2021






Blackrock funds ‘selling 55m shares in THG’

Funds managed by Blackrock are selling about 55 million shares in troubled Manchester-based e-commerce, beauty and nutrition giant THG plc, Reuters reported, citing a bookrunner. Blackrock…


Sheffield’s SIG plans €300m bond sale

Sheffield-based international building materials supplier SIG plc said on Monday it has mandated bookrunners to carry out roadshows for a proposed debt offering of €300 million…





Regulator CMA investigates Morrisons takeover

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Friday it has opened an investigation into the £7 billion cash purchase of Bradford-based supermarket giant Morrisons by…




Wakefield’s Team17 makes app with Lego, Marvel

By Mark McSherry Wakefield-based Team17 Group, the developer of video games and educational entertainment apps, has announced that its subsidiary StoryToys has collaborated with Lego Group and Marvel…


Equinix to build £61m Salford data centre

California-based digital infrastructure company Equinix, Inc. has announced plans to build a new £61 million International Business Exchange (IBX) data centre in the Agecroft Commerce Park in Salford, Manchester….



Manchester’s Yourgene doubles H1 revenue

Manchester-based molecular diagnostics firm Yourgene Health plc said on Tuesday its first-half revenues more than doubled to £17.5 million, ahead of previous guidance of at…



UK dividends to top £93bn in 2021

UK dividends soared to £34.9 billion in the third quarter of 2021, up 89.2% year-on-year on a headline basis, boosted the mining boom and very large…




Sabadell rejects £1bn Co-op Bank bid for TSB

(Updates with Monday statement from Co-operative Bank) Spain’s Banco Sabadell confirmed at the weekend that its board has rejected an audacious offer for its subsidiary TSB Bank…





Salford’s AJ Bell grows assets 29% to £73bn

AJ Bell plc, the Salford-based investment platform, said on Thursday its assets under administration (AUA) increased by 29% to £72.8 billion in its financial year ended September 30,…





Morrisons shareholders approve £7bn takeover

Shareholders of Bradford-based supermarket giant Morrisons on Tuesday approved a roughly £7 billion cash takeover offer from US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R). Morrisons…



Asda hiring 15,000 for Christmas period

Leeds-based supermarket giant Asda has stepped up its Christmas preparations by announcing plans to recruit 15,000 temporary staff and confirming the dates its festive home…


Chester’s Moneysupermarket buys £101m Quidco

Chester-based price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com has agreed to buy cashback business Quidco in a deal worth up to £101 million. Moneysupermarket said it will pay £87 million…






Benchmark shares soar amid strong trading

Shares of Sheffield-based aquaculture biotech firm Benchmark Holdings rose about 12% on Monday after it said it expects full-year earnings to be significantly ahead of the…




Newcastle’s Grainger buys £141m London scheme

Newcastle-headquartered Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, said on Thursday it has exchanged conditional contracts to forward fund and acquire Merrick Place, a 401-home build-to-rent development…
















Lookers trading strong despite chip shortage

Shares of Altrincham-based car dealership Lookers plc rose about 6% on Wednesday after it published a trading update covering the three month period ended September 30,…