Member Info for mulledwine

· Strong financial performance: - Revenue growth of 9% to £1.66 billion - Adjusted operating profit up 16% to £295 million with further margin improvement - 20% increase in adjusted basic earnings per share to 11.6 pence - 39% growth in adjusted free cash flow to £96 million · Good growth in total customers and products, up 77,000 and 683,000 respectively · Continued improvement in product mix with 2.9 million customers taking all three of TV, broadband and telephony, up by 29% · Strong customer loyalty despite pressure on consumers · Good quarter on-screen supporting growth in advertising and wholesale businesses · Excellent response to Sky Go; over 1.6 million customers in first three months

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201110190700174256Q

Outlook Macroeconomic uncertainty has increased in recent months although no significant deterioration has been experienced in GKN's order books. In Automotive, Driveline and Sinter Metals are expected to continue to deliver similar levels of underlying improvement over 2010 to that achieved in the third quarter, with trading in Hoeganaes continuing to improve. Land Systems sales are expected to be at similar levels to the third quarter. Aerospace is expected to continue its growth phase in the fourth quarter as activity levels increase on civil programmes. The Stromag and Getrag Driveline Products acquisitions are likely to have a small positive impact on fourth quarter profits. On the basis of current market conditions, we therefore expect the Group to continue to perform strongly through the fourth quarter. Overall we continue to expect 2011 to be a year of strong progress, with the Group well positioned for growth in 2012 and beyond.

Overview Market conditions have been broadly as expected at the time of GKN's Half Year Results announcement in August, notwithstanding a worsening macroeconomic outlook. Performance has remained strong through the seasonally weaker third quarter and order books support further progress in the fourth quarter. The acquisition of Stromag was completed on 5 September and the first month's trading was in line with our plan. The acquisition of Getrag Driveline Products was completed on 30 September. The Hoeganaes Gallatin plant returned to normal operations in September although pre-incident levels of output and profitability are currently planned for January 2012 as customer demand is fully restored. Remedial plant activities and external powder supply were extended from the original plan and the one-off charge to profits has now been finalised at £34 million, of which the remaining £11 million was charged in the third quarter. Insurance recovery discussions are underway.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201110190700134038Q

The latest gap down below the black 200 period moving average now at 1,889p becomes the second technical sell signal of the week so far, given the initial bull trap towards 2,000p to start Monday. The view at this stage is that while there is no end of day close back above the 200 period line we have the risk that BHP Billiton will at least fill the initial October gap to the upside at 1,788p, even if we have indeed seen the worst of the recent sell off. So reckons Zak Mir 18/10/2011

Terry Duddy, Chief Executive of Home Retail Group commented: "We are delighted to announce the launch of this international expansion for the Argos brand. Having co-operated with Haier over the last 18 months we are very excited by the opportunity that the combination of our expertise and Haier's capabilities and scale provide to take advantage of the growth potential in China." Yunjie Zhou, Chief Executive of Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd added: "We are very excited to be able to leverage the expertise in multi-channel, general merchandise retailing that Home Retail Group has developed. With the retail market in China growing strongly over the last few years, we believe that this new business will be well placed to benefit from its continued growth."

Argos announces Chinese joint venture Home Retail Group, the UK's leading home and general merchandise retailer, announces today that it has agreed to launch a joint venture company to develop a multi-channel, general merchandise retail business in China with Haier Group, one of the world's leading home appliance manufacturers. The Argos branded joint venture operation will launch in 2012, targeted at the Shanghai region. The long-term aim is to roll out a multi-channel offer to regions throughout China, leveraging the multi-channel expertise of Home Retail Group together with Haier's extensive distribution capability in China. Home Retail Group will have a 49% holding in the joint venture company and the remaining 51% will be held by Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd. The Board of Directors of the joint venture company will consist of five directors with three being appointed by Haier Group and two, including the position of Chief Executive, being appointed by Home Retail Group. It is anticipated that the joint venture will require a total investment of £45m, of which Home Retail Group will provide £22m, payable in three tranches over a two-year period, subject to the satisfaction of agreed performance conditions. The first tranche, payable by Home Retail Group in 2012, will amount to £10m.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201110190700174259Q

encouraging update

Bruce Vandenberg, CEO commented: "Our corporate sales growth in Q3 2010 was fantastic with a 26.6% like-for-like increase on the previous year. Beating that this year was always going to be a challenge and there is no doubt that trading during the summer was tough, particularly in August. Despite these conditions, we have managed to maintain sales levels in Q3 for our corporate stores and I am further encouraged by the strong sales growth in our stores in the East in October. We will be implementing a number of initiatives during Q4 to stimulate further growth in the West and I remain confident of a strong final quarter.

