Basingstoke Business News Overview

Game continue growth

Craig — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:48:03 +0000

Computer games retailer Game PLC, with head offices in Basingstoke, said a strong market and a raft of hit games releases had helped it beat expectations in the first half of the year.

The firm said it was “slightly ahead” of hopes thanks to new titles including Grand Theft Auto IV and Nintendo’s Wii Fit. Other big sellers for the company included Mario Kart and Metal Gear Solid 4.

Demand for consoles also shows no sign of wavering, the group added, as UK like-for-like sales rose 28.1% in the 22 weeks to June 28.

Although Basingstoke-based Game said the quality of the games released during the first half of 2008 was “unprecedented”, it remained confident over Christmas trading.Chairman Peter Lewis said the group “recognised the challenges of the wider economic environment”, but has improved its margins and expects profits for the six months to July 31 to be no less than £33 million.

The company, which bought rival Gamestation last year, said it was continuing with its roll-out of new stores despite the difficult climate and investing £42 million on capital expenditure.

The group currently has 668 stores in the UK and Ireland, but most of the 60 stores to be opened by the end of the year will be overseas as part of its international growth strategy.

Source Press Association

Website: Game Group PLC

Shire to acquire Jerini AG

Craig — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:55:54 +0000

Shire, the UK’s third-largest drugmaker, with head offices in Basingstoke, has agreed to pay 328 million euros ($520.7 million) for Germany’s Jerini AG to add a treatment for an illness that causes sometimes fatal swelling of tissue.Investors in Jerini will get 6.25 euros for each of their shares, 68 percent more than the Berlin-based company’s stock price today in Frankfurt. Jerini shares were suspended. The purchase will add to earnings in the second half of 2010, Shire said today in a PR Newswire statement.

Shire will get the experimental Firazyr drug, being developed to fight a life-threatening condition called hereditary angioedema.

Src. Bloomberg

53 percent traffic increase for Basingstoke Business News

Craig — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:05:16 +0000

Quarter two of 2008 has seen a leap in website traffic for Basingstoke Business news with unique visitors up 53.47% on Q1.

The continued rise in traffic is the result of a number of initiatives:

Increased syndication of news from third party news websites.
Increased level of interest coming to us from local businesses.
The growth of the business directory.
Content is optimised for search engines when posted for increased exposure - search engine traffic is up 12%

We are currently working on a new version of the site which should be up and running in the next couple of months. This will move more towards a general business portal for Basingstoke and we have new interactive features coming.

The hope is that as more people sign up to Basingstoke Business News, the more interactive the site will become, with the potential for you to post your own business news.

Thanks for your continued support.

Craig

Fotech raises 6.5 million venture funding

Craig — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:18:35 +0000

Energy technology company Fotech has secured 6.5 million pounds venture funding from Scottish Equity Partners, Energy Ventures and Saudi Arabia-based Shoaibi Group to commercialise its pioneering solutions for the monitoring and surveillance of oil and gas wells and pipelines.

Fotech, which is headed by Chief Executive Douglas Gibson, has developed optical fibre-based acoustic monitoring systems with a wide range of applications. These include the oil and gas industry which requires high-performance systems to detect pipeline leaks and other problems. (more…)

Dnata invests in Hogg Robinson Group

Craig — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:14:06 +0000

The Hogg Robinson Group, with head offices in Basingstoke, saw the The Emirates Group taking a stake in the corporate travel market with a subsidiary of the Dubai based company taking an 18.7 per cent stake this week.

Dnata, bought 57.3m shares and said the stake was “for investment purposes” stating that it had no intention of making a formal offer for Hogg Robinson and intended to be “a long-term, supportive shareholder”.

However, it added that it reserved the right to make an offer for the travel management company.

Hogg Robinson issued a statement in response, saying it had worked successfully with Dnata for several years “and welcome them as a long-term supportive shareholder in HRG”.

More at FT.COM

Red Lion owners in management buy out

Craig — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:43:49 +0000

A multimillion pound deal to finance the management buy-out of Hollybourne Hotels, owners of The Red Lion Hotel in Basingstoke, has been funded by Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets.

The Hollybourne Group, which has hotels in Basingstoke and Alton and an annual turnover of £7 million, has become renowned for offering first class venues for business conferences, corporate events and weddings. (more…)

Corgi loses gas registration scheme

Craig — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:22:04 +0000

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that outsourcing firm Capita is its preferred bidder in the gas installer registration scheme tender meaning current registrar CORGI, based in Basingstoke, has been appointed reserve bidder.

CORGI expressed its disappointment with the decision but said it would work to ensure a smooth transition process between scheme providers. It stressed the decision would have no disruptive impact on the day-to-day running of CORGI-registered businesses. (more…)

Scott Wilson announce strong growth

Craig — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:25:33 +0000

Scott Wilson Group plc, has announced another consecutive year of strong revenue, profit and margin growth, which looks set to continue with an increased order book. The Group has doubled in size over the past few years and from its Basingstoke headquarters and currently controls a worldwide network of 80 offices.

Revenue for 2008 was up 24.2% on last year with a 29.9% rise in operating profit to £19.1m. (more…)

Linde goes green with environmentally-friendly hybrid solutions

Craig — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:02:59 +0000

With businesses in the UK increasingly mandated to curb their carbon emissions, reduce their oil dependency and adopt responsible environmental initiatives, Linde Material Handling, a world leader in forklift production and material handling, has taken a major leap forward in providing viable eco-friendly solutions.

Based locally in Basingstoke, Linde has recently unveiled a series of new product designs in development that are intended for eventual use within the UK market. These designs will incorporate environmentally-friendly hybrid solutions aimed at maximising fuel efficiency. (more…)

Routledge and Young win shopfitting industry award for second year running

Craig — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:06:20 +0000

Basingstoke shopfitters, Routledge and Young, took the Gold prize for “Best Supermarket and Food Project of the year 2008″ for the second year in a row at this years Shopfitting and Display Industry Awards held on June 18th.

The award was to mark the company’s work at Tesco Nailsea, a project completed in the early part of 2008 and comes hot on the heels of their 2007 award for Somerfield Broadstone, a market fresh concept.

Karen Routledge, Business Development Manager said:

What an achievement, two years in a row, and for two of our largest clients, we are delighted.

Now all of the celebrations have calmed down though, it’s back to the hard work of performing well for another entry for next year. After all you’re only ever as good as your last job and luckily for us, ours comes with the title of ‘Best Supermarket and Food Project of the year’. It would be great to get three in a row!

Richard Routledge, Contracts Director of R&Y and Lorraine O’Sullivan, Development Manager at Tesco collect the award.