Member Info for mulledwine

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107130700062735K

Marks and Spencer grows share, remains cautious Date: Wednesday 13 Jul 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - High street bellwether Marks and Spencer battled through the second quarter of 2011, growing market share and delivering food sales growth that was ahead of expectations in some quarters. Group sales, excluding Value Added Tax (VAT), in the 13 weeks to 2 July were 3.2% higher than in the corresponding quarter of 2010. UK sales, excluding VAT, rose 2.7% year-on-year (yoy), with general merchandise sales up 0.3% and food sales 5.0% higher than a year earlier. Like-for-like (lfl) sales in the UK were flat on the general merchandise sales side, in line with the prediction made by broker Matrix Group, while food sales grew 3.3% on a lfl basis yoy, ahead of Matrix's forecast of 3.0% growth. "Marks & Spencer continued to grow market share in both clothing and food by offering our customers more choice, great value for money and leading innovation," claimed chief executive Marc Bolland. Clothing market share was up by one-fifth of a percentage point to 11.7%, marking 17 consecutive months of gains, Marks & Spencer (M&S) said. Food market share grew by one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.8%. The market share figures were sourced from market research group Kantar Worldpanel. M&S Direct sales were up 13% in the quarter while international sales grew 7.8%. The company said it expects trading conditions to remain challenging, as customers continue to count the pennies and rising commodity prices put pressure on margins. Company guidance for the current fiscal year's performance remains unchanged. -- jh

Marc Bolland, Chief Executive said: "Marks & Spencer continued to grow market share in both Clothing and Food by offering our customers more choice, great value for money and leading innovation. "Against the uncertain economic backdrop, we are focused on trading through the short term, while building for the long term growth of the business."

GOOD PERFORMANCE IN A CHALLENGING MARKET · Group sales ex VAT +3.2% · Total UK sales ex VAT +2.7%: General Merchandise +0.3%; Food +5.0% · Like for like UK sales ex VAT +1.7%: General Merchandise 0.0%; Food +3.3%

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107130700082989K

Interim Management Statement Topps Tiles Plc (the "Company"), the UK's largest tile and wood flooring specialist, reports on trading for the 13 weeks ended 2nd July 2011. At the half year results announced on 1st June 2011, we reported that for the first seven weeks trading of our third financial quarter overall Group revenues declined by 2.1% on a like-for-like basis. Trading during the remainder of the quarter has continued to be subdued with like-for-like revenues across the 13 weeks having declined by 1.9% (2010: down 1.2%). Over the same period total company revenues declined by 1.6% (2010: down 2.5%). We do not expect to see any material change to trading patterns over the final quarter of the financial year. The business will continue to focus on achieving the efficiencies necessary to drive improved gross margins which will help to offset some of the impact of the challenging environment. In the UK, we are currently trading from a total of 313 stores, and remain confident that we will achieve our year end target of 320. There have been no significant or unexpected changes in the financial position of the Group since the publication of the Interim Report for the half year ended 2 April 2011.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107130700062741K

Commenting on the acquisition, ITE's Chief Executive Officer, Russell Taylor, said: "TurkeyBuild Istanbul is the market leading building and construction exhibitions in Turkey. The addition of these three exhibitions to ITE's Turkish business is consistent with our strategy of building market leading positions in core markets and sectors. ITE has a strong portfolio of construction exhibitions and an established base of supportive international exhibitors. YEMF's events are already market leaders in Turkey but will benefit from access to ITE's international customer base and its market leading construction events in Russia and CIS."

