REPEAT: Intertek and AEP rise on acquisition updates

Tue, 05th May 2026 10:32

(Alliance News) - The following are the leading risers and fallers among FTSE 100 and 250 index constituents on Tuesday.

----------

FTSE 100 winners

----------

Intertek Group PLC, up 8.1% at 5,192.00 pence, EQT Fund Management increases takeover bid

BT Group PLC, up 5.4% at 228.55p, Bank of America raises to 'buy'

Airtel Africa PLC, up 2.4% at 361.80p

Compass Group PLC, up 2.1% at 28.86p

Sage Group PLC, up 2.1% at 910.20p

----------

FTSE 100 losers

----------

HSBC Holdings PLC, down 5.8% at 1,281.00p, reports fall in pretax profit

Weir Group PLC, down 2.9% at 2,526.00p, Goldman Sachs cuts price target

Standard Chartered PLC, down 2.8% at 1,823.80p

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, down 2.8% at 95.46p

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, down 2.8% at 140.90p

----------

FTSE 250 winners

----------

AEP Plantations PLC, up 10% at 1,964.00 pence, acquisition of Indonesian agribusiness Pinago

Ceres Power Holdings PLC, up 9.7% at 698.78p, Goldman Sachs raises price target

NCC Group PLC, up 6.8% at 137.40p

Trustpilot Group PLC, up 3.7% at 269.80p

Oxford BioMedica PLC, up 3.3% at 612.80p

----------

FTSE 250 losers

----------

Chrysalis Investments Ltd, down 6.2% at 81.90p, net asset value decreases as restructuring progresses

Carnival PLC & Corp, down 4.5% at 1,889.50p

Hochschild Mining PLC, down 3.9% at 594.00p

Goodwin PLC, down 3.0% at 11,680.49p

Shawbrook Group PLC, down 2.9% at 319.50p

----------

FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus:

----------

Intertek Group PLC, up 8.1% at 5,192.00 pence, 12-month range 3,519.42p-5,270.00p. The London-based assurance, inspection, product testing and certification company says it is reviewing an increased indicative proposal of GBP58.00 per share for a potential takeover from EQT Fund Management. The new bid is 7.4% higher than an offer for GBP54.00 per share that Intertek had rejected in April. Under UK takeover rules, EQT has until May 14 to either announce a firm intention to make an offer or confirm that it does not intend to proceed. Intertek notes that the revised proposal is "unsolicited, indicative and conditional", advising shareholders to "take no action at this time".

----------

BT Group PLC, up 5.4% at 228.55p, 12-month range 159.80p-231.20p. Bank of America raises the telecommunications company to 'buy' from neutral, increasing the price target to 282p from 213p. Also, fellow telecommunications firm Vodafone announces the acquisition of all of UK mobile operator VodafoneThree in a buyout of joint venture partner CK Hutchison, for GBP4.3 billion in cash.

----------

HSBC Holdings PLC, down 5.8% at 1,281.00p, 12-month range 833.40p-1,410.60p. The Asia-focused, London-based universal bank reports quarterly results. Says pretax profit fell 1.1% to USD9.38 billion in the first quarter ended March 31 from USD9.48 billion a year earlier. Change in expected credit losses and other credit impairment charges surges 49% to USD1.30 billion from USD876 million. Diluted earnings per share rose 2.6% to USD0.40 from USD0.39, and HSBC maintains the period's dividend at USD0.10 per share. Net interest income rises 7.7% to USD8.95 billion from USD8.30 billion, while net fee income jumps 12% to USD3.72 billion from USD3.32 billion. HSBC's common equity tier one ratio is reduced to 14.0% from 14.7%, although the bank intends to maintain it within the medium-term target range of 14.0% to 14.5%. However, to reflect an improved interest rate outlook, HSBC now expects banking net interest income to reach around USD46 billion in full-year 2026, up from prior guidance of at least USD45 billion. It also says it is on track to deliver USD1.5 billion of annualised cost savings by the end of June, six months earlier than planned.

----------

AEP Plantations PLC, up 10% at 1,964.00p, 12-month range 764.00p-1,964.00p. The operator of sustainable palm-oil plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia announces the acquisition of approximately 98% of Indonesian agribusiness PT Pinago Utama Tbk, via its wholly owned subsidiary AEP Nusantara Holdings Ltd, for around USD162 million. Pinago is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, with operations located in South Sumatra. In 2025, it reported revenue of USD135 million, pretax profit of USD24.5 million and post-tax profit of USD18 million. AEP Plantations said the deal will be immediately earnings-enhancing and increase crude palm oil production by 25%. Under Indonesian regulations, AEP is required to make a mandatory tender offer for the rest of Pinago's share capital. This is expected to cost a maximum USD3 million.

----------

Chrysalis Investments Ltd, down 6.2% at 81.90p, 12-month range 79.50p-131.20p. The Guernsey-based, UK and Europe-focused investor confirms its decision to transition to a self-managed model, to execute an updated investment policy. Expects to complete this by the expiry of its investment adviser's notice period on August 20. Serves six months' notice, expiring on November 1, on its alternative investment fund manager G10 Capital Ltd. Says it remains confident that the self-managed approach provides the requisite risk control, portfolio management expertise, and transparency while delivering a material reduction in its ongoing cost base. Company's unaudited NAV per share decreases to 137.27p as at March 31, from 165.36p at December 31. Says the 17% fall largely reflects the performance of global equity markets over the period, with March 30 the year-to-date low for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices, which have since recovered by 17% and 11% respectively. "The operational performance of the portfolio is generally strong, particularly at Starling, Smart, and wefox," Chrysalis adds.

----------

By Emma Curzon, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Risers and Fallers Market News