Business Intelligence Summary Report - 20 Aug 2008 View This Report As An Excel Spreadsheet Topics - All Topics

Energy & Utilities - 1250 Jobs Gained, 1 Locations Gained, 1 Executive Jobs Lost Company HQ Turnover £m Employees Locations News Type Summary Total UK Ltd South East £4,163m 4760 278 Negative Brazil oil giant Petrobras posts record profits Royal Dutch Shell PLC London £178,664m 109000 17 Positive Energy prices boost BP profits Royal Dutch Shell PLC London £178,664m 109000 17 Negative London shares mixed midafternoon; ITV extends gains; Wall Street sharply lower Total UK Ltd South East £4,163m 4760 278 Negative UK smallcap opening - Plexus higher on SPD contract win Royal Dutch Shell PLC London £178,664m 109000 17 Mixed UPDATE 2-Oil rises over $1 on Gulf of Mexico storm threat BP PLC London £147,729m 97000 95 Positive BP profits hit record $13.4bn on soaring oil price BP PLC London £147,729m 97000 95 Negative Finance head quits TNK-BP in control row BP PLC London £147,729m 97000 95 Negative Grafton Recruitment sign a two-year deal with Broadbean Technology D1 Oils Plc North East £0.4m 55 3 Positive Small but beautiful: D1 Oils shoots ahead after positive trading update Chevron Ltd London £8,442m 4498 155 Negative US close: Indices lower despite late pick-up BP PLC London £147,729m 97000 95 Negative VIDEO from Medialink and Royal Dutch Shell plc: Shell Perdido Spar Reaches the Gulf of Mexico United Utilities PLC North West £2,387m 16868 1 Negative A MAJOR housing development looks set to be rejected for the second time in less than a year National Grid Plc London £9,193m 20529 12 Positive €70 million contract awarded by National Grid and RTE to Areva Scottish & Southern Energy Plc Scotland £10,145m 11755 150 Positive Consent secured for Scottish wind farm National Grid Plc London £9,193m 20529 12 Positive Green Fair celebrates 10 years of environmental education in Penwortham Wedeco Limited North West £7.8m 30 1 Positive 30/07/2008 - ITT Water & Wastewater appoints new Area Service Manager Severn Trent Laboratories Ltd West Midlands £25m 424 6 Negative Best tap water is praised : Express & Star: Severn Trent Laboratories Ltd West Midlands £25m 424 6 Positive Severn Trent in line but sees potential risks Ener-G Plc North West £32m 183 6 Positive Contract with chain of health & fitness clubs Ener-G Plc North West £32m 183 6 Positive Ener-g signs leisure centre deal Amec Group Ltd East Midlands £1,585m 10620 19 Positive Morgan Sindall lifts interim pre-tax profit to £29m Household Goods and Personal Care - 947 Jobs Lost, 1 Locations Lost Remploy Ltd West Midlands £165m 7437 57 Positive New Chief Executive appointed Now Group Plc North West £11m 104 2 Negative 230 JOBS SAFE IN SA1 SWITCH Churchill China (UK) Ltd West Midlands £49m 816 2 Mixed Brighouse wins £3m warehouse contract Expansys PLC North West £23m 75 1 Negative eXpansys shares dive Samsung Electronics (UK) Ltd South East £1,725m 757 6 Positive Samsung Electronics' 2Q profit surges 51 percent Pz Cussons (International) Ltd North West £122m 247 2 Positive Nigerian trading helps PZ Cussons to boost profits PZ Cussons PLC North West £540m 9877 1 Positive PZ Cussons profit up 12% Unilever PLC North West £27,258m 189000 2 Negative Reckitt pledges more NPD as Unilever cuts back Unilever PLC North West £27,258m 189000 2 Positive Unilever Indonesia says H1 net profit up 30 pct y/y Pz Cussons (UK) Ltd East Midlands £114m 375 4 Positive Fruity gels lift Cussons Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Ltd South East £205m 1738 4 Positive IRELAND: Tayto jobs in balance amid plant merger talks The Body Shop International Plc South East £486m 7469 274 Positive New top creative at Body Shop Public Sector Suppliers - 25107 Jobs Lost, 156 Locations Lost, 1 Executive Jobs Gained Liverpool Hope University North West £46m 952 1 Positive 3:20pm Thursday 14th August 2008 The