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Nomura has maintained its buy stance and 1,530p target price on luxury brand Burberry, despite the negative market reaction on Tuesday, saying that the firm has reported a strong third quarter and brand momentum remains intact. The broker highlights the double-digit mainline comparable store sales growth in Asia and Europe with the Americas up high single digits. Nomura remains confident: "Burberry is well positioned to accelerate investment and space growth, while defending comp store sales through product development, flagship market investment and innovative marketing."

Workers producing Hellmann’s mayonnaise, Colman’s English mustard and Flora spreads are to walk out of Unilever facilities at first light tomorrow on the first of 11 days of rolling strikes. They will be joined on the day by boffins at Unilever’s molecular science facility deep in the Bedfordshire countryside and by IT workers on Deeside, as five of the group’s twelve British facilities face significant disruption, The Times writes

Everywhere I turn just now someone is wearing a GFS logo ! they have fingers in many pies - assuming the management does their job well then I see this doing very well when growth returns to the Economies around the world

Espirito Santo downgrades G4S from buy to neutral, target price cut from 315p to 290p.

Liberum Capital initiates buy Great Portland Estates, target price 374p.

Liberum Capital initiates buy British Land, target price 507p.

Tim Howkins, Chief Executive, commented: "IG has again delivered record results with strong growth in both revenue and profits. Our significant investment in technology and strong financial position support our increasing market lead and we remain well positioned to deliver further profitable growth. I remain confident about the outlook for the business."

IG Group Holdings plc ("IG" or "the Group") today announces interim results for the six month period ended 30 November 2011. Operating Highlights · Net trading revenue1 up 28% at £195.5 million · Profit before tax1, 3 up 28% to £103.2 million · Diluted EPS1, 3 up 31% at 20.68p · Interim dividend of 5.75p per share (up 9.5%) · Well capitalised debt-free balance sheet · Continued strong growth in active client numbers and revenue per client

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201201170700166579V

The Times’s Tempus column casts its eye over the home builder Bovis. Despite house prices remaining relatively flat the company has seen its sales price increase by 4.5% as a result of a focus on the south east. Bovis managed to build 2,045 homes last year, up 8% on 2010. Profits are predicted to rise from £19m to £31m in 2011 and £48m in 2012. Tempus thinks this is “healthy enough” but at this stage will only go as far as “hold”. The Telegraph’s Questor also sizes up Bovis. It points out the main focus for the company is its return on capital employed (ROCE) figure, which is essentially investment versus earnings. Bovies achieved 5% ROCE in 2011, and may push that up to more than 7%. Given the economic climate, Questor gives the firm some credit for this. With the UK government agreeing to new measures to stimulate the mortgage market and the bald fact that Britain doesn’t have enough housing helping all house builders, Questor says Bovis is a buy.

Rodney Baker-Bates, non-executive Chairman of Stobart, commented: "This portfolio will both diversify and strengthen our existing property portfolio. We have the management capability within the Group to improve both the income and capital performance. It will provide positive cash flow, gives a return above our current cost of capital, and offers substantial capital upside potential. The transaction brings with it an attractive fixed rate debt package which will benefit the whole Group up to 2017, as well as potential tax advantages given the current mix of earnings and assets." Paul Orchard-Lisle, a non-executive director of Stobart and Chairman of Stobart Estates, added: "We know the Moneypenny portfolio intimately and we are satisfied that apart from the attractive income stream, there are significant opportunities where astute asset management and development expertise should deliver very worthwhile capital gains."

CONT The Properties are currently divided into 56 lettable areas, 2 of which the Group occupies and 6 are currently vacant. The majority of the properties are located in the South East. · WADI Properties has net debt of £88.85m. Of the net debt, £74.9m is at the fixed rate of 5% with the balance at a floating rate of 1% over 3-month LIBOR. The banking facility will continue in place following completion and has a maturity date of April 2017. The acquisition is conditional on the completion of amendments to the facilities agreements on terms satisfactory to Stobart. · The fixed assets which are the subject of the transaction were, at 31 August 2011, (being the WADI Properties year end date) £106.1m and the gross assets were £108.9m. The transaction will increase profit before taxation by £2.3m per annum, enhance the Group's earnings per share and generate free cash flow in excess of £2.0m per annum, net of interest and other costs. · The portfolio is anticipated to generate a return in excess of 10% per annum, including a forecast investment in certain of the properties of up to £13.5m. There are also likely to be significant potential tax losses available for use if gains are made on disposals of all or some of the properties. · The vendor is a company controlled by Stobart's CEO and main board director, Andrew Tinkler, and COO, William Stobart. Andrew Tinkler is also a substantial shareholder in Stobart. Ben Whawell, Stobart's Finance Director and main board director, and Richard Butcher, Deputy CEO and CEO of Stobart Estates, are also directors of the vendor and WADI Properties. Ben Whawell, along with Andrew Tinkler, did not participate in the board decision to proceed with the proposed transaction. · The Acquisition is considered to be a related party transaction. Consequently, the Acquisition is conditional on the approval of Stobart shareholders. Further details of the Acquisition and a notice convening a general meeting, inter alia, to approve the Acquisition will be sent to Stobart shareholders shortly. · This proposed investment of £12.35m continues the implementation of the Group's strategy to deploy the £119.90m raised in last year's Placing to support growth across its five divisions. · In trading, overall the Group expects to meet expectations with some Divisions performing ahead and some slightly below expectations. The board remains confident of delivering the strategic plan and in the medium and long term future of the Group. The full trading update is shown below.

