Company News
Homeserve surges as it hikes dividend 20%, FY profit rises
FTSE 250 home repair and improvements business Homeserve surged on Tuesday as it posted a jump in full-year pre-tax profit and hiked its dividend for the year by 20%.
UDG Healthcare lifts earnings guidance after decent first half
International healthcare services provider UDG Healthcare announced its interim results for the six months to 31 March on Tuesday, with diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increasing by 19%, or 29% on a constant currency basis, which the board said was aided by acquisitions and other timing benefits during the first half of the financial year.
Weaker sterling helps push AVEVA revenue higher
Engineering data and IT system design provider AVEVA Group posted its preliminary results for the year to 31 March on Tuesday, with revenue up 7. 1% to £215. 8m, which the board said was assisted by currency translation.
Electrocomponents FY profits sparked by currency boost, market share growth
Distribution firm Electrocomponents said full year reported profit before tax quadrupled to £127. 1m as it profited from a currency tailwinds and made market share gains in Northern Europe and North America.
NEX restructures Optimisation to 'better serve' clients
NEX Optimisation, the division of NEX Group which helps clients reduce complexity and optimise resources across the transaction lifecycle, announced on Tuesday that it has restructured to organise the business “in a way that clients want to consume services and address their own financial, regulatory and operational challenges”.
Fresnillo board confident as investors gather for AGM
Investors in Fresnillo were gathering in London for the company’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, with Alberto Baillères set to update them on the firm’s progress amid a period of volatile metals prices.
Severn Trent turns up dividend tap after finding new efficiencies
Water supplier Severn Trent declared another chunky dividend and said it planned an enhanced payout for the next three years after spying further efficiencies in the business.
AstraZeneca diabetes trial meets safety objective
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday that its Bydureon EXSCEL trial met its primary safety objective in type 2 diabetes patients at a wide range of cardiovascular risk.
Cranswick FY profit, revenue rise as exports grow
FTSE 250 meat supplier Cranswick posted a jump in full-year profit as it hailed a year of "strong financial and strategic progress".
Paragon capital levels 'strong' as underlying earnings rise marginally
Specialist lender and banking group, the Paragon Group of Companies, announced its half year results for the six months to 31 March on Tuesday, with underlying profit increasing 1. 0% to £70. 1m, as the company absorbed £5. 5m of Tier 2 bond costs.
IP Group makes offer for Touchstone Innovations; rejected by board
Intellectual property-based business developer IP Group said it had made an offer for Touchstone Innovations and was also planning to raise £200m in a cash call.
Peacock acquisition boosts Greencore revenues
Irish convenience food group Greencore reported a rise in first-half pre-tax profit as revenue grew thanks in part to its acquisition of US food company Peacock Foods.
Syncona says Blue Earth's Axumin gets EU approval
Heathcare investor Syncona said its portfolio company Blue Earth Diagnostics had received confirmation of approval of its Axumin prostate cancer diagnostic agent by the European Commission.