UK's Reeves to announce small business growth support in final speech
12th Jul 2026 07:40
(Alliance News) - Rachel Reeves is to announce plans to help small businesses grow, in what is likely to be one of her last acts as chancellor. Read More
(Alliance News) - Rachel Reeves is to announce plans to help small businesses grow, in what is likely to be one of her last acts as chancellor. Read More
(Alliance News) - The chancellor's decision to raise employers' national insurance is costing the average business more than GBP1,000 per worker every year, figures show. Read More
(Alliance News) - The UK government should look at increasing universal credit for 66-year-olds to prevent financial hardship stemming from the "lottery of life" as the state pension age rises to 67, according to a committee of MPs. Read More
Babcock International Group PLC - London-based aerospace, defence and nuclear engineering - Announces the issue of GBP250 million of five-year bonds carrying fixed coupon of 5.125%, the group's first bond issue for seven years, to refinance the GBP300 million bond maturing in October. "Babcock's strong proposition, fundamentals and balance sheet, combined with leading market positioning in defence and nuclear, has led to a high level of demand, allowing us to price on attractive terms," it says. Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including ongoing investment to support and drive growth. Read More
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Friday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Read More
Dekel Agri-Vision PLC - West Africa-focused agricultural company - Expects, for the first half of 2026, to report "a modest increase" in revenue year-on-year from its palm oil operation. Reports crude palm oil production totalling 22,676 tonnes, up 7.3% from 21,128 tonnes. Processed fresh fruit bunches totalled 107,626 tonnes, up 12% from 96,518 tonnes. CPO extraction rate decreases to 21.1% from 21.9%, but "improved in more recent months as the season progressed." CPO sales increase 5.0% to 22,225 tonnes from 21,168 tonnes. Palm kernel oil production, however, falls 19% to 1,201 tonnes from 1,474 tonnes, while PKO sales fall 31% to 848 tonnes from 1,220 tonnes. For the cashew operation, the amount of raw cashew nuts processed surges 46% to 3,165 tonnes from 2,172 tonnes. Cashew production jumps 82% to 948 tonnes from 521 tonnes. Sales more than double to 996 tonnes from 485 tonnes. Read More
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Friday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Read More
(Alliance News) - The FTSE 100 closed higher on Friday in calmer trading, boosted by double-digit gains from telecommunications firm Vodafone. Read More
Telecom Plus PLC - London-based provider of bundled household utility services - Chair Charles Wigoder buys 250,000 shares at 826.96 pence, for a total of GBP2.1 million, on Friday in London. Wigoder now has a beneficial interest in 6.3 million shares and a non-beneficial interest in 3.1 million shares through the Wigoder Family Foundation. These represent holdings of 8.0% and 3.9%, respectively. Read More
GRIT Investment Trust PLC - invests in small and mid-cap natural resources and mining companies - Announces that it is in discussions with a mining resources-focused company. Says it is considering signing non-binding heads of terms for a reverse takeover. If it does not enter the heads of terms, and/or the RTO does not proceed, GRIT "will consider its options". These include seeking a cancellation of its listing. Notes that trading in its securities remains suspended while the talks continue. Read More
Paragon Banking Group PLC - Solihull, West Midlands-based mortgage lender and provider of personal loans and business financing - Completes the disposal of subsidiary Specialist Fleet Services Ltd to NRG Fleet Services Ltd. The transaction adds approximately GBP40 million to Paragon's net tangible assets and 0.5% to its common equity tier one ratio, as expected. Read More
(Alliance News) - easyJet PLC on Friday said it has agreed in principle to a GBP5.7 billion takeover proposal from asset manager Apollo Management X LP that beats one it had agreed to from a rival US private equity firm. Read More
Harbour Energy PLC - oil and gas producer with operations across Europe, Latin America, North Africa and Southeast Asia - Says it has completed the acquisition of Waldorf Energy Partners Ltd, and Waldorf Production Ltd, for final consideration of USD163 million. Says this follows the receipt of all regulatory approvals, and the full and final settlement of all creditors' claims against the acquired Waldorf subsidiaries. Final consideration is after customary adjustments, and reflects a transaction effective date of January 1, 2025. Harbour announced in December that it had agreed to acquire all the subsidiaries of Waldorf Energy and Waldorf Production for USD170 million. It said it expected the deal to add oil-weighted production of 20 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day and 2P reserves of 35 million. The acquisition increases Harbour's interest in its operated Catcher field to 90% from 50%, and provides a new production base in the Northern North Sea with the addition of a 29.5% non-operated interest in the Kraken oil field. Read More
Wizz Air Holdings PLC - Budapest-based budget airline - Announces two new operational bases in Madrid and Valencia, Spain. Says operations are due to commence on November 3 and November 2, respectively, with both airports having aircraft permanently stationed there. Calls this "one of the airline's most significant investments in Spain to date," reinforcing Spain's "strategic importance within the airline's network." Intends to launch 10 new domestic and 3 international routes, plus "7 new routes all across Spain" and increased frequency for "multiple existing routes". Company states: "This milestone is only the beginning. The new bases create the infrastructure needed to support continued expansion in the years ahead, strengthening Wizz Air's presence in Spain while bringing even greater connectivity to customers and local communities." Read More
(Alliance News) - Suspicious share trading activity occurred before more than four out of 10 UK takeover announcements last year, the UK's financial watchdog said on Thursday. Read More