News And Announcements
Boards pay lip service to governance, regulator says
The UK's corporate governance regulator said too many companies paid lip service to requirements on pay and diversity and that it was unhappy with boards' response to its improved code of standards.
G4S discloses information to GardaWorld in bid battle
G4S has agreed to provide its hostile suitor GardaWorld with details about the company after revealing the information to another unidentified potential bidder.
Pantheon secures rig contract for Talitha well
Oil and gas exploration company Pantheon Resources announced the execution of a rig contract with Nordic Calista Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calista Corporation, to drill the Talitha #A well on the Talitha Unit on Wednesday, with operations expected to begin in January.
GlobalData earnings rise even as events business struggles
Data and analytics company GlobalData updated the market on its trading for the year-to-date on Wednesday, reporting that revenue excluding events was up 5% year-on-year, driven by 7% growth in subscription revenue.
Shell UK narrows gender pay gap in 2020
Royal Dutch Shell’s female employees in Britain earned 18% less on average than their male colleagues in 2020, a pay gap that has narrowed since 2019.
ViacomCBS to sell Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House owner for $2.2bn
ViacomCBS confirmed on Wednesday that it has agreed to sell publishing business Simon & Schuster to Bertelsmann, the owner of Penguin Random House, for $2. 18bn in cash.
Ncondezi raises £0.75m for general working capital
Ncondezi Energy has raised £0. 75m before expenses through an oversubscribed placing, it announced on Wednesday, for general working capital purposes.
Sensyne Health signs five-year deal with NHS Hampshire Hospitals
Clinical artificial intelligence (AI) company Sensyne Health has signed a five year non-exclusive strategic research agreement with Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it announced on Wednesday.
Future to buy GoCo; FY results beat expectations
Media platform Future said on Wednesday that it has agreed to buy GoCo in a deal that values the GoCompare owner at 136p a share, as it reported a jump in full-year profit and revenue.
UK economy to shrink more than 11% this year, says Sunak
The UK economy is forecast to contract by a historic 11. 3% this year as government borrowing nears £400bn, the chancellor Rishi Sunak warned on Wednesday.
AEX Gold posts positive drilling results from Nalunaq
Greenland-focussed AEX Gold updated the market on its 2020 exploration drilling campaign at the Nalunaq property in South Greenland on Wednesday, reporting that the results were complementary to the drilling results reported on 21 October.
Petra Diamonds sells collection of 5 blue diamonds for $40.4m
Petra Diamonds said on Wednesday that it has sold the Letlapa Tala Collection of five blue diamonds for $40. 36m.
Sigma ups stake in the PRS REIT
Private rented sector, developer and urban regeneration specialist Sigma has acquired 1,500,000 ordinary shares in the PRS REIT, it announced on Wednesday, at an average price of 76p per share.
Xeros tech to be used in India denim-finishing machines
Clothing and fabric platform technologies company Xeros Technology Group announced on Wednesday that its Indian license partner Ramsons Garment Finishing Equipment has received an order for nine denim finishing machines incorporating Xeros' technologies.
IronRidge reports 'very positive' test results from Ewoyaa
Africa-focussed minerals exploration company IronRidge Resources reported additional “very positive” metallurgical test results from the Ewoyaa Lithium Project within the Cape Coast Lithium Portfolio in Ghana on Wednesday.
OPG collects £9.5m in contractual claims payments
OPG Power Ventures said on Wednesday that it has collected contractual claims payments from its customers under power purchase agreements, totalling £9. 5m.
Drumz upbeat on performance with Acuity investment
Drumz updated the market on its investment in Acuity Risk Management on Wednesday, a company in which it purchased a 20% share on 7 September, with an option to acquire a further 5%.
ScS names Steve Carson chief executive
ScS Group has appointed the former head of Holland & Barrett as its new chief executive, the furniture and floorings retailer confirmed on Wednesday.
G4S to resume divi payments in 2021; Rejects GardaWorld bid again
Private security firm G4S, currently fending off a £3bn takeover bid from smaller rival GardaWorld, said it planned to resume dividend payments next year and urged shareholders once again to reject overtures from its unwanted suitor.
Costs cuts pay off for de La Rue as profits soar
UK banknote and passport printer De La Rue reported a huge rise in first-half profit on Wednesday, driven by cost cuts under its turnaround plan and said it was in early talks with governments on Covid-19 immunity certificates.