Group trading in line with full year expectations Stobart Estates, a division of Stobart Group, through its wholly owned subsidiary Hamsard 3213 Limited, announces that it has entered into a conditional agreement with W.A. Developments International ("the vendor") to acquire the entire issued share capital of WADI Properties Limited ("WADI Properties") for a total consideration of £12.35m. Stobart Group also reaffirms that it expects to meet current full year expectations for the year to 29 February 2012. Key points: · Stobart Estates has conditionally agreed to acquire the entire issued share capital of WADI Properties Limited ("WADI Properties") from the vendor for £12.35m. WADI Properties is the holding company of 18 freehold and long leasehold properties - known as the 'Moneypenny' portfolio. This is an acquisition outlined at the time of last year's Placing. · The consideration is £5.15m in cash with the remaining £7.20m to be satisfied through the issue to the vendor of new Stobart Ordinary Shares on completion, based on the average middle market closing price for a Stobart ordinary share on the five business days prior to completion. · The total enterprise value for the Acquisition is £101.2m, excluding the banking facility fee of £2.8m. The Directors believe the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the acquired business will be in excess of the price to be paid. · The portfolio, which comprises a mix of UK industrial, commercial, retail and residential properties, has been valued by Knight Frank, in accordance with The RICS Valuation Standards ("The Red Book"), to have a gross market value of £98.93m as at 30 November 2011.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201201170700166574V

Between the years ending 31 December 2006 and 31 December 2010, Etol Group's sales turnover grew by 46%. During the years ending 31 December 2009 and 31 December 2010, the Etol Group's sales turnover grew by 7% of its consolidated revenues of approximately €42.9 million (US$59.9 million) to revenues of approximately €46.0 million (US$61.1 million), respectively. During the nine months ending September 30, 2011, the Etol Group's sales turnover grew by 7% as compared to the same period in 2010, reaching €38.6 million (US$54.3 million). The EBITDA in 2009 stood at approximately €8.2 million ($11.4 million), and in 2010 at approximately €8.4 million ($11.1 million), neutralizing one-time expense of approximately €1.6 million (€6.8 million before neutralizing the one-time expense). The consolidated equity capital of Etol Group as of September 30, 2011 stood at approximately €28.9 million (approximately $39.3 million). Etol's financial reports are compiled under IFRS standards.

Nature of the Event: Acquisition of Flavors Company in Slovenia Frutarom Industries Ltd. ("Frutarom" or the "Company") hereby announces that yesterday it signed an agreement to acquire approximately 56% of the share capital of the Slovenian public company ETOL Tovarna arom in eteričnih olj d.d. ("Etol"). The acquisition was performed outside the Slovenian stock exchange in return for an overall sum of Euro 19,643,444. The Company intends to make a bid on the Slovenian stock market for the purchase of the remaining shares in the coming weeks. If the bid is accepted in full, Frutarom will own all of Etol's share capital....................................................

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201201170719106747V

Peter Hepburn-Brown, Managing Director of Medusa commented: "It is pleasing that drilling continues to provide positive results in and around the existing resource which allows us to progress to infill drilling and to upgrade the resource category to predominantly Indicated, which will then be used for reserves modelling later in the year. We have seven rigs in the area and it is our intention to continue drilling throughout this year."

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201201170715016737V

Angela Ahrendts, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Burberry has delivered another strong performance, with a 21% increase in revenue in this important third quarter. Our investment in flagship markets and digital technology has enabled our global teams to continue to drive customer engagement, enhance retail disciplines and improve operational effectiveness, further strengthening brand momentum. Looking ahead, we remain focused on executing our proven core strategies to achieve long-term sustainable growth, while staying mindful of the challenging macro environment."