Chemring raises $280m to help fund deals

The military decoy and pyrotechnic device group has placed $280m of loan notes with institutional investors, giving it renewed firepower for further acquisitions

• Chemring wins US decoy contract
• Chemring enjoys buoyant orders

New house builds climb

The number of homes being built has risen to its highest level for more than a year

European groups set ambitious growth targets

Large European companies are putting a big emphasis on emerging markets for their growth strategies as they look to follow the lead of ABB, the electrical engineering group

Mitsubishi Chemical bids $2.4bn for former division

Japan’s biggest chemicals manufacturer offers $2.4bn to acquire acrylic resin maker Mitsubishi Rayon, a former division spun off from the parent company in 1950

Capita sees rate of outsourcing slowing

UK’s largest support services group insists there was no let-up in the trend for businesses to outsource back office jobs, but the shares fell amid concerns over slowing rate of contract wins

UK Mail lifts profits

The postal and parcel delivery company has seen some uplift in business as consumers sought alternatives to Royal Mail’s service, but revenues fell as the recession dragged on demand

Wolseley continues to see ‘tough’ markets

The building materials group continues to experience ‘extremely tough’ market conditions as it reported falling revenues and a rise in net debt to £1.2m for the three months to November

Bovis Homes upbeat

The Kent-based housebuilder says the number of private reservations has risen by 83% this year. It expects to see a gradual improvement of the housing market