University Of Manchester Intellectual Property Limited North West £3.6m 41 1 Positive Long lost thesis sparks Manchester memories for nuclear man The English institute of sport Limited North West £12m 172 NA Positive New plan for casino site Post Office Ltd London £1,288m 12020 864 Negative 1,600 SIGN PETITIONS TO SAVE CITY CENTRE POST OFFICE Post Office Ltd London £1,288m 12020 864 Mixed ALL THREATENED LOCAL POST OFFICE BRANCHES TO CLOSE Post Office Ltd London £1,288m 12020 864 Negative Charity slams branch closures B2B International Ltd North West NA NA 1 Positive Osram lights up on GXS B2B trading grid Post Office Ltd London £1,288m 12020 864 Negative PO closure in Telford Post Office Ltd London £1,288m 12020 864 Negative Two post offices close as legal bid withdrawn Northwest Regional Development Agency North West NA NA 8 Mixed Bolton celebrates seven-year success story Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) South West NA 2200 7 Positive Horologists make good time Northwest Regional Development Agency North West NA NA 8 Positive Initiative helps people start up Northwest Regional Development Agency North West NA NA 8 Positive NWDA welcomes National Nuclear Laboratory Northwest Regional Development Agency North West NA NA 8 Positive Regional Development Agency helps boost Northwest's economy Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) South West NA 2200 7 Positive RF Engines Northwest Regional Development Agency North West NA NA 8 Positive St Helens stadium moves forward with £4.9m grant Cumbria Vision Limited North West NA NA 1 Positive We?ve Made lots of cash! Retailing & Wholesaling - 1558 Jobs Gained, 102 Locations Lost, 4 Executive Jobs Lost Lidl Ltd London £85m 5214 380 Mixed £4m Thirsk store set for approval John Lewis PLC London £4,758m 69000 26 Mixed Aberdeen among Lewis?s best performers Ann Summers Ltd South East £117m 1699 155 Mixed Ann Summers Marble Arch ? A new landmark in seduction Harvey Nichols and Company Ltd London £77m 881 5 Positive City's grand old lady has a makeover Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited North West £8,132m 87500 4500 Positive Co-op Financial Services shares £6.5m with members ASDA Group Limited Yorkshire and the Humber £14,318m 150000 340 Mixed Cornwall producer supplies local eggs to Asda The Disney Store Ltd London £100m 1446 60 Negative Disney Store marketing director to leave John Lewis PLC London £4,758m 69000 26 Negative Endless summer sales mask lower markdowns Focus (DIY) Ltd North West £535m 6246 215 Positive Ex Focus boss appointed as new Woolworths chief executive The Factory Shop Limited North West £48m 868 33 Positive Fakenham to get new store Instore PLC Yorkshire and the Humber £276m 5308 89 Positive Instore names John Jackson chairman, Rashid Tayub deputy chairman John Lewis Partnership Plc London £4,758m 61100 38 Positive John Lewis helped by strong Saturday trading John Lewis PLC London £4,758m 69000 26 Positive John Lewis Sale drives trade John Lewis PLC London £4,758m 69000 26 Negative John Lewis suffers as shoppers cut spending John Lewis Partnership Plc London £4,758m 61100 38 Positive John Lewis week to July 19 department store sales up 0.4 percent UPDATE John Lewis Partnership Plc London £4,758m 61100 38 Negative John Lewis' department store sales fall again Lidl Ltd London £85m 5214 380 Positive Lidl store plan rejected Lidl Ltd London £85m 5214 380 Mixed Lidl wants to come to town The Factory Shop Limited North West £48m 868 33 Positive National chairn for Fakenham site Home Bargains North West NA NA 140 Positive New store - 30 jobs created Home Bargains North West NA NA 140 Positive NEW STORE JOBS BOOST FOR TOWN ASDA Group Limited Yorkshire and the Humber £14,318m 150000 340 Negative REAL ale firm Moorhouse?s has unveiled plans for a new brewery and visitors centre as part of £3 mil... J Sainsbury PLC London £16,061m 148000 