Issue 1
PR Marriott Drilling
Your partner for drilling solutions With operations in Europe, Central America and Africa and future opportunities in the Middle East, Marriott Drilling Group are well on their way to achieving their company mission Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Arron Rampling Operating a fleet of onshore drilling and workover rigs, including two rigs under a long term alliance contract, Marriott Drilling is the largest British owned, UK-based deep drilling company with bases and operations in Europe, Central America and Africa. The Marriott Drilling Group was established in Derbyshire in 1947 by the late Richard Marriott whose interest in geology and engineering promoted the development of innovative drilling rigs and drilling equipment. His focus on the highest standards of equipment, innovation, equipment maintenance and customer satisfaction are key factors in the culture and success of the company today. The company is now owned and managed by Paul Marriott and Jonti Hobday who are grandsons of the founder. "For over almost 70 years, the company have been offering a range of specialist drilling and associated services to the oil, gas, gas storage, shale gas, coal bed methane, geothermal, mining and water industries," says Jonti Hobday. The company has built up an experienced and versatile team of some of the best in the industry with a commitment and focus on project and customer success underpinned by comprehensive health, safety and environment programmes together with personnel training to ensure service excellence. The success of the company is illustrated over the last year or so by the pioneering work in shale gas…
AmpControl UK
Always in Control Ampcontrol UK engineer more than just products, they deliver solutions to problems Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Arron Rampling For just under 100 years, Ampcontrol UK have been at the forefront of bespoke engineering for hazardous environments. From the early days of working alongside the coal mining industry in Britain, the UK outfit has proudly worked closely with its customers across multiple industries and geographies to deliver high quality, designs and solutions to any challenge. Based in Irvine, Scotland, Ampcontrol UK are perfectly placed to capitalise on the opportunities within the European mining, oil, gas and petroleum and tunnelling sectors. Business Development Manager Pat McGinley is proud of the roots and reputation the company has established over the years, and believes that building on the strong name and brand as they move into the new sectors will serve them well: "The company has been going for nearly 100 years and although we have moved away from concentrating on the mining sector in the UK, the oil and gas sector is really booming and we are working to ensure that Ampcontrol UK are very much a part of it." A History to be Proud of The Ampcontrol story began in Australia, where it carved a strong reputation in the countries expansive coal mining industry as the leading supplier of electrical power equipment and electronics products. And amongst the technological firsts, awards, impressive growth and global reach, Ampcontrol was founded and driven by providing technology solutions that redefine industry expectations and lead safety in over…
United Cast Bar
Rock the castbar The growing European support for the manufacturing sector is a solid foundation that secures UCB's position in the economy Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Serge Utting United Cast Bar (UCB) are one of the world's largest manufacturers of continuous cast iron bars, to this date holding the record for the largest bar, measuring in at 665mm in diameter. Moreover, they produce the broadest range and size of any continuous cast iron bar and supply to a wide array of blue chip companies. A cast iron bar (Unibar) can be produced in a multitude of forms to meet customer design requirements. It is commonly used in general engineering applications, but primarily in hydraulic, fluid power and pneumatic equipment. United Cast Bar was formed in 1998 from a merger of 3 companies: Eurocast Bar Limited (UK), Starkey's Technicast Limited (UK) and Cast Profil SA (Spain); fusing together a wealth of technical expertise and knowledge for the production of cast iron bar, along with a strong distribution network across Europe. In 2001, the 'Unibar' brand of products were launched to establish best industry practice and standards of quality, consistency and customer service that exceeded market demands, and to provide the best technical and commercial support. Delivering Cost Effective Solutions As in most industries, the global market collapse of 2009 affected United Cast Bar. Following investment in melting capacity in their UK facility in 2007, the Group was able to rationalise their production base without any loss of total capacity – consolidating production into the two production…
C&C Group Plc
Raise your glasses C&C Group have developed and created a very good business and production strategy, where they have developed a multi-beverage model that is true to their ethos of being a truly local producer Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Glen Newton C&C Group plc are a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded cider and beer, proudly based in Dublin, Ireland. The Group are behind the best selling and leading Irish cider brands Bulmers and the widely regarded premium international cider Magners. The company also makes and distributes Tennent's Lager, the iconic Scottish drink. Keeping Up With Demand In 2005, C&C were an Irish business selling cider to the local Irish market, but in 2006 the company launched the Magners brand to the rest of the UK, which became a major success. However, to keep up with demand from the UK market, the company decided to invest heavily in order to meet the projected sales of the cider. The Board of Directors appointed three new executives to run the business and by2009 the company were in a position to acquire the Irish, Northern Irish and Scottish business arms of Anheuser- Busch InBev, including the Tennent's brand; thus expanding their business into the Scottish market and paving the way to a brighter future. A Multi-Beverage Strategy The company's diverse and highly successful wholesaling approach has cemented the Group's position as a market leader. Instead of just selling beer and cider, C&C Group have also branched out into wine, spirits and soft drinks in order to expand their…
