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 [...]
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 [...]
This Valentine’s Day’s most unromantic gestures February 13, 2014 It’s the day before Valentine’s Day. Millions of people are no doubt racking their brains to think of something romantic to do for their loved one, manically typing “Valentine’s ideas” into Google and hoping some fresh idea will have appeared since they first Googled it this morning. The weather’s too bad for a romantic [...]
Card Factory recruits advisers November 10, 2013 The Card Factory, the high street retailer started by a husband and wife duo in 1997, has appointed UBS and Morgan Stanley to help float the company. The business, which is owned by buyout firm Charterhouse, could be floated in London next year with a price tag of up to £1bn. The company was started [...]
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). [...]
Apple supplier in China accused of 86 labour rights violations July 29, 2013 A New York-based rights group has reported three factories making Apple products in Shanghai and Suzhou enforce unpaid overtime and employ minors among other violations of Chinese regulations (release). China Labor Watch says Pegatron, which assembles iPads and iPhones at factories in China, were found to be “violating a great number of international and Chinese [...]
Shale gas has given Britain a lifeline if we can take on the vested interests July 5, 2013 WITH the recent suggestion by the electricity network that factories and businesses could be asked to ration power use to prevent blackouts, the announcement of UK shale gas reserves that – if recoverable – would be the largest in the world comes in the nick of time. We must take on the unholy alliance of [...]
Moonpig signs off year with jump in profits November 25, 2012 MOONPIG.COM, the online greetings card company, reported a 20 per cent rise in sales last year driven by growth at both its core and personalised card divisions. The internet retailer, founded 12 years ago by ex-commodities trader Nick Jenkins, said sales rose £7m to £45.8m in the year to 30 April. Profits jumped 10 per [...]
JJB shares dive as it looks for a white knight August 30, 2012 SEVERAL bidders have expressed interest in taking control of crisis-hit retailer JJB Sports, which was forced to put itself up for sale yesterday after failing to secure fresh funding from investors. The company, which has 180 stores and employs 4,000 people, has been locked in discussions with suppliers and investors in recents months in a [...]
US stocks edge higher despite signs of slump July 2, 2012 US stocks edged higher yesterday, shaking off a surprise contraction in US manufacturing, which some investors took as a signal the Federal Reserve will take more forceful actions to boost the economy. The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index came in at a lower reading than expected in June, registering a contraction in the sector [...]