News







Manchester’s AJ Bell plans £500m IPO

Manchester-based investment platform AJ Bell said it appointed Numis Securities to explore an initial public offering (IPO) of AJ Bell on the main market of…



Shares of Bargain Booze parent fall 60%

Shares of Crewe-based alcohol wholesaler and distributor Conviviality Plc — which owns Bargain Booze and Wine Rack — plummeted 60% on Thursday after it warned in a trading…


Regulator probes Co-op on supplier treatment

The UK supermarket regulator has launched an investigation into the Manchester-based Co-op Group over its treatment of suppliers. The Co-op said it had “fallen short” and…




Bodycote revenue up 15% to £690m

Macclesfield-based engineering and thermal processing giant Bodycote said its 2017 revenue grew 14.9% to £690.2 million and its headline operating profit rose 24% to £123.9 million Full…









Revolution Bars upbeat despite operating loss

Shares of Manchester-based Revolution Bars Group plc fell about 6% after it said it made an operating loss of £3.7 million for the 26 weeks ended December 30, 2017, despite sales…








Maplin goes into administration

Rotherham and London-based electronics retailer Maplin Electronics Limited, owned by Rutland Partners, has gone into administration. Zelf Hussain, Toby Underwood and Ian Green of PwC have…



Biomass boost as Drax revenue hits £3.68bn

North Yorkshire-based power company Drax Group said its 2017 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 64% to £229 million — more than analysts were…


Greggs sales up 7.4% to £960m

Newcastle-based bakery and “food-on-the-go” retailer Greggs said its 2017 sales rose 7.4% to £960 million and pre-tax profit excluding exceptional items edged higher to £81.8 million from…






Persimmon partially cuts executive bonuses

York-based housebuilder Persimmon said on Friday it will partially reduce controversial bonuses for its top executives following shareholder outrage at the package that could have…


Stobart Group confirms interest in Flybe

Stobart Group has address the recent speculation about a potential takeover of Flybe Group Plc by Stobart. In a stock exchange statement, Stobart Group said: “The…





Asda sales growth boosted by strong Christmas

Walmart said its Leeds-based subsidiary Asda chalked up its fourth consecutive “step on” in sales, reporting like-for-like sales growth of 0.5% in the fourth quarter to December…


Morrisons buys free range eggs firm Chippindale

Bradford-based supermarket group Morrisons said it has acquired Flaxby, North Yorkshire-based Chippindale Foods, a supplier of free range eggs. “The acquisition means that Morrisons will make…






Dorner completes Virgin Money female top team

Edinburgh and Newcastle-based Virgin Money has confirmed the appointment of former HSBC executive Irene Dorner as chair elect of the challenger bank. The appointment helps create the…








Revolution Bars names Rob Pitcher as new CEO

Manchester-based Revolution Bars Group plc announced the appointment of Rob Pitcher as its new chief executive Officer.   The joining date will be advised in due course. Pitcher has more…










SIG suspends staff after profit overstatement

Shares of Sheffield-based European building products distributor SIG plc fell 5% after it said it “identified a historical overstatement of profit relating to the year ended…



Cussons profit hit by margins in Europe and Africa

Manchester-based soaps and consumer products company PZ Cussons said its adjusted operating profit fell 10.3% to £37.5 million despite revenue rising 1.9% to £385.4 million in the six months to…




Conviviality shares sink 11% as profit falls

Shares of Crewe-based alcohol wholesaler and distributor Conviviality Plc — which owns Bargain Booze and Wine Rack — fell 11% on Monday after it said revenue for the 26 weeks…



Founder steps down at Durham’s Atom bank

Durham-based Atom bank, the UK’s first bank designed exclusively for mobile technology, said founder Anthony Thomson has announced his resignation as chair of Atom. Bridget…