Trading Update: The total system sales - sales from Company-owned stores ("corporate sales") and sales by sub-franchisees - were up 2.6% on Q3 2010 at CHF 3.43m. For the year to 30 September 2011, total system sales were up 11.1% on the nine months to 30 September 2010. Attracting new franchise candidates to the business has been slower than originally expected. There have also been delays in the conversion of the second Pizza Taxi store and we now expect the conversion to begin in December 2011 on receipt of final approval from the local authority. Following a review, the Directors have decided not to convert the third Pizza Taxi store and have terminated the franchise agreement. However, growth through sub franchising remains a core focus for the Company and we continue to develop this area of the business. Overall, Q3 like-for-like corporate sales were fractionally down (0.6%) on Q3 2010 at CHF 3.27m. The difficult trading conditions, referred to in the previous update, continued over the summer and had a noticeable impact on the holiday period. In August, like for like corporate sales fell 9.5% on August 2010. However, this drop was largely offset by a 7.6% improvement in like-for-like sales July and September, despite being the hottest month in Switzerland for 100 years, showed a 0.4% improvement on September 2010. Internet sales continue to grow strongly with Q3 sales up 21.9% on Q3 2010, accounting for 25.1% of corporate sales in the quarter. On a geographical split, like-for-like corporate sales for Q3 in the West were down by 1.6% on the previous year (after showing a 25.4% in Q3 2010 against Q3 2009). Q3 like-for-like sales in the East were up by 1.0% on last year (after Q3 2010 showing a 29.3% increase on Q3 2009). Early indications for Q4 are that trading conditions in the West remain demanding as we continue to see the impact of the strong Swiss Franc on our sector of the Geneva economy. However, we are seeing strong growth in the East with double digit like-for-like corporate sales growth thus far in October. Overall, initial trading figures for early October are showing a 4% increase on like-for-like corporate sales on the same period in 2010.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201110190700174263Q

Commenting on the trial, Ken McMeikan, Chief Executive of Greggs said: "We are delighted to team up with Moto in the motorway services market. They are an excellent operator and I hope this will be the beginning of a long and successful relationship. Making Greggs even more accessible to consumers as they travel will, I hope, be welcomed by both existing and new customers of Greggs." Tim Moss, Chief Executive of Moto said: "We are delighted to be able to offer Greggs' famous quality and value brand to our customers. The brand fits within our leading portfolio of franchise partners and offers even more choice for consumers."

Greggs Enters Motorway Services Market Greggs has agreed a trial with Moto Hospitality Ltd ("Moto"), the leading UK motorway service provider, to open Greggs shops in motorway service locations. The trial is being undertaken in two Moto services and will be operated under a franchise agreement. The first of these will be in Lymm, Cheshire, planned to open in December. This will enable Greggs and Moto to assess the market for Greggs freshly baked food within motorway services and also the viability of a franchise operation, which is new for Greggs. The trial will run for 12 months and then a decision will be taken on whether to roll out to at least 30 locations across the Moto network.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201110190700194206Q

2011 Pre Close to be issued on 19th October 2011 Jelf Group plc Trading update Jelf, an independent consultancy which provides a broad range of insurance, financial services and employee benefit services to corporate and individuals, will announce its preliminary results for the year ended 30 September on 13 December 2011. The Board is able to provide the following trading update: The Group has traded well in the second half of the year and results are expected to be in line with market expectations, despite the continued economic downturn. Net debt has considerably reduced and, although the Board remains cautious about the economic outlook, it is appraising a number of investments aimed at generating future economic growth.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201110190700144134Q

Sean Finlay, Aurum's Chairman, said: "These are excellent drilling results from the initial two holes drilled by the Joint Venture and represent the best mineralised intervals to date on the El Facho structure. The Joint Venture is now planning a more expansive work programme at El Facho and I look forward to reporting on progress from this programme, and the initial work on the highly prospective Peralonso permit area, in due course".

Highlights - High grade intersection of 12 metres grading 3.4 grammes per tonne ("g/t") gold within an overall interval of 30 metres grading 1.6g/t gold from first hole (ORMP 10). - 10 metre intersection grading 2.1g/t gold and a 5 metre intersection grading 1.9 g/t gold from second hole (ORMP 11). - These assay results provide further strong evidence of a significant gold structure at the El Facho prospect. - Of the nine holes drilled by Ormonde at El Facho to date, including ORMP 10 and ORMP 11, eight have encountered gold mineralisation grading in excess of 1 g/t across multiple intersections. Prior to the recent drilling programme, historic drilling by Ormonde included an interval of 23 metres grading 1.1g/t gold (including a high-grade interval of one metre grading 16.6g/t gold), though recent results are clearly the best to date. - Further work will now be carried out at El Facho, and a short-hole drilling programme will also shortly commence at the highly prospective Peralonso permit area in Salamanca Province where previous trenching returned some interesting results including an interval of 5 metres grading 5.4g/t gold. - Aurum has fulfilled the terms of its initial commitments under the joint venture agreement and will now be progressing towards spending a minimum of €500,000 over the initial eighteen months of the joint venture to earn its majority interest in the permits that are the subject of the agreement with Ormonde.