(Alliance News) - Keir Starmer is to face MPs' questions about the consequences of the budget after a report warned of the impact of tax hikes on the British economy over the next two years. Read More
(Alliance News) - Brendan Nelson has been appointed group chair of HSBC Holdings PLC, the banking firm said. Read More
(Alliance News) - Welcome to the Alliance News UK service (ISSN 2515-9453), consisting of the Alliance News UK Professional and its family of financial newswires serving investors and their professional advisers. Read More
(Alliance News) - The EU aims to end all imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027, according to an agreement reached early on Wednesday in Brussels between the governments of member states and representatives of the European Parliament. Read More
(Alliance News) - Ireland's private sector continued to accelerate in November, with the services sector supported by faster rise in output, S&P Global reported Wednesday. Read More
WPP PLC - London-based advertising agency - Successfully prices a EUR1.00 billion 5.5-year senior unsecured fixed-rate RegS bond issuance. The bonds will carry an annual coupon of 3.625% and are expected to be rated "BBB" by S&P and "Baa2" by Moody's. "The transaction garnered significant interest and demand, with a total order book exceeding EUR2.9 billion from a diverse array of institutional investors," WPP says. This "robust" oversubscription of 2.9 times "underscores investor confidence in WPP's credit profile and leading market position," it adds. WPP intends to use the proceeds to fund general corporate purposes, including the refinancing of existing debt. BNP Paribas, Citi, HSBC, NatWest and SMBC led the transaction as joint lead bookrunners. Read More
Frontier IP Group PLC - invests for income and growth in solar and battery storage assets - Portfolio company Alusid Ltd signs an exclusive distribution agreement with one of Sweden's largest tile suppliers Kakelspecialisten AB, a subsidiary of Courbevoie, France-based Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA. "The deal is a further sign of growing global interest in Alusid's sustainable wall and floor tiles and an important milestone in expanding its European distribution network," Frontier says. Frontier IP holds a 35% stake in Alusid. Read More
Quantum Base Holdings PLC - Lancaster, England-based quantum science company that specialises in anti-counterfeiting technology and provides authenticity tags - Plans to raise GBP4.0 million via placing and GBP750,000 via retail offer, both priced at 21 pence each. Proceeds will provide growth working capital to strengthen the balance sheet, and support costs across staffing, operations and development. The placing will be effected by way of an accelerated bookbuild. Strand Hanson is acting as nominated adviser in connection with the placing and Cavendish acting as sole bookrunner. Read More
Bluebird Mining Ventures Ltd - British Virgin Islands-based gold development company - Concludes strategic review and shifts to a gold-focused streaming and treasury model, aiming to prioritise recurring cashflow, balance-sheet strength and direct exposure to physical bullion. The new strategy centres on structured gold streaming agreements, reserve-backed yield, and capital-efficient growth across the ore-to-bullion value chain. The company may use bitcoin solely as a settlement rail within internal limits and continues to pursue permitting and partnership options in Korea. Chief Executive Sath Ganesarajah says the revised approach positions BMV as a "next-generation gold streaming and treasury platform" aligned with rising demand for inflation-resistant, income-producing assets. Read More
(Alliance News) - Qatar Holding LLC on Tuesday said it plans to sell around GBP272 million worth shares in London-based grocer J Sainsbury PLC. Read More
(Alliance News) - Blue chips closed little changed on Tuesday on a generally downbeat day for stocks in London. Read More
Spectris PLC - London-based provider of high-tech instruments, test equipment and software - Announces that the relevant court has on Tuesday sanctioned the scheme of arrangement for its acquisition by Project Aurora Bidco Ltd, a special purpose vehicle indirectly wholly owned by investment funds and vehicles advised or sponsored by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP and its affiliates. Spectris said at the end of October that it was in an "advanced stage of preparation for completion" of the takeover. Says on Tuesday that the scheme remains conditional and will take effect upon the court order being delivered to the Registrar of Companies, which Spectris expects to occur on Thursday. Read More
(Correcting Saba quote.) Read More
(Alliance News) - Haydale Graphene Industries PLC on Tuesday announced a hat-trick of good news which it said reflected "accelerating commercial momentum." Read More
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of earnings and trading updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News: Read More