Business

Primark owner Associated British Foods has enjoyed its best interim results in nearly 20 years, chief executive George Weston says, thanks to higher profit margins at the clothing chain. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

PureGym says its annual pre-tax losses have nearly halved to £77.6million, thanks a combination of new gym openings and increased spending from its existing members. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

JD Sports is to acquire US sportswear retailer Hibbett for $ 1.1billion , which chief executive Regis Schultz says will accelerate its growth in the North America. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

Easyjet says strong demand for flights and holidays has helped it slash its first half seasonal pre-tax losses by up to £71million, putting it on track for a record summer. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

Coventry Building Society is to acquire Co-operative Bank for £780million, in a deal that will create a £89billion mutually-owned banking, mortgages and savings group. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

Troubled music investor Hipgnosis, which owns the rights to songs by Blondie, Neil Young, and others, has agreed to sell itself to US music group Concord for $ 1.4billion . Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

International Distributions Services, Royal Mail’s parent company, has rejected a takeover approach from its largest shareholder, Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain says that takings at its UK and Ireland division have fallen 7% due to Government measures aimed at making gambling safer. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

Asos chief executive Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte says that his turnaround plan is working, after its first half pre-tax losses fell from £272.5million to £246.8million. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

Superdry will fall into administration unless shareholders back his three year, multi-million pound turnaround plan for the struggling fashion chain, chief executive Julian Dunkerton warns. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed