Member Info for mulledwine

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201203140700162920Z

Commenting, Ralph Findlay, Chief Executive Officer, said: "We expect the consumer backdrop to remain weak in 2012, but with potential for better trading periods around Euro 2012 and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Our clearly defined strategy, underpinned by our continued focus on value, service and quality has ensured a resilient performance. We remain well positioned to make progress towards our key objectives of sustainable growth, improved return on capital and reduced leverage."

Trading Our trading performance has remained resilient, reflecting the continuing appeal of value, service and quality in attractive pubs. After a good Christmas and New Year, market conditions have, as anticipated, been somewhat more subdued against stronger prior year comparatives which benefited in part from milder weather. Profitability continues to be in line with our expectations and we continue to make good progress in each of our trading divisions. In our managed pubs, like-for-like sales for the 23 week period were 3.5% ahead of last year, including like-for-like food sales growth of 3.9% and like-for-like wet sales growth of 3.4%. Operating margin is in line with last year and our plan to build around 25 pub-restaurants in the current financial year remains on track. In tenanted and franchised pubs, underlying profits continue to increase with profits estimated to be 3% ahead of last year. Our performance reflects the successful rollout of Retail Agreements in our franchise estate, now in around 400 pubs, and robust trading in the traditional tenanted estate. Our own brewed beer volumes are up 2% versus last year. Our focus on localness and premium ale continues to drive growth, with premium cask ale up 2% and bottled ale up 10% in the period. Net debt and cash flow are in line with our expectations.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201203140700152902Z

Adrian Hutchings, Chief Executive Officer, said "Unit verification of the production engineered appliance marks another important step in the process of commercialising the Kingston boiler and establishing our new Energy Supply Business, Kingston Energy. We believe that with ever increasing fuel bills, strong demand for greener and cleaner energy, and increased regulatory support for microCHP products the prospects for our Kingston microCHP boiler are stronger than ever."

Unit verification for Kingston microCHP Delta unit Energetix Group plc, (AIM: EGX), which develops and commercialises alternative and efficient energy products, announces that its subsidiary Energetix Genlec Limited ("the Company") has received Unit Verification from the British Standards Institution for the first of its Kingston microCHP Delta production engineered units. Unit Verification is an important step towards Batch Verification for the targeted batch of 45 units to be installed and tested as part of the forthcoming trial of the new Kingston boiler which will be the centrepiece of a new dual fuel Energy Supply Company, called Kingston Energy. The Kingston microCHP boiler will be able to generate a proportion of the household's electricity needs in the home which should enable Kingston Energy to achieve a higher profit from each customer than for a typical energy supplier. The Directors believe the Kingston Energy proposition is unique and represents a substantial opportunity to use the Kingston boiler appliance to become a major energy supplier. As previously announced the Group has agreed to work with Calor Gas on a liquefied petroleum gas version and with Carillion Energy Services Limited on the installation and testing of the Kingston Boiler. Energetix also announced on 5 March 2012 that it had entered into an agreement with ScottishPower to trial the Kingston microCHP boiler.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201203140700152896Z

Commenting on this announcement, Stephen Marks, Chairman and Chief Executive of French Connection said: During the past year our wholesale, international and licensing businesses have performed well, however, in the most difficult Winter season I have seen in all the years I have been in business, our UK retail division has been very disappointing and this has had a significant effect on our results for the year. The French Connection brand has demonstrated its core strength through some good performances globally. The UK/Europe wholesale channel achieved a 17% increase in revenue over last year and we are pleased to have generated an operating profit of £3.3 million in North America, a significant improvement over previous years. Our licensees in Asia and Australia continue to perform well and our Joint Ventures in Hong Kong and China have both achieved strong growth in like-for-like sales. We will see further expansion of our international operations in the coming year. Further, brand licensing income grew strongly, increasing by 47% to £8.5 million from £5.8 million last year. In the light of the performance of the UK retail division we are reviewing our retail operations in order to improve sales and margin in this core business. We are very aware that there will be no quick solutions and that changes we make will take time to have an impact. We are working very hard on improving the performance of the retail stores, although clearly the state of the UK economy is not helping the position. We have demonstrated our ability to produce fashionable, wearable products over the last 40 years and will continue to do so. With the help of the review of operations, a strong balance sheet and our global brand, we will return the business to the level of profitability we feel the Group deserves.

