(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Monday.
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FTSE 100 - WINNERS
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NMC Health, up 7.5%. The UAE-focused private healthcare confirmed it has received "highly preliminary approaches" from private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and GK Investment Holding Group, regarding possible offers. The Mail on Sunday had reported that US-based KKR had held talks with NMC Health senior executives in the past few weeks. GK Investment, which has made a separate approach to NMC Health, is a Switzerland-based investment company. NMC on Monday said no proposal has been made by either KKR or GK, and there have been no discussions as to the terms of any possible offer. Further, "there can be no certainty that any offer will be made," NMC added. Back in December, US short selling firm Muddy Waters Capital accused NMC of manipulating its balance sheet to understate debt, which the company firmly denied. "Taking the business private might be the best thing to happen to NMC as it has lost credibility with the market and it will take a lot to rebuild trust with investors," said AJ Bell's Russ Mould.
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FTSE 100 - LOSERS
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Whitbread, down 2.6%. Goldman Sachs downgraded the Premier Inn hotel chain owner to Sell from Neutral.
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OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS
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intu Properties, up 18%. The shopping centre operator confirmed plans to raise equity at the end of February when its 2019 financial results are released. intu made the statement after the Sunday Times, over the weekend, reported Asian property firm Link Real Estate Investment Trust was to "ride to the rescue" of intu. The company confirmed Link Real Estate, which is listed in Hong Kong, was part of the negotiations, which would see it become a new shareholder in intu. intu said talks with existing shareholders including Peel Group are "constructive". Peel Group, which owns 27% of intu, is owned by businessman John Whittaker. "The company will make further announcements in due course, as appropriate. There can be no certainty that the equity raise will be implemented nor as to the terms on which any such implementation might occur," said intu.
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Audioboom Group, up 10%. The on-demand audio and podcast distribution platform said it has hired Raine Advisors to advise on a strategic review of the company. Audioboom said Raine will provide advice in relation to a review of options which include partnerships, financial investment, business combinations and potentially the sale of the business. The company said that it is now in an offer period, adding that it has not yet received any acquisition offers.
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OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS
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Tandem Group, down 7.5%. The sports, leisure and mobility equipment distributor said its growth has slowed since the start of the new year, after a double-digit revenue increase in 2019, while the factories closures due to the coronavirus outbreak in China could crimp supplies. Tandem said revenue growth in the six months to the end of 2019 was 15% ahead of prior year. In the first half of 2019, the company reported 27% revenue growth year-on-year. Tandem said the slowdown was due to sustained wet weather in the UK during autumn, as well as economic uncertainties. As a result, Tandem said its revenue for entire 2019 increased by 20% on the prior year to GBP38.8 million, taking pretax profit "well ahead" of the prior year. Looking ahead, Tandem said 2020 has started more slowly, as some of its major clients have carried the prior year's stock forward into this year.
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By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com
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Whitbread (WTB)
Oneiro Energy (ONE)
Tandem Group (TND)