Pret a Manger has reported a jump in 2012 profits of 17pc to £443m. The sandwich chain, owned by the private equity group Bridgepoint says it is creating 1,000 new jobs worldwide, of which 500 will be in the UK.
Reckitt Benckiser, which makes Durex, Dettol and Nurofen, has said net revenues rose 7pc in the first quarter to £2.5bn.
The betting group Betfair has announced it has rejected a 880p a share offer from CVC Capital Partners it received on Friday saying it “fundamentally undervalues the company.” Gerald Corbett, chairman of Betfair, said the company has a “unique business with a market position, profitability, cash flow and prospects that this proposal fails to recognise.”