David Parry, a Director of Enegi, commented: "The strategic partnership with ABT opens up an asset class that we believe has significant potential. As these are discovered fields a great deal of the exploration risks have already been eliminated and, with the right technology, we believe that significant value can be unlocked in a relatively short time when compared to conventional exploration and development. As such, we believe this is a very exciting development that fits well with the Company's existing opportunities and strategy. These are interesting times for the Company as we continue to execute our strategy of reducing risk concentration and look to establish ourselves as a major international oil and gas company."

Commenting on the Proposed Acquisition, David Radcliffe, Chief Executive Officer of HRG, said: "We are delighted to announce the acquisition of the minority interest in Spendvision. Since our original investment in 2004, the Spendvision team has worked hard to develop the company into a leading innovator in end-to-end expense management. "Our experience shows a clear trend towards more closely integrated payment and expense management solutions that provide greater control with more efficient processes. The acquisition of Spendvision strengthens HRG's integrated, end-to-end proposition to clients and means we are well positioned to continue to take advantage of this trend." "As we move towards the end of our financial year, HRG has continued to trade in line with our expectations. We remain confident about the long-term prospects for HRG and look forward to the future benefits from this acquisition."

Hogg Robinson Group plc, the international corporate travel services company, announces that its indirect subsidiary, Hogg Robinson plc, has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire, subject to shareholder approval, the 42 per cent. interest in Spendvision which it does not already own for a total consideration of £13,440,000 (the "Proposed Acquisition"). The Proposed Acquisition is expected to complete on 30 March 2012, conditional on shareholder approval at a General Meeting of Shareholders to be convened for 30 March 2012. Highlights · Spendvision is a leading innovator in the development and support of transaction management solutions, including end-to-end expense management and payables automation. · HRG's strategy is to provide a broader range of integrated products to its corporate clients linked to its own proprietary technology. · The Directors believe that the Proposed Acquisition provides a timely opportunity to strengthen the HRG's product offering and end-to-end services proposition. · Following completion of the Proposed Acquisition, the Group will have full operational control of Spendvision bringing a number of operational and financial benefits to the Group. · The Consideration will be satisfied by £8,464,000 in cash from existing resources and 8,188,252 new Shares in the Company to the value of £4,976,000. The Vendors are also entitled to a cash payment of £1,956,000 on completion under pre-existing agreements resulting from earlier sales of shares held by them in Spendvision. · The Proposed Acquisition is expected to be earnings neutral in the year ending 31 March 2013 and marginally earnings enhancing in the year ending 31 March 2014, excluding the benefit of any cost or revenue synergies. · The Board, which has been so advised by its financial adviser, Collins Stewart, considers the terms of the Proposed Acquisition to be fair and reasonable so far as Shareholders are concerned. In giving advice to the Board, Collins Stewart has taken into account the Board's commercial assessments. The Board also consider that the Proposed Acquisition is in the best interests of Shareholders as a whole. · Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommend that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolution as the Board intend to do in respect of their beneficial holdings, amounting, in aggregate, to 4,893,349 Shares representing approximately 1.58 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company at the date of this announcement. · The Company has also received irrevocable undertakings and letters of intent from Shareholders to vote in favour of the Resolution at the General Meeting in respect of a further 209,504,743 Shares in aggregate, representing approximately 67.65 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company at the date of this announcement (as more fully described

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201203140709192993Z

Berong Update Toledo is pleased to announce that the shipping window for 2012 is now open. Furthermore, the MV Jin Rong has now sailed for China with approximately 48,700 wet metric tonnes ("wmt") of nickel ore representing this year's first shipment of high grade material from the Berong mine. Further updates regarding shipments will be provided on a quarterly basis going forward. For further information, please visit www.toledomining.com or contact:

