March 2022



Boohoo and AO among most shorted UK stocks

New analysis from exchange-traded products provider GraniteShares reveals that Manchester-based fashion giant Boohoo and Bolton-based online electrical retailer AO World plc were among the most shorted UK stocks…


Co-op Bank prices £250m green bonds at 6%

Manchester-based Co-operative Bank Finance announced it priced its issue of green MREL-eligible £250 million fixed rate reset callable notes due 2027. MREL stands for “Minimum Requirement for…







Co-op Bank to market £200m of green bonds

Manchester-based Co-operative Bank Finance has announced it will begin marketing £200 million of potential green bonds. “The Co-operative Bank Finance p.l.c. will today begin marketing a…


Co-op names Shirine Khoury-Haq interim CEO

Manchester-based Co-op Group announced that CEO Steve Murrells will step down following this year’s AGM in May and that it has appointed Shirine Khoury-Haq, group CFO and…



Hull’s Cranswick sees poultry surge 35%

Hull-based meat processing giant Cranswick on Thursday held a site visit for analysts and institutional investors at the company’s fresh poultry site in Eye, Suffolk….










Cussons acquires Childs Farm for £37m

Manchester-based consumer products company PZ Cussons announced it has acquired Childs Farm, the UK baby and child personal care brand, for about £37 million in cash. “Joanna Jensen,…




Go-Ahead shares up 17% on lower fine over LSER

Shares of Newcastle-headquartered bus and rail giant Go-Ahead Group rose about 17% after the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) issued a lower-than-expected £23.5 million fine…



Wetherby’s Avacta sells veterinary division

Wetherby-based diagnostics company Avacta Group plc announced that Vimian Group AB has acquired Avacta’s veterinary division Avacta Animal Health for up to £2.3 million. “Avacta Animal Health…







Tracsis, Leeds transport data firm, buys in US

By Mark McSherry Leeds-based transport data analytics firm Tracsis plc said on Monday it has acquired RailComm LLC, a North American based rail technology software and services…





Boohoo shares up 17% on earnings guidance

Shares of Manchester-based online fashion giant Boohoo rose about 17% on Thursday after it published a trading update saying it expects to report adjusted EBITDA…




Immobel buys 50% of White Rose Park, Leeds

Immobel Capital Partners, the investment management business of Immobel Group, announced it has agreed to acquire 50% of the White Rose Park green office campus near…




KPMG fined over audit of Revolution Bars

The UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) announced it has imposed sanctions — including fines totalling £910,000 — against KPMG and its former employee Michael Frankish…




Asda removes Russian products, pledges £1m

Leeds-based supermarket giant Asda has confirmed that it is removing products that originate from Russia from its stores and online platforms. Asda and its charity, the…



Newcastle gross mortgage lending £861m

Newcastle Building Society said its gross mortgage lending for 2o21 was £861 million and net core residential lending was £330m compared to £645 million gross…