Member Info for mulledwine

Duncan Howorth, CEO, JLT UK Employee Benefits, said "This acquisition brings together two employee benefits businesses with highly complementary client offerings that share a similar culture and level of ambition. As a combined business we will have a stronger UK geographical footprint and AFCA will boost JLT's Health and Wellness, Risk, Annuity and Investment propositions. AFCA's employees will add to JLT's depth of expertise in several key disciplines and are a very welcome addition to the Group." Mark Wood, Chairman, JLT UK Employee Benefits, said "We see increased opportunities for JLT's market leading online offerings and our combined clients will benefit from the enhanced auto-enrolment technology and consultancy solutions, stronger administration capabilities and broader range of Wealth Management services that we will now be able to offer to them. Together, these will help underpin the next phase of our growth in the UK." AFCA provides a comprehensive range of employee benefits and services to trustees and employers and is part of the Alexander Forbes Group, an international financial services organisation. It employs over 300 people in the UK and has offices in Croydon, Edinburgh, London, Solihull, Manchester and Southampton. The business generated £27.8m of revenue in the year to 31 March 2012. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

JLT acquires Alexander Forbes Consultants & Actuaries Limited 5th October 2012, London: Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (JLT) is today pleased to announce the acquisition of Alexander Forbes Consultants & Actuaries Limited (AFCA) for a cash consideration of £17m, subject to regulatory approval. AFCA will become part of JLT's Employee Benefits (EB) business, strengthening its leading market position and adding to its expertise and capabilities, particularly in the Health and Wellness, Risk, Annuity and Investment areas. This move further enhances JLT's ability to respond to the changing demands of the UK employee benefits market and to drive the sustained growth of its EB business.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201210050830019717N

ean-Paul Van Avermaet, CEO, G4S Belgium and G4S Luxembourg, said: "The acquisitions support our plans to expand our security offering with the fire, health and safety services, and training solutions sectors and further underlines the Group's vision to become the recognised global leader for security solutions."

G4S strengthens Belgian portfolio with key acquisitions G4S, the world's leading international secure outsourcing group, has today announced the acquisition of two companies from the ASC-Group, an integrated Belgium-based safety solutions business. The companies (ASC NV and ASC Safety Services BVBA) provide services including; expert fire and safety personnel; health and safety training; and the rental, sale and maintenance of safety equipment to Belgian businesses and industry. This acquisition will enable G4S Belgium to diversify and broaden its reach into the higher growth and higher margin niche safety market, supporting the company's growth ambitions. Growth in the traditional security market in Belgium is limited due to mature market conditions. G4S Secure Solutions NV in Belgium is paying approximately £2.975m (€3.7m) in cash to ASC-Group's owners Haann BVBA, Mr Hans Buitendijk and Ms Ann Van Durme for 100% of the two acquired businesses. The ASC-Group was founded in 1994 by its current CEO, Mr Hans Buitendijk and has since become the second largest company in Belgium in the area of fire and safety.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20121005090016H6847

John Beresford, Development Director at Grainger plc, said: "When we first met Bloor Homes they stood out as an organisation which clearly understood the scheme and was very understanding of the long term nature of the Berewood development and how Grainger wants to create a fantastic place to live. When they were shortlisted I visited a few of their current schemes and was impressed with the high quality of the developments. I am very excited to see the first homes be created at this wonderful new community." Adrian Bloor, Southern Regional Chairman at Bloor Homes, said: "Bloor Homes are delighted to have been selected by Grainger Plc to deliver the first phase of this exciting Berewood neighbourhood development. What particularly attracted our company to the project was the high quality of design and the attention to detail in the implementation of the infrastructure. Combined, these two qualities will create a premium environment which complements the Bloor Homes brand."

The scheme, built and designed for long term success, comes at the same time that Grainger celebrates its 100th year birthday and as Grainger applies to set up its own affordable housing provider ("Registered Provider") in order to own and manage the affordable housing at Berewood for the long term. Throughout the competitive tender process, Bloor Homes demonstrated that it would be an excellent development partner for Grainger because it fully understands the long term vision Grainger has for Berewood. Furthermore, it has also successfully delivered other schemes designed by Robert Adam. Grainger is looking forward to working with Bloor Homes over the next two years to implement what is a very important stage of the Berewood development. The scheme received outline planning consent late in 2011 along with detailed planning consent for this first phase.

