2nd Jul 2026 07:55
(Alliance News) - Currys doubles its dividend as earnings climb, Halma adds two bolt-on acquisitions to its healthcare business, while Capricorn Energy agrees to a USD360 million takeover offer from Genel Energy.
Here is what you need to know before the London market open on Thursday:
----------
MARKETS
----------
FTSE 100: called down 0.3% at 10,449.54
GBP: higher at USD1.3296 (USD1.3273 at previous London equities close)
----------
BROKER RATINGS
----------
JPMorgan reinitiates JD Sports Fashion with 'neutral' - price target 90 pence
----------
Canaccord raises Clarkson to 'buy' (hold) - price target 4,650 pence
----------
COMPANIES - FTSE 100
----------
Halma agrees to buy itemedical and Naslund Medical for its healthcare sector companies SSG and IZI Medical, respectively. The Amersham, England-based safety products manufacturer says the bolt-on acquisitions strengthen its position in healthcare markets. The cash consideration for itemedical is EUR23 million on a cash and debt-free basis, to be funded from Halma's existing facilities. It is a Dutch provider of digital platforms that integrate real-time patient data and alarms from different medical devices. Its revenue in the 12 months to the end of March was EUR7.8 million. Naslund Medical is a Swedish firm which specialises in fiducial market technology to support targeted cancer treatment. The cash consideration for Naslund is USD45 million on a cash and debt-free basis. Its revenue in financial 2026 was USD9.2 million. "These acquisitions strengthen our existing companies by adding complementary capabilities in markets they know well, supporting their long-term growth while enabling improved patient outcomes," says Halma Chief Executive Marc Ronchetti.
----------
British Land confirms incoming new Chief Executive Officer Joanne McNamara will join the firm on September 14. The London-based real estate investment trust first announced the change in CEO last month. Outgoing CEO Simon Carter will leave British Land at the end of August. Chief Financial Officer David Walker will take on leadership responsibilities between Carter's departure and McNamara's start date.
----------
COMPANIES - FTSE 250
----------
Currys reports higher full-year earnings and doubles its total dividend amid "very solid" trading in the early part of the new financial year. The London-based electrical and telecommunications retailer says pretax profit rises 23% to GBP153 million in the 12 months to May 2 from GBP124 million a year earlier. Adjusted pretax profit increases 18% to GBP191 million from GBP162 million. Revenue climbs 6.3% to GBP9.25 billion from GBP8.71 billion. Currys proposes a final dividend of 2.25 pence, bringing the full-year dividend to 3.00p, doubled from 1.50p for the previous year. The firm says a share buyback programme for up to GBP50 million will start on Thursday and end by the start of May 2027. Panmure Liberum will carry out the programme. Looking ahead, Currys says trading in the early part of the new financial year "has been very solid". The company says it is "comfortable" with the current market consensus. It adds that total cash shareholder returns of around GBP85 million are planned in financial 2027. "Our performance continues to strengthen. Profits and cash flow are healthily up, supported by a balance sheet that has never been stronger, even after growing shareholder returns," says Chief Executive Alex Baldock. As previously announced Nordics CEO Fredrik Tonnesen will succeed Baldock from August 3.
----------
Supermarket Income REIT secures a GBP445 million refinancing, reducing its borrowing costs and increasing average debt maturity. The London-based real estate investment trust says the new facilities will refinance its existing unsecured loan facilities maturing over the next two years. The facilities include a GBP375 million syndicate and GBP70 million bilateral. Supermarket Income has added two new banks, Lloyds Bank and ABN AMRO, while retaining Barclays Bank, HSBC, ING, and Royal Bank of Scotland. "We continue to access bank finance at attractive rates, underlining the quality of our portfolio, the confidence in our strategy, and the strength of our relationships," Supermarket Chief Financial Officer Mike Perkins says, adding: "The improvement in our debt maturity profile further enhances our capital structure which remains well diversified by maturity and source." Supermarket also declares a fourth quarter interim dividend of 1.545 pence, up 1.0% from 1.53p a year earlier.
----------
Wizz Air carries 7.5 million passengers in June, up 27% from 5.9 million a year ago. The carrier says total capacity was up 27% to 8.1 million from 5.9 million, while load factor for the month slips to 91.9% from 92.1%. On a 12-month rolling basis, the number of passengers carried rose 14% to 74.0 million from 65.0 million, while the load factor falls to 90.7% from 91.2%.
----------
OTHER COMPANIES
----------
Capricorn Energy agrees to a USD360 million takeover offer from London-based oil and gas firm Genel Energy. The oil and gas exploration and production company says each Capricorn shareholder will receive USD4.74 in cash for each share. This comprises USD3.75 in cash, plus a special dividend of USD0.99, which is expected to be declared before the takeover completes. The offer represents a 34% premium to the undisturbed Capricorn share price. On Wednesday, Capricorn agreed to a further extension to the offer deadline for Alamadiyaf al-Masiyyah, a member of the Cafani Group, after it received "multiple unsolicited non-binding proposals". Capricorn Energy first disclosed Alamadiyaf al-Masiyyah's interest in March, and there have been multiple extensions to the offer deadline since then. On Wednesday, Capricorn said Alamadiyaf al-Masiyyah "continues to progress its funding arrangements", as the deadline was extended to July 29. On Thursday, Capricorn says it expects the takeover by Genel to become effective during the second half of 2026. Capricorn Chief Executive Officer Randy Neely says: "Capricorn requires greater scale to materially improve trading liquidity. We believe the transaction with Genel crystallises the value created by Capricorn while providing shareholders with a clear and efficient exit."
----------
Ryanair Holdings says passenger numbers climbed 6.5% to 21.2 million in June from 19.9 million a year ago, while the load factor remained at 95%. On a rolling 12-month basis, passenger numbers were up 4.5% to 211.8 million from 202.6 million. The load factor was unchanged at 94%. The airline says it operated over 116,800 flights in June.
----------
Eco Animal Health announces the commercial launch across the EU of Ecovaxxin MS, its poultry vaccine against Mycoplasma synoviae. It is the London-based animal health firm's first product from its proprietary research & development pipeline to reach commercial market entry. The firm says: "The vaccine provides active immunisation of future layer and breeder chickens from four weeks of age, to reduce air-sac and foot-pad lesions and egg production losses caused by M. synoviae infections. The infection causes significant economic loss, particularly in laying hens, where egg production in affected layers can be reduced by 5-10%." Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Buglass says the company believes the vaccine "will deliver meaningful clinical benefit for layer and breeder flocks across Europe."
----------
By Michael Hennessey, Alliance News reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
JD SportsClarksonHalmaBritish LandCurrysWizz AirSupermarket IncomeCapricorn Energy PLCGenel EnergyRYA.LEco Animal