The co-founders of Hotel Chocolat, Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris, will receive £144m ($180m) each after agreeing to sell the UK luxury chocolate business to Mars, which has agreed to pay £534m for the high-end chocolatier.
FTSE 100 hit session low of 7,639.45 at open US stocks seen higher as earnings flow UK retail sales boosted by scorching weather 2.30pm: Going underground A.
FTSE 100 adds 18 points US stock indexes all higher again UK retail sales helped by sunny weather 4.45pm: Green end to the week The FTSE 100 ended the week.