THE DAILY BRIEFING

MUSICAL CHAIRS Ian Durant, chairman of Greggs and Capital & Counties Properties, has been appointed to the same role at DFS, replacing Richard Baker, who announced his departure in December after nearly seven years at the furniture firm.

MONEY MAN Business broadband provider Toople has signed up former TalkTalk Business finance director Geoffrey Wilson as its part-time chief financial officer.

Wilson will hold the role until a permanent replacement is hired. PIZZA POST Newsagent operator McColl’s has appointed Pizza Hut chief executive Jens Hofma as an independent non-executive director. Hofma, 50, will join McColl’s audit, remuneration, and nomination committees.

DIAMOND BACK Shareholders have overwhelmingly backed a £15.5m takeover of City stockbroker Panmure

Gordon by disgraced ex-Barclays boss Bob Diamond, with 99.9pc of votes cast supporting it. The stock fell 0.6pc, or 0.56p, to 98p.

DRIVEN HIGHER Car insurer Hastings has raised premiums following a legal change that forces it to give seriously injured crash victims more compensation. Its revenues hit £164.5m in the first three months of 2017, up 24pc on a year earlier. Shares climbed 1.7pc, or 5p, to 302.3p.

BANK LIFT Swiss bank UBS made a £1.3bn profit in the first quarter, up 72pc on a year earlier thanks to the improving global economy.

DRINK UP Sales of Brockmans gin hit an all-time high last year, with revenue jumping nearly 90pc during 2016 to £5.4m.

The Lancashire distiller entered 11 new markets, including South Korea, Indonesia, Peru and Finland. £6.5M DEAL Business funding company Renaissance Asset Finance has been bought by Arbuthnot Banking Group for up to £6.5m, depending on its future profits. Arbuthnot shares fell 0.8pc, or 12.5p, to 1550p.