Badel 1862
The spirit of Croatia Badel 1862 have taken the best techniques from their past and merged them with current methods in order to produce spectacular drinks Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Glen Newton Badel 1862 PLC, founded and based in Zagreb, Croatia in 1862, has a proud and historic tradition. For 152 years Badel 1862 have been a name synonymous with the production of high quality alcoholic beverages, wines and soft drinks. The company are proud of their tradition of uniting the experience of the most competent experts in the various areas of drink manufacturing in Croatia. Today, the company is the leader on the Croatian alcoholic beverages market and one of the leaders in winemaking, as the company is constantly adjusting and reinvigorating their present product portfolio. A Brief History Badel 1862 is proud of its tradition and by interweaving the year of inception into their name; the company honoured not only its ancestors but also unmistakably identified itself as a company with a long tradition. Franjo Pokorny, who laid the foundations of alcoholic beverages production, at first produced, packaged and distributed alcoholic beverages all by himself. This seldom seen persistency soon started to bear fruits; as time went by he turned his production into the largest export force in that line of business. Soon he expanded his markets to numerous Central European countries and, additionally to significant European capitals, he also supplied the French imperial court of Napoleon III with his liqueurs. The second famous name, Mijo Arko, was one of the first Croatian…
Amrest
Everything is possible The long standing significance of the "Everything is Possible" mantra for AmRest emulates the entrepreneurial spirit of the company's founders and the company's ambitious growth plans Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Glen Newton AmRest Holdings SE (AmRest, WSE: EAT) is the largest independent restaurant operator in Central and Eastern Europe with a growing international presence. Since 1993, the company have been building a portfolio of well recognised, power brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King and Starbucks based on a solid franchise and joint venture partnerships. AmRest also owns the La Tagliatella brand in Spain which is being developed internationally as both company operated restaurants and franchised stores. Recently, AmRest acquired two unique brands operating in China: Blue Frog and Kabb. Today, AmRest operates over 750 category leading quick service and casual dining restaurants, with headquarters situated in the southern Polish city of Wrocław. Through their "Everything is Possible" culture, every day 20,000 AmRest employees in 12 countries across 7 brands deliver delicious food and exceptional service at affordable prices. "Most restaurant holding companies are regional, whereas we have spread our wings across Central and Eastern Europe in order to provide for the ever-growing quick service market as a multi-brand operator," explains Wojciech Mroczynski, Executive Director of AmRest. Wszystko Jest Mozliwe – Everything is Possible Running throughout AmRest's history is the idea that "Everything is Possible" or "WJM". In 1993, the CEO and founder of AmRest, Henry McGovern, along with his business partners acquired a prime property at the beautiful, main square…
Google Launches Venture Capital Fund to Invest EU Tech Companies
Google will be launching a $100 million (£58 million) venture capital fund to invest in promising European technology companies. The fund will "invest in the best ideas from the best European entrepreneurs," according to Bill Maris, Managing Partner at Google Ventures, who is overseeing the project. "We believe Europe's start-up scene has enormous potential." The new operation will be based near London's Silicon Roundabout start-up district, but Google are open to further geographic expansion in the future. "We've seen compelling new companies emerge from places like London, Paris, Berlin, the Nordic region and beyond - SoundCloud, Spotify, Supercell and many others," Mr Maris writes in a blog to announce the new fund. The new fund will be an arm of the existing US-based fund, Google Ventures, and will be run by a team which includes angel investor Peter Read, Code.org UK head Avid Larizadeh and entrepreneur Tom Hulme. Eze Vidra, who set up the "Google Campus" in London, an incubator for technology enterprises, is also a partner. MG Siegler, the American venture capitalist, will liaise between the new fund and Google's original US-based fund. That fund, set up five years ago, has put money into more than 250 enterprises, including taxi company Uber and consumer electronics maker Nest, as well as enterprises promoting better healthcare and affordable solar power generation. Google said it could not yet predict what type of companies would receive funding in Europe, but that the investments were for financial return rather than strategic and usually in technology and the life sciences.