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201203140730012929Z

Tim Breedon, Group Chief Executive, said: "Legal & General had a strong 2011. All four of our operating business divisions - Risk, Savings, Investment management and International - delivered increased sales, cash generation and profits. Our balance sheet is strong, and our outlook for 2012 positive. Following the combination of growth and strong cash generation the Board is recommending a full year dividend of 6.40p per share - a 35% increase. At this enhanced level, the dividend is 2.25 times covered by net cash generation. Legal & General has significant scale: seven million customers and assets under management of over £370bn. Our broad product range, diversified distribution and ability to deliver will enable us to grow the business, further enhance shareholder value, and take advantage of the opportunities created in a fast-changing market."

LEGAL & GENERAL DELIVERS STRONG RESULTS, DIVIDEND UP 35% · FULL YEAR DIVIDEND UP 35% TO 6.40P PER SHARE (2010: 4.75P PER SHARE) · OPERATIONAL CASH GENERATION UP 12% TO £940M (2010: £840M) NET CASH GENERATION UP 11% TO £846M (2010: £760M) · WORLDWIDE SALES UP 7% TO £1.9BN APE (2010: £1.8BN APE) · OPERATING PROFIT £1,056M (2010: £1,002M) IFRS PROFIT BEFORE TAX £956M (2010: £1,092M) · EEV OPERATING PROFIT £1,469M (2010: £1,224M) EEV PER SHARE UP 11% TO 147P (2010: 132P) · IGD SURPLUS UP TO £3.8BN AFTER DIVIDEND (2010: £3.7BN) · IFRS RETURN ON EQUITY 14.5% (2010: 18.2%)

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201203140700172947Z

So this should continue its rise today - although of late any good news has brought a Company SP down - but if there is any justice this will be a good blue day

Adrian Whitfield, Chief Executive, comments: "2011 was a pivotal year in the development of the Yule Catto Group. With the increased scale created by the PolymerLatex acquisition, and the subsequent sale of our Pharma business, Yule Catto has now become a substantial focused speciality Polymer business with a strong and diversified portfolio of products and well invested facilities in Europe and Asia. "Whilst the general economic environment requires a degree of caution, I am pleased that the business has made a solid start to the year, and the Board remains confident about the prospects for the Group in 2012 and beyond."

Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 December 2011 VERY STRONG RESULTS AND TRANSFORMATION INTO A FOCUSED SPECIALITY POLYMER BUSINESS FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (excluding the divested Pharma business) · Underlying Group sales up 92% to £1,117 million, mainly due to the PolymerLatex acquisition - up 18% to £1,269 million on an underlying pro-forma basis* · Underlying profit before tax up 99% to £84.8 million# - up 25% to £96.0 million on an underlying pro-forma basis*# · Underlying earnings per share up 30% at 18.8p · Net borrowings of £164.3 million, reduced by over £70 million since PolymerLatex acquisition · Net cash inflow from operating activities (IFRS) up 85% to £45.0 million · Final dividend of 2.3p per share giving a full year dividend of 3.5p, up 35% *including results of PolymerLatex for 2010 and 2011 in full with an allowance for finance costs # excludes the divested Pharma business that made £4.1 million underlying operating profit; including Pharma underlying pro-forma PBT would be £100.1 million whilst underlying reported PBT would be £88.9 million OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS · PolymerLatex acquisition completed in March, effectively doubling the size of the business · Integration is well on track, with synergy run rate of £15 million at the year end; synergy run rate now expected to reach £25 million by March 2013 · Disposal of non-core Pharma business in November marked the last stage in the Group's transformation to a focused speciality Polymer business · Continued strength in Asia and Rest of World, with pro-forma operating profit up 29% · Europe and North America profitability strongly ahead · Acquisition of Quality Polymer in October increased our South East Asian dispersions capacity and improved market share · 70,000 tonne expansion of Nitrile latex plant in Pasir Gudang (Malaysia) now under construction, on stream Q4 2012 · Innovation pipeline continues to underpin our leading market positions