794 Mixed Retail round up - The Sunday papers Lidl Ltd London £85m 5214 380 Positive Revised plan from Lidl Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited North West £8,132m 87500 4500 Mixed River Publishing Awards Zebra With Reprographics Contract For The Co-Operative Magazine Home Bargains North West NA NA 140 Negative Store takeover: jobs uncertainty John Lewis Partnership Plc London £4,758m 61100 38 Mixed Summer wash-out good for John Lewis sales Waitrose Ltd London £2,797m 32500 185 Mixed Supermarket creates 140 jobs ASDA Group Limited Yorkshire and the Humber £14,318m 150000 340 Positive Supermarkets unveil petrol price cuts John Lewis PLC London £4,758m 69000 26 Mixed TABLE-UK's John Lewis weekly dept store sales up 9.3 pct J Sainsbury PLC London £16,061m 148000 794 Positive Tesco and Sainsbury's head for High Court over co-owned site Tesco Stores Ltd South East £26,861m 145816 989 Positive Tesco report British Shoppers Shun Single-use Carrier Bags Tesco Stores Ltd South East £26,861m 145816 989 Positive Tesco seeks £500m from sale of stores Early Learning Centre Ltd South West £178m 2493 215 Positive The Search Works wins Mothercare and ELC joint account Waitrose Ltd London £2,797m 32500 185 Positive Waitrose hires Grand Union to digital account Waitrose Ltd London £2,797m 32500 185 Negative Waitrose supermarket construction delayed Woolworths Plc London £1,869m 29668 819 Positive Woolworths bid sums don't add up Woolworths Plc London £1,869m 29668 819 Mixed Woolworths sales drop further Woolworths Plc London £1,869m 29668 819 Positive Woolworths to appeal against block on NZ bid Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited North West £8,132m 87500 4500 Positive Zebra wins repro contract for Co-operative magazine B & Q PLC South East £3,896m 37449 400 Positive B&Q given all clear for new research complex Carpetright PLC South East £462m 3323 512 Negative Carpetright sales down, tough conditions to persist Ikea Ltd London £1,017m 7562 17 Positive Caterers win Ikea contract Do It All Ltd North West £247m 2728 52 Positive Covering all bases Chairs Ltd North West £33m 144 1 Mixed Furniture firm gets grant to help boost production Homebase Ltd South East £1,489m 17177 277 Positive Homebase charity partnership with British Heart Foundation Ikea Ltd London £1,017m 7562 17 Positive Ikea drive to recruit 400 co-workers? Speedy Hire Direct Ltd North West £22m 62 1 Positive Jack Bootyman promoted to workshop manager B & Q PLC South East £3,896m 37449 400 Negative John Lewis sales figures lift FTSE B & Q PLC South East £3,896m 37449 400 Negative Kingfisher rises after sales update Ikea Ltd London £1,017m 7562 17 Negative Parting shot Travis Perkins Trading Co. Ltd East Midlands £1,243m 7052 473 Mixed Press Release: Floors 2 Go Limited West Midlands £62m 600 137 Negative Shop shuts in floors firm cull Homebase Ltd South East £1,489m 17177 277 Mixed Store brings relief to cancer carers Topps Tiles Plc North West £173m 1513 305 Negative Topps talks with banks to reset covenants Travis Perkins Trading Co. Ltd East Midlands £1,243m 7052 473 Mixed Travis Perkins predicts weaker trading as profit falls B & Q PLC South East £3,896m 37449 400 Negative Waitrose to open Weston store? Bargain Booze Limited North West £302m 240 500 Positive A CHILDREN?S rugby club has secured a new sponsorship deal ? with an off-licence chain Maple Leaf foods UK Limited North West £8.6m 12 NA Mixed CANADA: Canada Bread bakes lower H1 earnings Somerfield Stores Ltd South West £4,584m 53011 657 Mixed Co-op takes over Danish Crown UK Limited North West £98m 27 1 Positive Denmark : Crown to lay off staff Paragon International Limited North West £4.7m 55 1 Positive Paragon Interiors Group Plc - Appointment - Nottingham Paragon International Limited North West £4.7m 55 1 Positive Potential takeover of buy-to-let lender Paragon by private equity group