News And Announcements
HSBC fined £2.4m by Hong Kong's pensions regulator
HSBC has been fined HKD 24m (£2. 4m) by Hong Kong's pension regulator, it was reported on Monday, for offering incentives to unauthorised agents to promote its Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) scheme in 2020 and 2021.
Pulsar reports first-half rise in annual recurring revenue
Marketing and communications software-as-a-service specialist Pulsar Group reported a £2. 2m increase in annual recurring revenue in its interim results on Monday, demonstrating a marked improvement in growth momentum compared to the £1. 3m growth in the first half of 2023.
Zinc Media trading in line despite slow UK market
Television and content production company Zinc Media Group reported ongoing delays in the UK content commissioning market in an update on Monday.
Devon Energy to buy Grayson Mill’s Williston Basin business in $5bn deal
Devon Energy said on Monday that it has agreed to buy the Williston Basin business of Grayson Mill Energy in a $5bn deal.
Aptamer reports success in ongoing work with Unilever
Aptamer Group, a developer of novel ‘Optimer’ binders for the life sciences industry, updated the market on its ongoing partnership with Unilever on Monday, aimed at creating Optimer binders for use in cosmetic applications.
Hiscox surges as Sompo, Generali said to be interested in takeover
Hiscox surged on Monday following a report that two rivals are considering takeover bids for the insurer.
Grifols shares surge on report Grifols family, Brookfield eyeing €5.5bn bid
Shares in Grifols surged on Monday after a newspaper report stated descendants of the founding family and Canadian fund Brookfield were in talks to launch a takeover bid for the Spanish drugmaker that could be worth around €5. 5bn (£4. 64bn).
Thousands of Samsung workers begin three-day strike over pay, working conditions
More than 6,000 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) began a three-day walkout over pay and working conditions on Monday, just days after the South Korean conglomerate reported a 10-fold increase in quarterly profits.
Skydance and Paramount Global agree to merger
Skydance Media has agreed a merger with fellow American production company Paramount Global in a deal worth more than $8bn, effectively ending Shari Restone's decades-long ownership of Paramount.
Metro Bank revives £3bn mortgage sale - report
Metro Bank is reportedly reviving plans to offload a multibillion pound mortgage months after an investor bailout rescued it from the brink of collapse.
Solid State reports record revenue, surge in profits
Computing, power and communications specialist Solid State reported record revenue of £163. 3m in its final results on Monday, representing a 29% increase from year-on-year.
Biome warns of ongoing slowness in bioplastics division
Bioplastics and radio frequency technology specialist Biome Technologies reported challenges in its bioplastics division, alongside positive developments in its Stanelco RF technologies division, in an update on Monday.
Delivery Hero facing potential €400m antitrust fine, shares tumble
Delivery Hero tumbled on Monday after saying it might face a fine of more than €400m for alleged anti-competitive behaviour.
Macfarlane buys foam packaging firm Polyformes for £11.5m
Scottish packaging firm Macfarlane Group announced on Monday it is spending £11. 5m to buy foam specialist Polyformes.
Huddled acquires stock clearance retailer Boop Beauty
E-commerce specialist Huddled Group announced the acquisition of a 75% controlling stake in Boop Beauty on Monday.
Seeing Machines buys Asaphus Vision, partners with Valeo
Driver monitoring technology specialist Seeing Machines announced a collaboration with global automotive supplier Valeo on Monday, complemented by the acquisition of Asaphus Vision, a Berlin-based development group with strong expertise in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI).
Quartix flags solid first-half subscription growth
Vehicle tracking specialist Quartix Technologies said in a trading update on Monday that it expected to report first-half revenue of £16m, adjusted EBITDA of £2. 6m, pre-tax profit of £2. 6m, and free cash flow of £0. 9m.
ITM Power inks 500MW capacity reservation deal
ITM Power announced a significant capacity reservation agreement with a major global industrial customer on Monday, securing 500MW of future production capacity for ITM Power’s advanced electrolyser stacks.
Boeing to plead guilty to criminal fraud over 737 Max crashes in deal with DoJ
Troubled aircraft maker Boeing on Sunday pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to defraud the US government over two fatal crashes of its 737 Max in 2018 and 2019, according to a late-night court filing.
Unite Group confident amid strong student demand
Student accommodation provider Unite Group issued a promising update on current trading and property valuations on Monday, as it anticipated nearly full occupancy and significant rental growth for the upcoming academic year.