Italy’s GTECH to buy IGT for $6.4 Billion
GTECH, Italy's lottery operator, said it will buy Las Vegas-based slot machine maker International Game Technology (IGT) for $4.7 billion in cash and stock to increase its scale and offerings in the global gaming market. The deal includes the assumption of $1.7 billion in net debt, valuing it at $6.4 billion. IGT shareholders will receive a total of $18.25 per share in a combination of $13.69 in cash and 0.1819 ordinary share of the new company, representing an 18 percent premium to IGT's closing price on Tuesday. Reuters reported last month that IGT had hired Morgan Stanley to explore a sale as the gaming industry pursues consolidation to combat slowing growth. IGT and GTECH will combine under a newly formed holding company, which will be based in the United Kingdom. The new company will apply for listing solely on the New York Stock Exchange. "With limited overlap in products and customers, the combined company will enjoy leading positions across all segments of the gaming landscape," said GTECH Chief Executive Officer Marco Sala, who will become the CEO of the new company. GTECH said it expects to finance the cash portion of the deal through a combination of cash on hand and new financing. The company has received binding commitments of $10.7 billion from Credit Suisse, Barclays and Citigroup to finance the deal. Credit Suisse, Barclays and Citigroup are the financial advisers to GTECH, while Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Clifford Chance LLP and Lombardi Molinari Segni are the legal advisers. Morgan Stanley is providing financial advice,…
Cost of Living in UK Rises, Affects Young People
It has been reported that UK inflation rose much faster than expected in June, with consumer prices expanding by 1.6 percent year-on-year. The information comes as a new research looking at household incomes revealed that young people had been especially hard hit by the financial crisis. The rising cost of clothing, food and non-alcoholic drinks helped drive inflation higher, which Howard Archer, Chief UK Economist at IHS Global Insight, said was "disappointing news" for consumers: "The rise back up in inflation squeezes consumers' purchasing power, especially as earnings growth currently remains muted and relapsed in April," he said in a note. Low wage growth has plagued Britain's economic recovery, failing to pick up despite firm signs elsewhere of a strengthening economy. Average weekly pay (including bonuses) in the three months to April expanded by just 0.7 percent year-on-year. This was below expectations and down from 1.9 percent in the three months to March. "It is becoming harder for people to get by as average wages continue to fall behind the rising cost of living. Ministers may have moved on from Britain's living standards crisis but it's still the top concern for families," Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC union, said in a statement. "An economic recovery based on shrinking pay packets is not one built to last." Young Britons have been hit hard by the rise in living costs, with a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) finding that "the recession and its aftermath have been much harder on the young than the…
Tesco Chief Exec to Step Down
Britain's biggest retailer, Tesco, have announced that Chief Executive Philip Clarke will step down in the later part of 2014. Consequently, a profits warning has workers and stakeholders worried. 54 year old Philip Clarke, who has been at the helm for 3 years, will be replaced in October by outsider and Unilever Director Dave Lewis, Tesco have said in a statement. The news comes after the Group suffered its largest quarterly sales drop in four decades as the company struggles with what are described as "challenging" trading conditions. "Tesco Plc announces that Dave Lewis will join the board of Tesco on 1st October, 2014 as Chief Executive Officer in succession to Philip Clarke," the company said. "Philip Clarke will continue as Chief Executive until that date when he will step down from the board but will continue to be available to support the transition until the end of January 2015." Dave Lewis, 49, has worked as Global President in Personal Care at Dutch food and cosmetics firm Unilever for almost 28 years, during which time he has been responsible for a number of business turnarounds, Tesco said.
