Pub companies: Is now the time to invest in a cheap pint? September 23, 2019 Investors in Greene King are raising a glass in celebration after Hong Kong’s richest man, Victor Li, agreed to buy the UK’s largest publicly-listed pub and brewery company for £4.6 billion (including net debt). A unit of Li’s investment vehicle, CK Asset Holdings, has bid 850 pence per share – more than a 50 per [...]
Intu shares soar nearly 30 per cent on John Whittaker takeover rumours October 5, 2018 Shares in property group Intu have rocketed nearly 30 per cent on rumours of a possible takeover from a consortium led by John Whittaker's Peel Group. The other investors led by the British billionaire include Canada's Brookfield Asset Management and Saudi Arabia's Olayan Group. Intu owns some of the UK's most well-known shopping centres, including the Trafford Centre [...]
UK immigration: Retailers call for simplification of the points-based immigration system after Brexit February 8, 2018 The retail industry has called for a simplification of the UK’s points-based immigration system after Brexit. In a submission to the government’s review of immigration, which is being conducted by the Migration Advisory Committee, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the new system should be “quicker, simpler and less expensive” than the current points-based system [...]
All eyes on Bank of England governor Mark Carney as rates decision due tomorrow May 9, 2018 The chances of the Bank of England (BoE) not raising interest rates in May seemed inconceivable just a few months ago. Back in February, BoE deputy governor Ben Broadbent said that it would not be a “great shock” to the economy if the Bank raised interest rates twice this year. Now, it will be a [...]
Retail lobby group British Retail Consortium urges government to protect consumers from rising costs post-Brexit October 10, 2016 The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has urged the government to secure a Brexit deal that avoids rocketing prices for consumers. Writing to Liam Fox, the secretary of state for international trade, the BRC said that the retail industry, as the UK's biggest importer, needs tariffs and import costs to remain low. Read more: Retailers in Mayfair [...]
Founders and chief executive buy back control of supermarket giant Iceland June 9, 2020 The founding family and boss of Iceland Foods have teamed up to take back full control of the supermarket’s shares, following the chain’s revenue boom amid the coronavirus pandemic. Chief executive Tarsem Dhaliwal and founder Malcolm Walker have today bought out South African investment firm Brait’s 63.1 per cent stake in Iceland for £115m, making [...]
Debehams share price: Short sellers pile in to bet against Debenhams ahead of Christmas shopping season November 7, 2017 The City appears to be pessimistic about Debenhams’ prospects this Christmas, with the amount of short-selling of the retailer’s stock rising to its highest level for more than four years. According to data from the Financial Conduct Authority, the amount of stock borrowed by hedge funds to bet against Debenhams’ fortunes has ramped up in [...]
BRC calls for a “demand-led and simple” solution for EU workers as UK faces workforce shortage October 9, 2017 Uncertainty over the UK’s position on immigration is creating a workforce shortage, the UK’s retail industry body has warned. New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) suggest that uncertainty over the result of Brexit negotiations has already led some EU workers to leave the UK. The BRC’s latest report into the impact of Brexit [...]
Intu’s property empire loses £300m of value as retailers shut up shop October 23, 2018 Intu took a £300m hit to its property valuation in its latest quarter, also cutting its rental growth forecast amid the UK’s high street decline, it revealed today. The shopping centre chain is currently mulling a £2.9bn takeover offer from a consortium including British billionaire John Whittaker, Saudi investment group Olayan, and Brookfield Property Group. [...]
Axminster Carpets bought out of administration March 5, 2020 Axminster Carpets has been rescued after a group of private investors, including the previous owner, bought it out of administration. The business, which entered administration on 19 February, has been bought by ACL Carpets – a consortium of investors including the Dutfield family that previously owned the firm. The group is expected to be renamed [...]