- Grainger plc has sold the first phase of its Berewood scheme in Hampshire to Bloor Homes, a site with planning consent for 194 new homes - Grainger today announces that it has sold the first phase of its Berewood housing scheme to Bloor Homes, an 11.2 acre site with planning consent for 194 new homes (of which 77 are affordable). Bloor Homes will begin construction in November, with the first homes expected to be completed in Spring 2013. The end gross development value ("GDV") for Bloor Homes is anticipated to be in the region of £35m. The sale is in line with Grainger's strategy for Berewood, the major housing development in Hampshire, which is to sell phases of consented land to housebuilders after first installing infrastructure, such as roads and utilities. This is the first phase of thirteen at the Berewood development, which in total comprises 168 developable acres. Grainger's Berewood scheme, located in Waterlooville, Hampshire, will see 2,550 new homes, two new schools, offices, retail, and two new pubs built over a 10 to 15 year period. The scheme, masterplanned by Savills and with phase one designed by Robert Adam of ADAM Architecture, is in tune with the garden city concept, where well-designed homes, green space and community facilities dominate the masterplan.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201210050700059821N

many such companies are affected by strikes just now. Might be worth a buy on the assumption they will sort it out and return to 'normal' SP

Alistair Darling has made a forceful intervention in the plans by EADS to combine with BAE Systems, saying British interests were bound to suffer because the UK government would have no equity stake in the enlarged group. The former chancellor of the exchequer told the Financial Times he saw the logic for a new European civil aerospace and defence giant to compete with Boeing of the US. But he said it was “totally unacceptable” that the French and German governments were pushing to have equity stakes while Britain would not.

Valuation: Recovery in earnings momentum Allocate now trades at a 2013 P/E of 12.3x, falling to 11.2x in 2014, a 10% plus discount to its closest peers. The 2012 EV/sales ratio of 1.2x is very low for a software company, highlighting the potential should Allocate deliver on its 20% longer-term margin target (vs 14.1% forecast for 2013). More concrete evidence of a subscription lead recovery sales growth is now key for more significant margin expansion to become priced in.

http://www.edisoninvestmentresearch.co.uk/researchreports/Allocate041012update.pdf

Bid situation: Awaiting developments On 1 October, Sportingbet confirmed that it had received an indicative offer from William Hill and GVC Holdings of 52.5p (45p in cash from William Hill and 7.5p of shares in GVC). The Sportingbet board responded that “this indicative offer significantly undervalues the business and its future prospects”. William Hill and GVC have until 16 October to announce a firm intention to make an offer or announce that they do not intend to make an offer (unless the deadline is extended by the Panel).

http://www.edisoninvestmentresearch.co.uk/researchreports/SBT041012update.pdf

Meanwhile, the Questor team at The Independent has labelled recruitment group Robert Walters as a 'hold', after the firm said yesterday that the global economic backdrop is taking its toll on the industry with trading conditions tough in the UK, Europe and the Americas.

Tempus also believes Norcros, the tile and shower maker, is best avoided. Its market value is just £70m, while its pension fund has assets of £360m, and a deficit of £36m at the last valuation in March 2009. For years to come, its fortunes will be tied to its ability to meet pension promises made to 10,200 employees, most of them long since retired.

The Times' Tempus column says it is time to take some profits in chemicals company Victrex. The high-peformance plastics maker yesterday confirmed that it has started construction on a new plant that will double its capacity to produce PEEK, a polymer used in planes, trains and cars, as well as oil rigs and artificial hips. Although recent demand trends are encouraging, the shares have risen more than five-fold over the past ten years. Moreover, demand is volatile depending on economic sentiment.

A lot of pressure on the board to secure new financing - wont be easy but as its an important part of the Scottish economy I hope the Scottish Exec are assisting in putting ATHs case forward.