BSkyB in £5 Billion Deal to Create Sky Europe
BSkyB is paying £4.9bn to take over Rupert Murdoch's pay TV companies in Germany and Italy. The move was announced along with the company's annual results, which show pre-tax profits fell slightly to £1.2bn from last year's £1.26bn. BSkyB also reported revenues rose by 7%, with strong demand "across the board" for its services. It said Sky Sports viewing share was at a seven-year high, boosted by the open race for the Premier League title. Part of BSkyB - 39% - is owned by Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. That company owns 100% of Sky Italia and 57% of Sky Germany. Mr Murdoch wants to sell these to BSkyB to free up cash for 21st Century Fox, which is trying to buy media giant Time Warner, the company that owns Game of Thrones maker HBO and news business channel CNN. BSkyB broadcasts to 10 million homes in the UK. A combined Sky Europe would have 20 million customers. The company hopes the new structure will save it £200m by the end of the second financial year with further savings to come. BSkyB shares fell almost 4% on the news, as it means higher debt levels and a stop to its current practice of buying back shares. SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28479200
Park Inn Opens at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg
The hotel offers 200 rooms and suites and has direct connection to the newly build Terminal 1 at Pulkovo Airport which provides convenience for early arrivals, late departures and travellers in transit. The new hotel brought company's portfolio in the city to 6 hotels on more then 2 800 rooms and further strengthens Carlson Rezidor leading positions on St. Petersburg market. The 200 stylish rooms bring a colourful blend of modern and contemporary décor and furnishings, with customising LED mood lighting panels for a personalised ambience, floor to ceiling windows with natural daylight and modern amenities. Each room offers free wireless high-speed Internet access, flat-screen television with satellite, in room safe and individual climate control. After a long flight, guests can choose retreat to a peaceful room or recharge with a session at the in-house fitness centre. St. Petersburg fliers can start the day at live-inn room with a healthy breakfast buffet. The live-inn room also serves lunch and dinner with local and international favourites; it's a space that evolves to meet guests' needs: whatever they want it for – meeting, eating, drinking, working, playing – there's the right space for everybody. The hotel enjoys a prime location at the Pulkovo Airport Terminal 1 and just 5 minutes drive from Expo-forum, St. Petersburg's most modern convention and events centre. Its 18 well-equipped and flexible meeting rooms can accommodate up to 395 guests on two different floors. Park Inn by Radisson' signature Smart Meetings and Events service features free wireless high-speed Internet access, Yes I Can! Attitude…
Sappi Reports Quarterly Profit as Cost Cuts Offset Weak Prices
Sappi Ltd., the world's biggest producer of dissolving wood pulp, reported a third quarter profit as cost cutting helped offset weaker prices in Europe and North America. Net income advanced to $17 million in the three months through June, compared with a loss of $47 million a year ago, the Johannesburg-based company said in a statement today. Sales rose to $1.48 billion from $1.42 billion. Sappi is increasing its focus on dissolving pulp, used to make luxury clothing, sportswear and pharmaceuticals, as the product carries a higher profit margin than paper. The company is also aiming to reduce debt by about a third to $1.6 billion within two years as it cuts costs, according to Chief Executive Officer Steve Binnie. Net debt was $2.29 billion at the end of June, down from $2.33 billion a year ago. The return to profit was "particularly encouraging" as the third quarter is the company's weakest, Binnie told reporters on a conference call. "Demand is typically lower in Europe and North Americadue to the summer holidays" and planned maintenance. Profit will increase in the "seasonally stronger" fourth quarter, the company said. Sappi shares declined 2.2 percent to 42.05 rand by 10:10 a.m. in Johannesburg. The stock has advanced about 28 percent in 2014, on track for its biggest yearly gain since 2006, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. SOURCE: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-31/sappi-reports-quarterly-profit-as-cost-cuts-offset-weak-prices.html
Shell’s Second Quarter Earnings More Than Double
Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) posted a healthy jump in quarterly earnings on Thursday, as its newly-installed CEO works to cut costs and streamline projects. The Anglo-Dutch oil and gas giant posted second-quarter earnings of $5.1 billion on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis on Thursday, up from $2.4 billion in the same quarter a year before. Shares in the company rose 2.5 percent at Thursday's open. "Our financial performance for the second quarter of 2014 was more robust than year-ago levels but I want to see stronger, more competitive results right across the company, particularly in Oil Products and North America resources plays," said CEO Ben van Beurden in the company's results report on Thursday. Quarterly earnings included a net charge of $1.0 billion after tax, mainly reflecting impairments to its upstream Americas business. CCS refers to the company's net income after taking into account any changes in expenses. The company has suffered multiple cost overruns on key projects and struggled with an underperforming downstream business, while critics say it has failed to leverage its American shale assets well. "We are taking firm actions to improve Shell's capital efficiency by selling selected assets and making tougher project decisions. We have completed some $8 billion of asset sales so far in 2014," said van Beurden. Shell announced a second-quarter 2014 dividend of 47 cents per ordinary share. It expects to make $7–8 billion of share buybacks for 2014 and 2015 combined, of which $1.6 billion were completed in the first half of this year. The FTSE…