Velocys raises over £50m in oversubscribed share placing September 29, 2014 Fuel refinery firm Velocys yesterday raised £52m from new and existing shareholders in a share placing designed to shore up the firm’s balance sheet and propel it to future growth. The company, which is backed by a host of big name investors such as Chelsea FC chairman Roman Abramovich and top investor Neil Woodford [...]
Saga nudges past issue price on its first day May 29, 2014 Over-50s insurance-to-holiday provider Saga yesterday joined a small band of newly floated firms trading above their issuance stock price, as it began trading in London. The group, which was listed on the stock market at 185p, rose to 188p during the day but ended up barely above its initial price, closing at 185.25p. Saga, which [...]
FinnCap and Numis cheer profit boost as equity activity rises May 7, 2014 CITY brokers Numis and FinnCap yesterday said London’s buoyant equity markets helped drive stellar profit increases at both companies, underscoring a turnaround in fortunes for the capital’s broking community. Numis, which worked on floats including AO World, McColl’s and Arrow Global this year, said revenues rose 59 per cent to £51.5m and statutory pre-tax profits [...]
Shoe Zone putting its best foot forward with a £50m stock float April 28, 2014 DISCOUNT footwear chain Shoe Zone has become the latest retailer queuing up to float on the London Stock Exchange this year. The family-run chain, which runs 554 stores in the UK and Ireland, is looking to raise up to £50m in an initial public offering (IPO) on London’s Alternative Investment Market next month that is [...]
TSB promises rapid growth to new investors May 27, 2014 NEW HIGH street bank TSB yesterday set out plans to grow by 50 per cent over the coming years, hoping to attract investors with an ambitious expansion plan. Lloyds is selling the 631-branch bank and published its intention to float the lender on the stock market yesterday. The sale comes at a tricky moment as [...]
Card Factory to deliver £700m float in London April 22, 2014 CARD Factory boss Richard Hayes said yesterday that it hopes to emulate the success of other value retailers such as Poundland after announcing plans for float that could value the group at around £700m. The budget greetings chain, which has 700 stores, intends to raise £90m through an initial public offering that will allow its [...]
Stock market’s recovery gives a boost to brokers March 26, 2014 TWO LONDON stockbroking firms yesterday said the resurging equity markets have helped boost their businesses in the past year. Cenkos Securities said its work on more fundraising deals lifted annual revenues 19 per cent to £51.4m, while pre-tax profits rose 53 per cent to £10.7m. “We have made a very encouraging start to the new [...]
Inside Track: London’s 2014 flotations get off to a promising start February 27, 2014 THERE have been weeks of anticipation. Now it’s time for early evaluation as the first London new issues of 2014 start trading. Which way the newly issued shares trade can set the mood for the rest of the year – or at least provide an indication of the appetite of the institutions for newly-listed stocks. [...]
Greencore sales lifted by boom in convenience January 28, 2014 BRITAIN’S fast-growing convenience market helped boost sales at sandwiches to Yorkshire puddings-maker Greencore. The group’s convenience arm, which makes products such as salads for retailers including Marks & Spencer, posted a 9.1 per cent jump in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to 27 December. This helped boost overall sales by 7.2 per cent on [...]