News And Announcements
ITV downgraded by Macquarie on consumer sector weakness
Television firm ITV was downgraded to ‘underperform’ from ‘neutral’ by analysts at Macquarie on Wednesday on the back of weakness in ad spending in the consumer sector.
Landore and Lamaune reach debt settlement agreement
Landore announced on Wednesday that its wholly owned subsidiary, Landore Resources Canada, had entered into a debt settlement agreement with Lamaune Iron.
OptiBiotix Health enters MoU with Taiwan's Bened Biomedical
Life sciences business OptiBiotix Health said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bened Biomedical of Taiwan on Wednesday.
EasyJet beats Ryanair to market with long-haul connections programme
EasyJet announced on Wednesday that it had inked a deal with fellow European low-cost carrier Norwegian Air and Canada's WestJet that would allow its passengers to transfer onto their long-haul flights via Gatwick.
Clinigen agrees to acquire Quantum Pharma in £150m deal
Clinigen Group and Quantum Pharma announced on Wednesday that they have agreed terms of a recommended acquisition by Clinigen of the entire issued and to-be-issued share capital of Quantum for £150. 3m, to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement.
StatPro secures £1.5m contract extension
Cloud-based portfolio analytics and asset pricing services firm StatPro Group announced on Wednesday that it has secured a two-year contract extension with a “large” European asset manager for its Delta service, worth £1. 5m.
Connemara Mining upbeat on joint venture ownership shake-up
Connemara Mining Company said on Wednesday that it has been informed that Group Eleven Resources, a private company, has acquired the 76. 56% interest held by Teck Ireland in TILZ Minerals, the joint venture company which holds six prospecting licences covering the Stonepark zinc project in Limerick, Ireland.
Range confirms spudding of QUN 161 development well
Range Resources advised the market on Wednesday that the QUN 161 development well in Trinidad was successfully spudded on 9 September.
Spire contributes £27m to fund for victims of disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson
Spire Healthcare said on Wednesday that it will contribute £27. 2m towards a compensation fund for victims of disgraced breast surgeon Iain Paterson, who left hundreds of patients scarred and disfigured after carrying out unnecessary operations.
ANGLE signs option agreement with Queen Mary University of London
Liquid biopsy company ANGLE announced that it has signed an option agreement with Queen Mary University of London on Wednesday, for an exclusive worldwide licence over the use of its megakaryocyte intellectual property.
JP Morgan chief said he would fire any employee that traded Bitcoins
JPMorgan chief, Jamie Dimon, said he would fire any JP Morgan trader who traded Bitcoins because it's against the lender's rules and because it shows they are stupid; furthermore, governments will eventually clamp down on them.
Dunelm profits drop but shares surge on Worldstores optimism
Profits at Dunelm dropped towards the lower end of expectations and while there is caution at the homewares retailer about depressed consumer spending, the new financial year was reported to have started well.
Sales and forex drive growth at Focusrite
Music and audio products company Focusrite reported on Wednesday that, in the second half of the financial year, revenue and profits grew compared with the first half of the current year.
Eve Sleep losses grow as it invests in expansion, but sales jump
Losses at Eve Sleep grew in the first half even as sales surged as the company - which floated on AIM in May - invested in its expansion and brand awareness.
Integumen licences 'Botox Booster' intellectual property
Personal health care company Integumen announced on Wednesday that it has signed a worldwide patent licence agreement with Dr Gary Hack for his co-rights to various patents and knowledge related to enhancing and extending the cosmetic benefits of botulinum toxin (Botox) treatments, as well as dermal fillers and rosacea, known as the ‘Botox Booster intellectual property’.
Falanx launches MidGARD cyber-security platform
Intelligence, security and cyber provider Falanx officially launched its proprietary advanced threat detection and response platform on Wednesday, known as MidGARD.
Halfords poaches Dixons director to be new CEO
Halfords has poached fellow retailer Dixons Carphone's software boss, Graham Stapleton, to take up the chief executive role vacated by the soon-to-depart Jill McDonald.
Breedon appoints Mike Pearce as chief exec of Southern division
AIM-listed Breedon has appointed Mike Pearce, currently managing director of the aggregates division, as the new chief executive for its Southern division.
Berenberg starts GoCompare at 'buy', Moneysupermarket at 'hold'
Berenberg initiated coverage of GoCompare and Moneysupermarket on Wednesday, noting that UK price comparison websites have many of the dynamics that investors like.
Tern portfolio company completes Wyld Research acquisition
Internet of things-focussed investment company Tern announced on Wednesday that Wyld Technologies - a wholly owned subsidiary of Tern's portfolio company flexiOps - had completed the acquisition of the assets, including the intellectual property, of Wyld Research for £78k and 10% of Wyld Technologies.