13 July 2011 ITE Group plc Acquisition of 60% of YEM FUARCILIK A.Ş. strengthens ITE's leading position in the building materials and construction sectors ITE Group plc, the emerging and developing markets exhibitions specialist, today announces the acquisition by its wholly owned Turkish subsidiary, E Uluslararası Fuar Tanıtım Hizmetleri A.Ş(EUF), of 60% of the shares of YEM Fuarcilik a.ş ('YEMF') from a group of private shareholders led by Mr Ugur Muldur (collectively 'The Sellers'). The consideration of TL32.64m (£13.1m) is payable in cash on completion with a further payment of up to TL8m (£3.2m) payable nine months after completion, based on YEMF achieving performance targets in 2011. The remaining 40% of YEMF will continue to be held by Yapi-Endüstri Merkezi a.ş ('Yapi'), the leading provider of data and information services to the building materials and construction industries in Turkey. There are matching put and call options over the remaining 40% of the shares on agreed terms over a three/five year period. YEMF owns three Turkish exhibitions which serve the building materials and construction industries, one of ITE's core sectors. The principal event, TurkeyBuild, is held in Istanbul in April/May each year and is the leading construction event of its kind in Turkey. The 2011 version was the 34th edition of this successful event, sold more than 35,000m2 net and was attended by over 110,000 professional visitors. The other two exhibitions are held in Ankara and Izmir in September and October respectively. YEMF's events will benefit from ITE's international sales network and its leading events in the Russian and CIS building materials and construction markets. ITE will benefit from the continuing partnership with Yapi and its activities within the building materials and construction sectors. The operating profits of YEMF are circa TL7.5m (£3m) per annum. Gross assets of YEMF on completion are expected to be TL14.3m (£5.7m). This acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in ITE's 2012 financial year.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107130700062690K

Possible offer MWB Group Holdings Plc ("MWB") and the Independent Directors announce that they are in discussions about the possibility of MWB making a recommended offer for all of the issued and to be issued ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in the capital of Business Exchange not already held by MWB ("Business Exchange Shares"), such offer to be made either by way of a general offer or a court approved scheme of arrangement (the "Proposed Offer"). The consideration under the Proposed Offer is: 1.75 new MWB Units and 12.7 pence in cash per Business Exchange Share (the "Proposed Offer Price") which (based on the Closing Price of 38.5 pence per MWB Unit on 12 July 2011) amounts to 80.1 pence per Business Exchange Share. This values the entire existing issued ordinary share capital of Business Exchange at approximately £52.0 million (based on the Closing Price of 38.5 pence per MWB Unit on 12 July 2011). If MWB were to make the Proposed Offer now at the Proposed Offer Price, the Independent Directors would unanimously recommend the offer.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107130700082830K

Riddler - yes indeed and they bought between 105 - 109 - bang on yesterdays close - so current SP should eventually show some up.

More encouraging figures - not sure "todays" market will acknowledge them - one to consider buying, especially any drop again below a quid

Commenting on the stevia market update, Jason Hecker, Corporate Vice President Global Marketing for PureCircle said "The market data across all regions shows consistent strong growth in consumer awareness and demand for high purity stevia sweetened products. We believe this trend will continue and will accelerate with the forthcoming opening of the EU market."

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107130700072808K

Bruce Vandenberg, CEO commented: "While the second quarter sales performance was a little disappointing, we believe that this was primarily due to unseasonal weather conditions and the business remains capable of significant growth. Trading at our existing corporate stores is expected to pick up strongly in the autumn/winter which is historically our best trading period. We have also completed the conversion of the first Pizza Taxi store into a Domino's sub-franchise store and this store is now trading in line with expectations. We will be converting the other two stores over the next few months. In parallel, we will be focusing on developing our lunch time sales and internet business which we expect to show good growth in the second half of the year. Finally, we remain committed to our acquisitive growth strategy through the development of new sub-franchises, new brands and geographic expansion and are making progress in all these areas."

Drilling Update Rig 40 commences drilling on the Dzheitune (Lam) 13 platform Dragon Oil plc (Ticker: DGO), an international oil and gas exploration and production company, announces that the Group has recently refitted the previously stacked Rig 40 and commenced drilling on the Dzheitune (Lam) 13 platform. The rig has spudded the Dzheitune (Lam) development well 13/160, the first of four wells planned to be drilled from this platform. Two wells and one sidetrack are expected to be completed by the end of 2011 with the remaining two wells and another sidetrack to be completed in 2012. Later, the Rig 40 will be stacked pending consideration of options for its further use.

http://investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107130704232997K

Angela Ahrendts, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are pleased with Burberry's start to the year, with double-digit growth balanced across retail and wholesale and all regions and product categories. Our exceptional team continues to capitalise on our unique British and outerwear heritage, develop our global retail presence and employ innovative digital technology, specifically marketing to the younger luxury consumer. While mindful of global macro challenges and increasingly tough comparatives in the balance of the year, we remain confident in our strategies and will continue to invest to drive profitable growth."