2017

Utilitywise shares hit amid loss, chairman move

Shares of Newcastle-based utility consultancy Utilitywise fell more than 11% after it said executive chairman and founder Geoff Thompson would become non-executive chairman with immediate effect and…


NCC installs exec chairman amid upheaval

Manchester-based cyber security company NCC Group said on Monday it appointed Chris Stone as executive chairman with effect from April 6, 2017. “It is intended that he will…



Drax succeeds in $35m Louisiana Pellets bid

Selby, North Yorkshire-based power company Drax Group said that following the conclusion of an auction, Drax had been “provisionally successful” in its bid to acquire the assets of Louisiana…



AO World raises £50m; revenue to hit £700m

Bolton-based online electrical retailer AO World said it raised £50 million in a placing of 37.73 million shares at 132.5p — representing about 9% of the firm’s share capital. Further, in…


Sirius Minerals plans move from AIM to main market

Scarborough-based Sirius Minerals plc, the firm behind the controversial $2.9 billion fertilizer mine in North Yorkshire, said it plans to apply to move its share listing from AIM to the main…





Revenue tops €5bn at Sunderland’s Arriva

Sunderland-based passenger transport giant Arriva — part of Deutsche Bahn — said its 2016 revenue rose 5.2% to €5.09 billion, allowing it to invest €359 million in its…


CPP shares down as CFO departs, revenue falls

Shares of York-based “international assistance” firm CPP Group fell 14% after it said its 2016 revenue decreased 4% to £73.6 million and that chief financial officer Michael Corcoran would leave the…







Bovis suitor Redrow predicts £306m profit

Flintshire-based house builder Redrow, which has said it still wants to pursue a deal for Bovis Homes, on Wednesday issued a trading update saying its current performance was “robust” and…


Sunderland’s ScS sees revenue hit £158m

Shares of Sunderland-based furniture and floorings retailer ScS Group rose on Tuesday after it said its revenue rose 14.6% to £157.9 million and gross profit increased 12.4% to £72.9 million in the…





Unite buys £34m Durham student development

Unite Group plc said its student accommodation developer Unite Students acquired an asset under development near the University of Durham for £34 million. The accommodation will open in September 2018 and…


Harworth raises £28m to expand land bank

Rotherham-based real estate and brownfield regeneration firm Harworth Group said it conditionally raised £27.8 million by placing 29.2 million new shares at 95p in order to…


Revenue hits £159m at Leeds healthcare firm EMIS

Leeds-based healthcare software and information technology firm EMIS Group said its 2016 revenue rose 2% to £158.7 million and statutory operating profit rose 106% to £23.5 million “despite headwinds created by the NHS…


Toyota invests £240m in Derbyshire plant

Toyota said it will invest a further £240 million in its car plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire to “improve plant competitiveness and … promote UK supply chain efficiencies.” But…



Plans unveiled for £5bn Liverpool Waters scheme

The Peel Group-led consortium behind the £5 billion Liverpool Waters development unveiled the first glimpse of the new Central Docks neighbourhood at the MIPIM property conference in Cannes…









Sheffield’s Benchmark in Norwegian salmon deal

Sheffield-based Benchmark Holdings, the aquaculture biotechnology and food chain sustainability company, said it signed a long-term agreement with major Norwegian salmon producer SalMar ASA “to provide genetics, health…


Metronet acquires Venus for London expansion

Manchester-based internet infrastructure firm Metronet (UK), backed by mid-market private equity firm Livingbridge, said it acquired London-based fibre network provider Venus Business Communications. The acquisition of Venus follows Metronet’s…




Logistics North helps Harworth to £335m NAV

Rotherham-based real estate and brownfield regeneration firm Harworth Group said its 2016 net asset value (NAV) rose 12.5% to £334.9 million — 115p per share — helped…


Sage agrees to acquire rest of Fairsail

Newcastle-based Sage Group, the UK’s largest tech company, said it agreed to acquire Fairsail, the fast-growing cloud human capital management system for mid-sized businesses. Currently a minority…




Bain Capital buys big stake in Hull’s MKM

US-based private equity firm Bain Capital said it bought the stakes of 3i and LDC in Hull-based MKM Building Supplies, the UK’s largest independent builders’ merchant….


Approval for £130m University of Hull development

Campus accommodation and infrastructure specialists University Partnerships Programme (UPP) said plans for a £130 million student accommodation scheme at the University of Hull have been approved. UPP…


£210m wind farm investment for Durham’s Banks

Durham-headquartered Banks Renewables, the renewable energy division of property and energy business Banks Group, said it secured a £210 million investment package to support the construction…


Vimto helps Nichols grow revenue 7.4% to £117m

Merseyside-based soft drinks firm Nichols plc said Vimto sales helped its 2016 revenue rise 7.4% to £117.3 million and operating profit rise 9% to £30.3 million. “There is no doubt that the…


France’s Engie buys Keepmoat unit for £330m

French utility Engie said it agreed to acquire the regeneration business of Doncaster-based social housing developer Keepmoat, which specialises in renovating buildings for local authorities, for about £330 million. Engie said…








£105m IPO for Oldam’s Ultimate Products

Oldham-based consumer goods firm Ultimate Products said its London Stock Exchange IPO price was set at 128p per share, which will equate to a market capitalisation of £105.2…


NCC CEO steps down amid turmoil

Manchester-based cyber security company NCC Group said Rob Cotton stepped down as chief executive and as an executive director of its board with immediate effect. Brian Tenner,…



Cost inflation concerns as Greggs sales hit £894m

Newcastle-based bakery and “food-on-the-go” retailer Greggs said its 2016 sales rose 7% to £894.2 million and pre-tax profit excluding exceptional items rose 10% to £80.3 million. However Greggs shares fell 3%…


Revenue up 36% to £256m at linen firm Johnson

Chesire-based workwear and linen rental company Johnson Service Group (JSG) said its 2016 revenue rose 36.4% to £256.7 million and profit before tax soared 49.7% to £25.9 million. JSG…



Moneysupermarket revenue up 12% to £316.4m

Shares of Chester-based price comparison website company Moneysupermarket.com fell about 5% after it said its revenues were currently behind last year amid low interest rates. The company said 2016…


Virgin Money profit up 41% to £194m in digital push

Newcastle and Edinburgh-based challenger bank Virgin Money said its 2016 statutory profit before tax increased 41% to £194.4 million and its gross mortgage lending grew 12% to £8.4 billion, giving it…


Drax bids for Texas and Louisiana pellet businesses

Selby, North Yorkshire-based power company Drax Group said it is “participating in separate processes” for the acquisition out of bankruptcy of the operating assets of Texas Pellets and Louisiana…




Boeing plans new £20m Sheffield plant

Boeing said it plans to open a new £20 million production facility in Sheffield to manufacture high-tech components for its next-generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aircraft. Boeing…




Middlesbrough’s Fine Industries sold for £103m

Chinese life sciences company Lianhe Chemical Technology Company (Lianhetech) agreed to buy Middlesbrough-based chemicals manufacturer Fine Industries from Manchester-based private equity firm NorthEdge Capital and Fine Industries…


£126m for Royce Manchester research centre

The UK government’s business and energy secretary Greg Clark announced £229 million worth of investment in the development of cutting-edge advanced materials and a new…