Aegis, BSkyB, Northumbrian Water: U.K., Irish Equity Preview
The following is a list of companies that may have unusual share-price changes in U.K. and Irish markets. Stock symbols are in parentheses and prices are from the last market close.
The FTSE 100 Index fell 63.97 points, or 1.1 percent, to 5,990.58. The FTSE All-Share Index dropped 1 percent to 3,122.43, while Ireland’s ISEQ Index retreated 0.8 percent to 2,943.53.
Aegis Group Plc (AGS) : U.K. private equity firm Doughty Hanson & Co. is seeking to buy Synovate, a market-research unit of Aegis, for about 600 million pounds ($962 million), the Sunday Telegraph reported, citing Anthony Gahan, Doughty’s corporate finance adviser from Wyvern Partners. The stock fell 1.3 percent to 158.2 pence.
Anglo American Plc (AAL) : Anglo American said coal- mining jobs are under threat after Australia’s government unveiled the country’s first levy on greenhouse-gas emissions. The shares dropped 1.7 percent to 3,128 pence.
Bank of Ireland Plc (BKIR LN): Ireland’s largest bank said it plans to raise 1.91 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in a share sale, as the nation’s largest lender seeks to raise capital and avoid state control. The stock rose 0.9 percent to 11.6 euro cents.
BP Plc (BP/) : The London-based oil producer said the U.S. Gulf Coast economy has improved so much that most payments for projected damage caused by its spill should stop. The shares declined 0.9 percent to 458.5 pence.
British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY) : U.K. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt will ask regulators for additional advice on News Corp.’s proposed takeover of BSkyB in light of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, a person familiar with the situation said.
News Corp. will have to pay a 38.5 million-pound breakup fee to BSkyB if the media group fails to go ahead with plans to bid for the broadcaster, the Independent on Sunday reported, citing unnamed bankers and investors. The stock slumped 7.6 percent to 750 pence.
Centrica Plc (CNA) : The U.K.’s biggest energy supplier became the second utility to announce higher domestic gas and electricity prices from August because of higher wholesale costs. The stock was unchanged at 327.5 pence.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK) : The U.K.’s biggest drugmaker won U.S. regulatory approval of a vaccine to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough in those ages 65 and older, the Food and Drug Administration said. The shares gained 0.7 percent to 1,375.5 pence.
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG LN): British Airways pension-plan trustees face increasing pressure to reverse a decision that will reduce payments, the Sunday Telegraph reported, citing two trustees who resigned over the matter. The stock fell 2.4 percent to 244 pence.
International Power Plc (IPR) : The U.K. utility controlled by GDF Suez SA said relief the Australian government has offered electricity-generating companies from the new carbon tax have an impact on its Australian operations and employees, but are not expected to be material to the entire group. The stock fell 2.8 percent to 301.3 pence.
Michael Page Plc (MPI LN): The recruiter said gross profit increased 32 percent in the second quarter, and full-year earnings will be broadly in line with its forecasts. The stock rose 0.3 percent to 533.5 pence.
Northumbrian Water Group Plc (NWG) : The U.K. water company received an offer of about 2.4 billion pounds, or 465 pence a share, from Li Ka-shing’s Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. The stock fell less than 0.1 percent to 426.3 pence.
Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS) : Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd. is considering a bid for RBS Aviation Capital, the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc’s aircraft- financing division, the Sunday Times reported, citing Guy Hands.
Separately, RBS asked a U.K. judge to limit the amount of e-mails it must turn over as it seeks to halt Highland Capital Management LP’s $100 million U.S. lawsuit over a failed bond transaction. The shares retreated 2.6 percent to 37.21 pence.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) : Europe’s largest oil company will receive help to win final approval for its A$12 billion ($12.9 billion) liquefied natural gas project off Western Australia, the Australian government said. The stock declined 1.4 percent to 2,257 pence.
Standard Chartered Plc (STAN) : The lender’s Korean unit may temporarily shutter some branches as a strike by employees heads toward a third week, the worst labor dispute involving foreign banks in South Korea in more than five years. The stock retreated 1.6 percent to 1,627.5 pence.
Vallares Plc (VLRS LN): The investment vehicle led by BP Plc’s former Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward is in talks to buy Genel Enerji AS, the Sunday Times reported. The shares fell 0.5 percent to 1,015 pence.
William Morrison Supermarkets Plc (MRW LN): The retailer may bid for some individual stores from Iceland Foods Ltd., the U.K.-based frozen-food chain, the Financial Times reported, citing Chief Executive Officer Dalton Philips. The stock fell 0.3 percent to 299.9 pence.
Xstrata Plc (XTA) : The mining company with operations in 19 countries said it’s assessing the impact of the Australian government’s tax on carbon emissions. The shares dropped 2.8 percent to 1,377 pence.
To contact the reporter on this story: Blanche Gatt in London at bgatt@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Colin Keatinge at ckeatinge@bloomberg.net
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