Starbucks Coffee Co. (UK) Ltd London £204m 5299 540 Mixed Starbucks to close 61 Australian outlets Kwik Save Stores Limited South West £77m NA 536 Positive Store takeover: jobs uncertainty Iceland Foods Ltd Wales £1,482m 17390 696 Negative Takeover of Woolworths Rejected Phones 4u Ltd West Midlands £629m 5243 346 Positive Brightstar to supply Phones 4u with laptops DSG International PLC South East £6,983m 40000 381 Positive Dixons' Irish stores to change to Currys Speedy Hire Centres (Southern) Ltd North West £48m 490 48 Positive Jack Bootyman DSG International PLC South East £6,983m 40000 381 Mixed John Lewis sales leap on poor weather Comet Group Plc Yorkshire and the Humber £1,447m 10643 270 Positive New store on park Comet Group Plc Yorkshire and the Humber £1,447m 10643 270 Negative Sector movers: John Lewis buoys retailers Phones 4u Ltd West Midlands £629m 5243 346 Negative Up to 240 jobs to go after outsourcing Tk Maxx South East £668m 9748 154 Mixed Bargain hunters boost TJX profits East Ltd London £36m 573 44 Positive Brewing giant signs East Anglian deal Moss Bros Group Plc London £133m 1182 116 Mixed Clothing shops winning the credit crunch battle Dolcis Limited North West £67m 1405 185 Negative Faith sale on cards as restructuring specialist hired JJB Sports PLC North West £745m 12017 410 Positive Hard-hit customers stay away from JJB Sports Regatta Ltd North West £48m 271 3 Positive Hawkshead, Craghoppers and Dare2b Brands Gain Online Advantage La Senza Ltd London £98m 1800 118 Positive Live mannequin turns heads at La Senza Levi Strauss (U.K.) Ltd London £91m 321 6 Negative live unbuttoned (global) Reebok International Ltd North West £721m 1680 4 Mixed Megson hopes to tie down O'Brien Moss Bros Group Plc London £133m 1182 116 Positive Moss Bros appoints non-executive Chairman Tk Maxx South East £668m 9748 154 Positive Primark poaches TK Maxx executive JJB Sports PLC North West £745m 12017 410 Mixed Speculation of management buyout Tk Maxx Group Ltd South East £472m 7249 151 Positive Strong Growth in Quarterly profits Burnt Tree Group Ltd West Midlands £39m 241 6 Positive Burnt Tree buys 100 Daf LF45s Lookers Plc North West £1,232m 4491 100 Positive Lookers? shares fall on rival?s profit warning Reg Vardy Ltd East Midlands £1,718m 5551 75 Mixed Pendragon HQ up for sale Ats Euromaster Ltd West Midlands £342m 4165 503 Positive Suckling secures deal with Michelin and ATS Vodafone Ltd South East £4,547m 8414 236 Mixed O2 snaffles HomeServe mobile contract Vodafone Ltd South East £4,547m 8414 236 Negative ROUNDUP Vodafone sees full-year revenue at lower end of target Vodafone Ltd South East £4,547m 8414 236 Positive Vodafone calls in more staff House Of Fraser (Stores) Ltd Scotland £628m 6545 42 Mixed Beatties to shut its basement : Express & Star: The Carphone Warehouse Ltd London £574m 2552 261 Negative Carphone seals Best Buy deal The Carphone Warehouse Ltd London £574m 2552 261 Positive Carphone Warehouse: The City View The Carphone Warehouse Ltd London £574m 2552 261 Positive CHI&Partners produces campaign for The Carphone Warehouse?s sponsorship of The X Factor. Expansys UK Limited North West £32m 75 1 Negative Expansys losses widen, tough conditions continue The Original Factory Shop Group Limited North West NA NA 1 Positive Fakenham to get new store Vega Limited North West £2.9m 24 1 Positive Government Connect rewards VEGA with £1.6m contract extension Halfords Ltd West Midlands £617m 9940 394 Positive Halfords driven by profits boost House Of Fraser (Stores) Ltd Scotland £628m 6545 42 Positive India: a nation of frustrated shopkeepers King UK Ltd North West £126m 694 12 Negative Investigators move in as blaze destroys part of Darlington hotel The Paper mill shop Company Limited South West £5.2m 96 NA Negative Jobs lost as paper maker closes BSS Group Public Limited Company(The) East Midlands £864m 3460 177 Positive