Highlights: New Deadlines for Cladding Remediation: Housebuilders will have six months to assess dangerous cladding and an additional 12 months to begin the work. Potential Criminal Sanctions: The government has hinted at possible criminal charges for companies failing to meet deadlines. Post-Grenfell Urgency: The plan follows the release of the final Grenfell Tower disaster report and aims to accelerate the slow progress of cladding remediation. The UK government is taking decisive action to accelerate the removal of dangerous cladding from residential buildings, more than seven years aft ..read more

Highlights: Guinea Halts Exports: A sudden halt in Guinea’s bauxite exports spiked alumina and aluminium prices globally, impacting major producers and refineries. Western Supply Chain Disruptions: Alcoa and Rio Tinto face significant production challenges, with shutdowns and force majeure declared due to operational and supply constraints. Chinese Demand Soars: Record aluminium production in China is driving demand for alumina, further straining global supply chains amid low bauxite availability. Aluminium and alumina prices soared after a sudden halt in exports from Guinea, one of the wo ..read more

Highlights: Strategic Acquisition: Rio Tinto’s $7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium reflects its commitment to expanding lithium production and aligning with the global energy transition. Increased Lithium Capacity: Arcadium’s current production capacity of 75,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) is expected to grow to 170,000 tons by 2028, with long-term expansion to 295,000 tons. Board Approval: The acquisition, approved by both companies' boards, will boost Rio's position in the lithium market, with the deal expected to close by mid-2025. Rio Tinto Ltd (LSE:RIO) has made ..read more

Highlights: Global Sales Decline: Volkswagen Group’s total vehicle deliveries fell 7.1% in Q3, with significant declines in major brands such as Audi and Porsche. Challenges in China: Intense competition in China has been a primary factor behind the global sales decline. Job Cuts Looming: Volkswagen plans to cut jobs and potentially close plants, facing opposition from unions. Volkswagen Group (LSE:0P6N), one of the world’s largest car manufacturers, reported a significant drop in global sales for the last quarter, driven primarily by increasing competition in China. The German automaker ..read more

Highlights Bellway has appointed Shane Doherty as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective December 1, 2024. Doherty previously served as CFO of Cairn Homes and brings significant experience in the housebuilding sector. He replaces Keith Adey, the current group finance director, who announced his retirement in May. Overview Housebuilder Bellway {LSE:BWY} has announced the appointment of Shane Doherty as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective December 1, 2024. Doherty, a chartered accountant, joins Bellway after serving as CFO at Cairn Homes, where he worked for four years before ..read more

Highlights SkinBioTherapeutics has acquired Bio-Tech Solutions Ltd for £1.25 million. The deal will be financed through a combination of a £950,000 loan from a shareholder, a subscription for new shares raising £250,000, and the use of the company's cash reserves. Following a successful fundraising round in August 2024, SkinBioTherapeutics maintains a strong financial position with a cash reserve of £1.9 million. SkinBioTherapeutics plc (LSE:SBTX), a life science company dedicated to skin health, has announced the acquisition of Bio-Tech Solutions Ltd (BTS) for a total enterprise considera ..read more

Key Points: Total Net Outflows: Jupiter reported £1.6 billion in net outflows for Q3 2024, totaling £5.0 billion year-to-date. Positive Underlying Flows: Despite net outflows, the firm achieved slightly positive underlying inflows, particularly in Asian and emerging market equities, with Indian equities seeing £0.4 billion in inflows. Strategic Acquisition: Jupiter announced an agreement to acquire a team and approximately £0.8 billion in AUM from Origin Asset Management, aimed at enhancing its institutional client base and capabilities in Global Emerging Markets. Jupiter Fund Management p ..read more

Highlights Crossword Cybersecurity requires up to £600,000 within six weeks to continue operations. The company is in discussions with major shareholders and potential investors to secure financial support. Due to financial difficulties, the company plans to sell its underlying business and assets to maximize value for creditors, engaging Knight Corporate Finance to manage the sale. The company's shares were suspended from trading on AIM on 27 September 2024, after failing to publish interim results. Crossword Cybersecurity plc (LSE:CCS) has issued a statement regarding its financial situa ..read more

Highlights Oxford Metrics is acquiring Sempre Group for up to £5.5 million, with £5 million paid in cash and up to £0.5 million contingent on business performance targets. Sempre's metrology solutions and industry expertise will enhance Oxford Metrics' smart sensing and software capabilities, particularly benefiting sectors like aerospace, automotive, and precision engineering. The acquisition is expected to be immediately earnings-enhancing, with Sempre reporting revenues of £6.5 million in 2023 and a positive outlook for future growth. Oxford Metrics plc (LSE:OMG), a leading smart sensin ..read more

Key Points: THG PLC raised approximately £95.4 million through the issuance of 194.7 million new Ordinary Shares, representing 14.6% of existing shares. The successful Placing involved significant participation from new and existing investors, with Frasers Group committing £10 million to the company. The new shares are set to be listed on the FCA’s Official List and begin trading on the London Stock Exchange on October 15, 2024. THG PLC (LSE:THG) has announced the successful completion of a substantial fundraise, which includes the Placing of new Ordinary Shares and a concurrent Subscripti ..read more