&M Retail lines up £2.5bn stock market debut May 22, 2014 B&M RETAIL, the discount shopping chain, yesterday batted away fears of a slowdown in London’s new issues market as it unveiled plans for a £2.5bn main market float. The chain, founded in 1978 by a shopkeeper in Blackpool, said its £1.2bn turnover, ambitious expansion plans and overseas subsidiaries set the company apart from others trying [...]
Here are the 40 wealthiest ex-apprentices February 26, 2015 Anyone who wants to be rich is typically told to go to university, but apprenticeships can offer another route, with a number of ex-apprentices making it to the top of their trade and becoming multi-millionaires in the process. As demand for skilled workers rising – to the extent that some can ask employers for higher [...]
What you need to know before the open April 22, 2014 A higher open for European markets is expected this morning, following the S&P 500 posting its best winning streak so far this year. With markets over here closed yesterday, it finished higher for the fifth day in a row. Investor focus will likely be on the latest earnings reports from companies both sides of the [...]
Fat Face unveils London listing to pay off debt May 1, 2014 FAMILY friendly retailer Fat Face yesterday became the latest private equity-backed retailer to tee up a listing on the London stock market, after announcing plans to raise £110m to cut debt. The business, which has about 200 stores across the UK, will offer shares to City fund managers after private equity backer Bridgepoint moved to [...]
How Boohoo’s joined the queue of retailers flocking to market February 17, 2014 ONLINE fashion retailer boohoo.com is being groomed for a snap stock market flotation next month, joining the stampede of retail companies marching towards a London market listing this year. Boohoo.com, which is run by Manchester-based co-founders Carol Kane and Mahmud Kamani, is working with its financial broker Zeus Capital on plans for an initial public [...]
Traders paw off Pets at Home as shares fall back March 12, 2014 PETS at Home shares fell by a whisker in initial trading yesterday as the £1.2bn float was left in the shade by a strong debut from fellow high street chain Poundland. Pets, which floated at 245p yesterday morning, ended the day trading around 243p after falling as low as 230p during a rocky start in [...]
Sandwich seller plans for £2bn summer float February 23, 2014 UPPER Crust owner SSP is gearing up for a summertime stock market float after appointing bankers from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to prepare the firm for a listing. The business, led by former WH Smith chief executive Kate Swann, is understood to be on course for an initial public offering (IPO) to sell shares [...]
Inflation drop takes the pressure off Bank on rate hike August 19, 2014 INFLATION fell back again in July, according to official figures released yesterday, easing the pressure on the Bank of England’s policymakers to tighten their stance and weakening sterling The consumer price index (CPI) rose by just 1.6 per cent in the year to July, according to the Office for National Statistics. The figure dropped from [...]
Fine watch show SalonQP arrives at the Saatchi Gallery November 6, 2014 If you’re a SalonQP regular, you’ll know what the fuss is about. Slowly but surely expanding in size and repute since 2009’s frayed-around-the-edges debut at One Marylebone, the Saatchi Gallery on King’s Road is now precisely the sort of slick, spacious, yet exclusive venue that London’s watch fans (both curious and diehard) and SalonQP’s [...]
Buyout shop Charterhouse eyes £1bn offer for G4S cash business October 20, 2013 THE OWNER of high street retailer Card Factory is considering a bid to buy a chunk of UK outsourcing firm G4S. Charterhouse, which also owns parts of breakdown group AA and insurer Saga, is thought to be in the early stages of putting together a deal to buy G4S’ cash solutions business for $1.6bn (£1bn). [...]