PRESS DIGEST - BRITISH BUSINESS - MARCH 2

The Times

DEAL OF THE DAY

Shares in Renew Holdings (RNWH.L) fell 1.5 pence to 0.82 pence ($1.61) after John Bishop, a non-executive director who joined the group in October, bought 10,000 shares in the company at 80.5 pence each. Bishop, a chartered accountant, had previously been on the board of the rival Morgan Sindall (MGNS.L).

NEUROPHARM'S AIM

Neuropharm, a developer of treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder and autism, is planning to raise 20 million pounds by listing on AIM. The company hopes to use the fund raised, subject to regulatory approval, to launch a treatment for autism spectrum disorder based on an orally dissolving form of fluoxetine, the drug used to make the anti-depressant, Prozac.

TROUBLED BLACKS TO CLOSE 45 STORES

Shares in Blacks Leisure (BSLA.L) yesterday fell 1.5 pence to 295 pence after the outdoor clothing and equipment retailer stepped up a review of its operations by appointing Don Trangmar, a non-executive director, to act as consultant to the review. The company, which issued profits warning early in January, said it would scale back the roll-out of its Blacks-out-of town store format and limit openings to two this year.

The Daily Telegraph

HUNTING DOUBLES FULL-YEAR PROFITS

Shares in Hunting (HTG.L) gained 15.5 pence to 635.5 pence after the oil services company reported a better-than-expected full year profits for the second year in a row, reporting a 98 percent rise in profits to 80.8 million pounds on revenues 19 percent higher at 1.81 billion pounds. Chief executive Dennis Proctor said that while that level of performance was unsustainable, the company's management expected that a continued strength in the market would provide excellent growth opportunities.

UK ACCOUNTANT GOES GLOBAL

John Connolly has been promoted to chairman of the global accounting firm Deloitte. Connolly, a senior partner of Deloitte in the UK and Britain's best paid accountant, earning 3.6 million pounds in 2005, will take over from Piet Hoogendoorn, whose seven year term ends in June. Connolly is the second senior UK accountant to head up the global practice of a "big Four" firm.

JESSOP SHARES PLUNGE FURTHER

Shares in Jessops (JSP.L) plunged for the second day running, falling 30 percent to an all-time low of 52.5 pence after chief executive Chris Langley issued a profit warning on Wednesday, saying that profits would be hit as the troubled retailer slashed prices to lure customers to its stores. The company, which only a few months ago was expected to make pre-tax profits of 19 million pounds, is now expected to make only 6.5 million pounds this year.

The Guardian

REUTERS TO START FINANCIAL MYSPACE