Kenneth G. Mondero

In a move totally unexpected by investors today, Royal Dutch Shell (LSE:RDSA) (LSE:RDSB) backed out of a bidding war against its rival, Thailand’s PTT Exploration & Production (PTTEP), to take over Cove Energy (LSE:COV). In a statement released an hour before London closed trading, Shell said “it will not take part in the Auction Procedure for […]

International private security group Group 4 Securicor (G4S) (LSE:GFS) said it will not be able to deliver the agreed number of guards for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games and anticipates a loss “in the range of £35 – £50 million” for the current fiscal year. The news was released late Friday, a day […]

Independent media communications firm Aegis Group plc (LSE:AGS) agreed to a takeover bid by Dentsu Inc., Japan’s top advertising company, in a deal that will “create a new global communications network for the digital age”, the London-listed FTSE 250 member said today. The British firm disclosed it received an offer of 240 pence a share, […]

Gold and precious metals producer Polymetal International plc (LSE:POLY) lost a tax dispute case and was ordered by the Russian Supreme Arbitration Court to pay 883 million rouble or US$27 million in additional tax, including fines and accrued interest, the Jersey-incorporated company said today. The case, decided on 10th July 2012, was in relation to […]

British luxury fashion icon Burberry Group plc (LSE:BRBY) drew first blood amongst the luxury brands as the company’s first quarter trading performance hinted slower growth in the high fashion sector. In the first quarter report released today, Burberry’s 11% rise total revenues missed analysts’ expectations of a 15% increase from last quarter’s performance, achieving only […]

British sports retailer JJB Sports (LSE:JJB) disclosed Monday the group’s first 22 weeks ending 1st July 2012 experienced a “deterioration” in trading performance as the hype over the European Football Championships did not meet the expected sales, due in part to an early summer weather. The group issued the profit warning days before the annual […]

Diversified global miner Anglo American plc (LSE:AAL) has secured the nod of South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu in the US$5.1 billion acquisition of the Oppenheimer’s 40% stake in De Beers. The deal, announced in November 2011, will make the London-listed group the largest diamond producer by value, once it completes in the […]

British food producer Premier Foods plc (LSE:PFD) has disposed its flour business, one of the many divestments the company is doing, for £34 million to further trim down its business and pay off debts. The Elephant Atta, Elephant Chakki Gold, and Fassal brands, popular brands of flour used in making chapatti and other unleavened bread, […]

Global engineering firm GKN plc (LSE:GKN) sealed the deal to acquire the aerospace division of Volvo AB for £633 million, in the company’s bid to become the market leader in the aero engine markets. The acquisition, rumours of which leaked last March 2012, will support the growth strategy of GKN’s aerospace division, which would account […]

Boomerang Plus plc (LSE:BOOM), an independent production company in the United Kingdom, is to be sold to a group led by former BBC1 Controller and Chief Executive Officer of Talkback Thames, Lorraine Heggessey, and re-launch the company under the a new name headed by the same management team. Boom Pictures Limited, the entity making the […]