Shares in PZ Cussons (LON:PZC) rallied after the consumer goods group delivered another FY26 profit upgrade amid ‘continued strong trading’. The positive earnings revision demonstrated that CEO Jonathan Myers’ refreshed growth strategy is working. The Carex brand owner’s year-end net debt is expected to be more than £80 million lower year-on-year at below £30 million. This follows the sale of a stake in a joint venture. For the year to May 2026, PZ Cussons now expects to report adjusted operating profit ‘at, or slightly above’ the upper end of the previously guided £53 million to £57 million range. At the…

Embattled Alternative Income REIT (LON:AIRE) has ‘strongly advised’ shareholders take no action in relation to a hostile bid from Glenstone. AIRE argues the 70p cash offer at a 17% discount to net asset value (NAV) could be detrimental to minority shareholders. They could be left stranded in a company dominated by Glenstone, which is AIRE’s biggest shareholder. Frustratingly, AIRE remained tight-lipped about why AEW UK REIT (LON:AEWU) walked away from an earlier bid. Simon Bennett and Stephanie Eastment are AIRE’s two independent directors. They insisted there are no material issues that haven’t been disclosed with regard to AEWU’s lapsed offer. Discounted…

Shares in IG Design (LON:IGR) rallied to a 52-week high after the celebrations-to-craft products maker delivered forecast-beating FY26 results. Following a balance sheet reorganisation and another strong period of cash generation, the company reinstated the dividend with a 1p final payout. In a further show of confidence, IG Design launched a buyback of up to 10% of its share capital. There was also relief as the Newport Pagnell-based firm left FY27 guidance unchanged despite cost pressures and a challenging consumer backdrop. Turnaround traction AIM-traded IG Design’s turnaround strategy has traction. As flagged in April, the year to March 2026 ended…

Increasingly, the world’s fastest-growing companies are opting to remain private for longer. Why is this? For one, there is far more capital available to private businesses today than there was 30 years ago. Furthermore, the regulatory burden of a public listing makes staying private the path of least resistance for many companies. In many cases, the most attractive period of a company’s growth occurs before it reaches public markets. Elon Musk’s SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) may have gone public in the biggest initial public offering (IPO) the world has ever seen. Yet for now, most of the innovative firms in the space…

In our latest Podcast special, Steven Frazer and James Crux are joined by Jack Featherby of JPMorgan European Discovery Trust (LON:JEDT). The fund aims to provide capital growth from a diversified portfolio of high-quality smaller companies in Continental Europe. Our special guest explains why the investment trust structure is the best way to capture the small cap illiquidity premium. Jack talks us through his process for uncovering some of the most attractive, yet lesser-known investment opportunities across the Continent. He also walks listeners through the bull cases for the trust’s three largest positions. These are Scandinavian financial services company Storebrand…

Mike Ashley-controlled retail conglomerate Frasers (LON:FRAS) has launched an all-cash takeover offer for Antipodean sportswear seller Accent (ASX:AX1). Australia’s largest footwear retailer is Frasers’ partner in expanding Sports Direct into Australia, where 30 new stores are planned. British billionaire Mike Ashley is in the midst of one of his particularly deal-hungry moods. The £166 million offer for Accent comes hot on the heels of Fraser’s £1.7 billion bid for Hugo Boss (ETR:BOSS). The German fashion retailer is a key brand partner for the FTSE 250-listed Frasers. Putting the Accent on growth Sports Direct-owner Frasers currently holds 22.9% of Accent’s share…

In the latest episode of the Podcast, the Sharesify team discuss the return of risk-on sentiment to markets. Investors hope the US-Iran conflict is coming to an end. The chaps also take a gallop through the week’s corporate updates and preview results from UK consumer stocks. Our tech expert Steven brings listeners the latest on the SpaceX IPO. He also walks us through results from Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) and lends us his view on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) following its Worldwide Developers Conference. James brings up-to-speed with the latest investment trust sector M&A. Pacific Assets (LON:PAC) is to merge with Schroder Asian Total…

The wave of consolidation sweeping the REIT (real estate investment trust) sector continues apace. Three weeks after issuing a public approach, Glenstone REIT has made a £56.3 million all-cash offer for Alternative Income REIT (LON:AIRE). AIRE’s largest shareholder has sweetened its offer from the 66.5p the board rejected in November to 70p. However, the improved offer is a mere 0.4% above AIRE’s ‘undisturbed’ share price of 69.7p on 14 May. It also sits 17% below AIRE’s net asset value (NAV) as of 31 March. The bid also looks miserly in comparison to the 3% NAV discount AEW UK REIT (LON:AEWU) recently offered…

Shares in Virgin Wines (LON:VINO) plunged after the online wine retailer lowered FY26 guidance due to a ‘challenging consumer market’ and cost pressures. The company also warned it will remain loss-making in FY27 due to the financial impact of investing in a new warehouse. These downgrades overshadowed an otherwise positive trading update from Virgin Wines. The Norwich-based company continues to outperform the online wine market whilst recruiting new customers and inking lucrative new commercial partnerships. Are consumers cutting back? For the year ending 3 July, the direct-to-consumer wine supplier now expects to deliver revenue of £61 million and an adjusted…

Foresight Group (LON:FSG) has agreed to sell its public markets investment division, Foresight Capital Management (FCM), to Guinness Global Investors. The deal brings seven strategies across real assets and sustainable and impact funds into the Guinness fold. Funds being transferred include the likes of FP Foresight Global Real Infrastructure, FP Foresight Diversified Real Assets and FP Foresight Sustainable Future Themes. The disposal comes as Foresight continues to streamline its operations. Management is keen to sharpen Foresight’s focus on the core real assets and private equity businesses. Details of the deal The sale involves the transfer of all of FCM’s funds,…