Updates from Rolls-Royce, Meggitt and LondonMetric
Oil shares - US oil has slipped below $50 a barrel for the first time since Spring 2009 - helped pummel the FTSE 100 hard on Monday. The Big Board ended more than 130 points down at 6,417. A 2 % fall. Weir Group, BP and Anglo American came off worst (down 6.3%, 5% and 4.9% respectively). Shell shares slipped 4.7%.
In contrast, travel operators IAG and Carnival gained, up 1.7% and 1.3% respectively. In the US the Dow Jones slumped more than 330 points to 17,501.6 with shares in Caterpillar retrenching 5.2%.
First off, we commence with news that Rolls-Royce has sold more than 4,000 cars in the last year - the highest ever in its 109-years. The BMW subsidiary says it sold 4,063 cars in total in 2014; a 12% hike.
Abu Dhabi saw the biggest sales explosion though European sales themselves were up 40%, Japanese sales up 60% and US sales increased 30%. Rolls-Royce announced plans for a new Technology and Logistics Centre at Bognor Regis, close to Goodwood, earlier in 2014.
"The result confirms that our strategy of balanced, sustainable and profitable growth is delivering and that Rolls-Royce remains the world's leading luxury goods brand," said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer for the company.
Next, engineering company Meggitt says it has bought Precision Engine Controls Corporation (PECC) from United Technologies Corporation for US$44.2 million cash.
The purchase price equates to a multiple of approximately 8.5x adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) for the year up to 31 December 2014 says Meggitt.
"The acquisition of PECC is a key step," says chief exec Stephen Young, "in broadening our industrial valve capability. The very strong product and customer portfolio and the exceptional calibre of the employee base make the business a great fit with Meggitt."
Lastly, LondonMetric Propertysays it has completed its acquisition of the Tesco.com Distribution Centre in Croydon from CBRE Global Investors. The purchase price is £21.1 million (net of acquisition costs).
The 173,000 sq ft distribution centre is let for 5.8 years off a rent of £6.70 psf with a reversionary rent review in October 2015, says LondonMetric. The area is dominated by retail warehousing with nearby occupiers including John Lewis, Next, Dixons and Sainsbury's.
"This is a strategically important site," says LondonMetric's chief exec Andrew Jones, "in a densely populated part of London which will continue to benefit from the growth in online shopping and convenience retail."
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