News And Announcements
Rebounding sales sees Devro shares rise
Devro, a manufacturer of collagen based sausage casings, saw sales growth bounce back over the first half the year.
Strong i performance and increased digital revenue bolster Johnston Press
Despite a significantly stronger performance in advertising revenues from the i newspaper and in the digital space, Johnston Press saw total revenues fall almost 8% to £103m during the first half of the year, on the back of a large dip in classified print advertising sales.
Arix Pharmaceuticals participates in $67m funding of antifungal agent
Arix Bioscience announced on Wednesday that it has taken part in a $67m Series C group financing round to take a stake in Amplyx Pharmaceuticals.
IT failure results in severe delays for British Airways passengers
British Airways issued an apology to customers on Wednesday morning after it experienced another failure in its check-in system.
Hubble Connected acquiring infant heart monitor firm Kaishi
Hubble Connected, the Internet of Things (IoT) company which sells nursery products under the Motorola brand, announced its intent to acquire Kaishi - producer of an “award-winning” fetal heart-rate listening device - on Wednesday.
Walker Greenbank sales boosted by Clarke & Clarke acquisition
Luxury interior furnishings group Walker Greenbank announce its pre-close trading update for the six months to 31 July on Wednesday, reporting that brand sales - including Clarke & Clarke - were up 35. 6% in reportable currency compared with the same period last year.
Aggregated Micro Power investment reaches EEX deal
Distributed energy company Aggregated Micro Power Holdings announced on Wednesday that IncubEx, in which it has a 28. 8% shareholding, has reached agreement with the European Energy Exchange to form a partnership to build and improve liquidity in environmental, energy and other related contracts.
StatPro sees revenue and profit growth through cloud investment
StatPro, the London based portfolio analytics software provider, reported organic revenue growth of 2% in the first half of 2017, with its key product, the cloud-based Revolution platform, seeing a 16% increase.
E.On recruiting army of 1000 smart-meter technicians
German-owned energy group E. On hopes to train 1,000 new technicians its new national electrical skills training academy, as part of the government-led transition to smart meters in homes and businesses.
Oxford Metrics subsidiary announces new projects and partners
International software company Oxford Metrics announced on Wednesday that its specialist motion measurement subsidiary Vicon had launched two new products and new partners at this year's SIGGRAPH conference.
Lighthouse Group renews contract with Prospect union
National financial adviser Lighthouse Group announced on Wednesday that it has agreed the renewal of its contract with professionals’ trade union Prospect as the preferred provider of expert financial advice to its members, encompassing retirement planning, mortgages and investments, for a further one year from 1 August 2017.
Action Hotels opens second Bahrain property
Owner, developer and asset manager of branded three and four star hotels in the Middle East and Australia, Action Hotels, announced the opening of its second hotel in Bahrain on Wednesday - ibis Styles Manama Diplomatic Area.
Wednesday broker round-up
Hikma Pharmaceuticals: Morgan Stanley downgrades to Equal Weight with a target price of 1600p.
Cabot Energy updates market on Canada summer programme
Oil and gas company Cabot Energy updated the market on its Canada summer programme on Wednesday, confirming its had commenced work, targeting additional gross production of 300 barrels of oil per day from both the Rainbow and Virgo areas.
Argos deliveries face disruption as union eyes three-week strike
Argos faces disruption to its distribution network as workers plan three weeks of strikes over contract terms and concerns about cost-cutting from new parent company Sainsbury's.
CMA raises competition concerns over Wood Group/Amec deal
The Competition and Markets Authority said on Wednesday that the proposed £2. 2bn merger between Wood Group and Amec Foster Wheeler could lead to competition concerns in the supply of engineering and construction services and operation and maintenance services on the UK continental shelf.
Realm Therapeutics submits second US drug application this year
Realm Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, has filed an application for its second investigational new drug with the US Food and Drug Administration in six months.
B&M moves into convenience by swooping for Heron
Retailer B&M European Value has snapped up profitable fellow discounter Heron Food Group for £152m as a move into the convenience market, moving on from rumours that it was itself a takeover target for Asda.
AdEPT raises £7.3m to acquire Atomwide
Unified communications and managed IT services provider AdEPT Telecom announced on Wednesday that it has signed a £7. 3m convertible loan instrument with Business Growth Fund, and also agreed to acquire the entire issued share capital of UK-based specialist education sector IT provider Atomwide.
RSA Insurance H1 operating profit up 15% but divi disappoints
RSA Insurance reported a 15% rise in first-half group operating profit on Wednesday thanks to strong performances in Scandinavia and Canada, but the increase in its dividend fell short of expectations.