Fowle secures the top post at M&B pubs August 3, 2009 PUBS group Mitchells & Butlers yesterday announced it has appointed Adam Fowle as chief executive, who has been acting in the role since 21 May. Fowle was parachuted in as acting chief executive after an ill-fated 2007 joint venture with property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz forced the resignation of then executive Tim Clarke. Under Clarke pre-tax [...]
ITV mulls new chief August 2, 2009 ITV’s board is today due to discuss the candidates short-listed to replace Michael Grade as chief executive, with some analysts expecting an announcement at its interim results on Thursday. HMV chief executive Simon Fox was last week the City’s new favourite to step into Grade’s shoes when he steps down at the end of the [...]
High definition lifts earnings at BSkyB July 30, 2009 SHARES in BSkyB rose yesterday after the broadcaster posted a surge in full-year pre-tax profit, driven by record levels of new subscriptions as cash-strapped customers stayed at home. The dominant pay-TV firm said that its customer base had grown at its fastest rate for five years – with the addition of 462,000 subscribers over the [...]
High definition lifts earnings at BSkyB July 30, 2009 SHARES in BSkyB rose yesterday after the broadcaster posted a surge in full-year pre-tax profit, driven by record levels of new subscriptions as cash-strapped customers stayed at home. The dominant pay-TV firm said that its customer base had grown at its fastest rate for five years – with the addition of 462,000 subscribers over the [...]
ANALYST VIEWS: HAS BSKYB IMPRESSED THE MARKET WITH ITS FULL-YEAR RESULTS? July 30, 2009 RICHARD HUNTER HARGREAVES LANSDOWNBSkyB has again confounded its doubters by posting numbers which belie the current environment. The spectres of fierce competition and rising unemployment both drag on prospects, but Sky continues to deliver in a marketplace in which it has pre-eminent experience, and the share price performance has reflected this. PAUL RICHARDS NUMIS SECURITIESWe [...]
Strength of Abbey helps Santander to a half-year profit July 29, 2009 SPANISH bank Santander is reaping the benefits from its acquisitions, as the first half attributable profit at its UK operations rose nearly 63 per cent to £790m, from £485m last year. Santander-owned Abbey, including recent purchases Alliance & Leicester and the savings book of Bradford & Bingley, saw a 20 per cent rise in revenues [...]
How to find love? Try giving up sex July 29, 2009 CHASTENEDBY HEPHZIBAH ANDERSONChatto & Windus, £12.99 I FEEL a little bad for Hephzibah Anderson. She’s gone ahead and voiced the doleful narrative of a many a well-heeled, well-educated 20 and 30-something urban woman – albeit in a kind of dreamily wannabe-poetic style – and has evoked the ire of countless woman critics. I am not [...]
Pace triples first-half profits July 27, 2009 British set-top box maker Pace tripled first-half pre-tax profit and said yesterday it was firmly on track to meet its expectations for the full year. The company, which makes devices for BSkyB, Comcast and Canal Plus, posted adjusted pre-tax profit of £34.3m on revenue of £526.5m for the six months to end-June, up from £231.1m.
B&Q owner boosted by summer sun July 23, 2009 KINGFISHER, the owner of DIY chain B&Q, yesterday reported a surprise rise in like-for-like sales in the second quarter, as cash-strapped consumers snapped up summer accessories thanks to a spell of barbeque weather. Kingfisher, which also operates Castorama in France, said it grew its market share in the 10 weeks to 11 July, but that [...]
B&Q owner boosted by summer sun July 23, 2009 KINGFISHER, the owner of DIY chain B&Q, yesterday reported a surprise rise in like-for-like sales in the second quarter, as cash-strapped consumers snapped up summer accessories thanks to a spell of barbeque weather. Kingfisher, which also operates Castorama in France, said it grew its market share in the 10 weeks to 11 July, but that [...]