Business in brief: PZ Cussons | Octopus | Energy Assets

PZ CUSSONS said its core UK brands – Carex, Imperial Leather and Original Source – have performed well despite intense promotional activity and “challenging consumer conditions”.

Its beauty division saw growth in international markets compensate for a tougher trading environment in the UK.

• OCTOPUS Investments has upped its stake in online business marketplace provider Blur Group. Blur, founded by Letts diary heir Philip Letts, posted a 216 per cent rise in revenues this week in its first annual results since joining the Alternative Investment Market. Octopus, which is also a customer of Blur’s Global Services Exchange, now has a stake of more than 3 per cent.

• DAVID Goldie, former chief executive of mobile-phone service provider Martin Dawes and Opal Telecom, has joined the board of Livingston-based gas-meter provider Energy Assets as a non-executive director. The former Carphone Warehouse executive will also join the firm’s audit committee and assume the role of chairman of the remuneration committee.