News And Announcements
Allianz to form joint venture with LV=
German insurer Allianz Group and LV= have agreed to launch a joint venture and a longer-term strategic partnership in the UK, creating a general insurance business with over 6 million customers and gross premiums written in excess of £1. 7bn.
RBS beats forecasts for second quarter operating profits
Majority state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland beat analysts' profit forecasts for the second quarter with the lender also announcing that it had picked Amsterdam as its post-Brexit hub for the European Union.
Billington gets two new structural steel contracts worth £14m
Structural steel and construction safety specialist Billington Holdings announced on Friday that its structural steel division, Billington Structures, has been awarded two contracts with a combined value of £14m.
Toyota, Mazda jointly plan £1.6bn car plant, electric and connected technologies
Toyota and Mazda have joined forces with the aim of producing 300,000 vehicles a year in a £1. 6bn car plant in the US, as well as pooling investment into new technologies for electric vehicles and 'connected cars'.
Porta exercises right to buy another chunk of Newgate
Porta Communications announced on Friday that, further to its announcement on 7 December 2016, it has increased its equity ownership in Newgate Communications Australia to 62. 29%.
Providence making solid progress in Porcupine Basin
Ireland-based oil and gas exploration company Providence Resources updated the market on Friday, on Frontier Exploration Licence 2/14 located in the southern Porcupine Basin.
Overseas thirsts lift craft brewery Innis & Gunn to new highs
Independent Scottish craft brewer Innis & Gunn enjoyed a significant year of growth as it increased annual turnover by 22% to £14. 3m as it laid foundations for a planned doubling of the business in the coming two years.
Fairpoint board prepares to call in administrators
Fairpoint Group was on the brink of administration on Friday, as its board said that, due to its obligations on its head office lease, it was intending to call in the administrators.
Global markets and headcount issues see Nakama report loss
Recruitment consultancy Nakama saw its group revenue rise 7% to £22. 5m in the year to 31 March, it reported in its preliminary results on Friday, as its net fee income improved 8% to £6. 19m.
Invesco Perpetual cleared to subscribe for Draper Esprit shares
Draper Esprit’s shareholder mix was looking a bit different on Friday, as it announced that Invesco Perpetual’s bid to take more than a fifth of the company had cleared its major regulatory hurdle.
Ascent Resources makes solid progress at Petisovci in Slovenia
Europe-focussed oil and gas exploration and production company Ascent Resources updated the market on progress with its Petišovci project in Slovenia on Friday, reporting that the installation of the necessary infrastructure to accommodate export production had now been completed.
VinaCapital becomes major investor in Tasco JSC
VinaCapital announced on Friday that its flagship fund, VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund, had become a significant investor in Tasco JSC, which it described as a “leading toll road operator” and real estate development company in northern Vietnam, via a private placement.
Science in Sports kicks goals with both Aston Villa and Celtic FC
Science in Sport (SIS) announced Friday it had signed several exclusive deals with some of the biggest names in British football.
British Airways and Easyjet warn of extra delays at EU airports
British Airways and Easyjet have warned customers to expect longer queues at immigration control points across European airports.
Petrofac shares gush higher on $2bn contract award
Shares in Petrofac gushed higher on Friday after the company said it will be awarded a $2bn contract as part of a 50/50 joint venture with Samsung Engineering by Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries in the southern part of Oman.
Keywords Studios takes lead in French gaming with four-way deal
Keywords Studios, a technical services provider to the global video games industry, announced on Friday it has acquired four of the company's leading competitors in France.
UK new car sales fall and 'could be headed for deep recession'
The number of new cars purchases continues to fall as consumers hold back from major purchases amid increased worries about the economic and political climate and a possible motor finance bubble.
Faron looks at compassionate use programme as INTEREST trial nears end
Clinical stage biopharmaceutical company Faron Pharmaceuticals updated the market on the INTEREST Phase III study treating patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with its lead product Traumakine on Friday, following a meeting of the trial's independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) on 1 August.
Stanley Gibbons cancels interiors sale to Millicent
Stanley Gibbons Group updated the market on the sale of “certain assets and liabilities” of its interiors division on Friday, confirming that it had become apparent that suitor Millicent was unable to access the funds it had earmarked for payment of the consideration due on completion.
Churchill Mining granted stay in Indonesia annulment after pledging land as security
Churchill Mining updated the market on Friday on its bid to annul an international tribunal’s award against it, made late last year.