Business

The AA’s chief executive Jakob Pfaudler says that its financial health is improving, even though its annual profits before taxes tumbling 41 percent to £42million. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

Demand for zero alcohol beers and higher prices helped boost first quarter revenues at Heineken by 7.2 percent to €8.2billion , with volumes also increasing around the world. Daily Express :: City and Business Feed

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