Private equity firm Apollo succeeding with its takeover of Restaurant Group (RTN) would represent a major turning point for the UK stock market. It would mean investors could no longer access a high street-focused casual dining chain operator on the London Stock Exchange of any scale.Restaurant Group's primary asset is Wagamama, a 165-strong nationwide chain offering Asian-style food....

Many investors feel deflated if one of their holdings issues a profit warning soon after their IPO (initial public offering). It can feel like a double whammy: you're disappointed by an investment not going well, plus you feel let down by a company recently making a splash with its stock market debut, full of promise for greater things ahead.A 57% share price decline in retailer Footasylum...

October and November are on course to be two of the busiest months for new stock market entrants this year. By my calculations there are 12 confirmed IPOs (initial public offerings) about to happen on the UK stock market and rumours of nearly another 20 companies set to float in the coming months or early in 2018.The past few weeks has already seen numerous companies list on either London's...

Restaurant operator Tasty (TAST:AIM) is struggling to whip up investor appetite after warning that the weak trading environment is continuing to impact sales and margins. Pre-tax profit before pre-opening costs and non-trade items has plummeted from approximately £1.6m to £210,000 in the 26 weeks to 2 July 2017.Sales increased 11.8% to approximately £24.4m, but that is only after opening...

Restaurants operator Richoux (RIC:AIM) is latest quoted casual dining firm to experience a bad start to 2017, following similar pains experienced by Comptoir (COM:AIM) and Tasty (TAST:AIM) Its shares fell 27% on 27 April in response to the news, not helped by saying it needs to raise more money. Former Prezzo boss Jonathan Kaye is now overseeing a revamp of its estate.

Middle Eastern-themed restaurant business Comptoir (COM:AIM) has become the second AIM-quoted casual dining stock to scale back expansion plans this year. This news, together with a poor start to trading this year, sends the share price falling 3.9% to 49p.There is too much supply in the casual dining industry, in our opinion. The proliferation of new brands and rapid expansion of existing...

It is possible to shelter part of your wealth from the taxman by investing in certain AIM-quoted stocks. Your estate won't have to pay the 40% inheritance tax (IHT) charge upon your death for any investments in AIM stocks that qualify for business property relief (BPR), subject to certain conditions.Frustratingly the taxman, HMRC, refuses to publish a list of qualifying stocks because a...

A 'Remain' vote at the EU referendum could trigger a new wave of IPOs (initial public offerings). The pipeline of flotations has been noticeably thin in the run up to the Brexit vote, which suggests many firms didn't want to risk an IPO until they knew the outcome.The brave few who have pushed the button include tenpin bowling operator Hollywood Bowl which hopes to join London's Main Market in...

The London stock market opens modestly lower with a swathe of negative corporate announcements weighing on already fragile confidence. EU Referendum concerns continue while investors are waiting on a key speech from US central bank chairwoman Janet Yellen later today.The FTSE 100 index drifts around 10 points lower to 6,190, while midcap FTSE 250 stocks are also in decline.In corporate news,...