London close: Resource stock sell-off hits Footsie Spares UK PLC North West £4.4m 19 NA Mixed Manchester United 1 Newcastle United 1: Fletcher spares United's blushes as urgent need for striker ... North East pharmacies Limited North West NA NA NA Positive Manufacturing contract signed Pets At Home Ltd North West £254m 2300 200 Positive New jobs as Pets At Home is to open Ge Medical Systems Ltd South East £131m 410 3 Positive NEWS Norbain Sd Ltd South East £118m 275 3 Positive Sony links with Norbain The Carphone Warehouse Ltd London £574m 2552 261 Mixed The Carphone Warehouse selects Kronos to optimise staff scheduling The Original Factory Shop Group Limited North West NA NA 1 Positive The Original Factory Shop to open more shops Mamas & Papas Ltd Yorkshire and the Humber £77m 374 24 Mixed UK based international nursery retail franchise wins award Wolseley UK Ltd West Midlands £2,057m 10901 618 Mixed Wolseley changes see two more directors go Speedy Hire (Scotland) Ltd North West £15m 136 1 Positive Workshop manager appointed HMV Group PLC South East £1,826m 12977 550 Mixed Biffy Clyro set to rock HMV HMV Group PLC South East £1,826m 12977 550 Negative HMV store launch in Worthing postponed HMV Group PLC South East £1,826m 12977 550 Negative HMV's Gideon Lask to join Universal Music WH Smith Plc South West £1,299m 17000 802 Negative London shares - mid-morning features Staples UK Limited South East £280m 1883 136 Mixed Memphis house fire leaves 7 dead and 2 injured WH Smith Plc South West £1,299m 17000 802 Negative Oxfam shop sales soar to £80m Staples UK Limited South East £280m 1883 136 Mixed Staples hit by tough conditions Funeral Services Ltd North West £33m 648 3 Mixed New ?webcast? facility available for crematorium services Argos Ltd South East £3,453m 31306 650 Positive Argos celebrates 35th birthday with biggest catalogue to date Field & Trek Plc South East £18m 248 15 Mixed Berghaus plans to open up to 400 shops in Asia Flowers Direct Online Ltd North West £7.0m 67 1 Positive Flowers Direct joins ipoints as loyalty partner Global Investment Group Plc North West £5.4m 178 3 Positive Global Investment House profits up 76 per cent Reality Group Ltd North West £230m 6946 9 Negative HOME SWEET HOME! Lakeland Ltd North West £118m 1115 26 Mixed Lakeland to test new look at Liverpool One March UK Limited North West £2,754m 29110 16 Negative New mega-church fight Park Group Plc North West £233m 624 27 Positive Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems to Provide Air Traffic Communications Systems in the Balkans March UK Limited North West £2,754m 29110 16 Negative US home construction plunges to 17-year low British Airways Travel Shops Ltd London £13m 280 19 Positive AIR BATTLE LOOMS AS BA LINKS WITH RIVALS British Airways Travel Shops Ltd London £13m 280 19 Mixed BA boss says will not give up Heathrow slots British Airways Travel Shops Ltd London £13m 280 19 Positive Costs push British Airways off course Tui Uk Ltd South East £2,330m 9241 987 Negative Derek Jones quits TUI Tui Uk Ltd South East £2,330m 9241 987 Negative Derek Jones quits TUI Travel Britannic Travel Ltd London £20m 439 6 Positive Flight Centre soars to £101m Tui Uk Ltd South East £2,330m 9241 987 Negative German airline merger talks stalled Holidaybreak PLC North West £303m 1722 1 Positive Holidaybreak's spread will insulate it Gold Medal International Ltd North West £58m 637 2 Positive Hoy becomes first British athlete since 1908 to win three golds in one Olympics as team equals highe... Tui Uk Ltd South East £2,330m 9241 987 Positive TUI raises marketing director to board role Calor Gas Ltd West Midlands £278m 1172 58 Negative CANVEY campaigners have relaunched their campaign to block huge new gas storage tanks Clear Plc North West £17m 5 NA Negative Manchester United 1 Newcastle United 1: Fletcher spares United's blushes as urgent need for striker ...