Electronics - Photo Hall

Unions representing the approximately 300 Belgian employees of electronics retail chain Photo Hall have demanded the new owner maintain jobs after the chain’s parent, Spector, announced it was looking for a buyer. Photo Hall last week applied for protection from its creditors while offers are sought.

Pharma - Thrombogenics

Leuven biopharmaceutical company Thrombogenics saw its share price leap by 20% last Friday after a preliminary report from advisers to the US Food and Drugs Administration recommended giving approval to the company’s eye medication ocriplasmin for the US market. The drug is marketed as Jetrea and was earlier in the week the subject of a critical report from the FDA over serious side effects. A final decision by the FDA is expected in October.

Public transport - De Lijn

The safety monitor of Flemish public transport authority De Lijn recorded 2,090 cases of aggression towards staff in 2011, up from 1,667 in 2010. In 72 cases, the staff member was unable to work as a result of an attack for an average of 21 days. According to mobility minister Hilde Crevits, the increase is partly due to better registration of incidents.

Supermarkets - Colruyt

Discount supermarket chain Colruyt has recalled a batch of soya beans of the Nice & Easy brand after traces of salmonella were found. The beans come in 500g packs, barcode number 5400141395785, with sell-by dates from 25 to 29 July.

Telecoms - KPN

KPN Belgium, the subsidiary of the Dutch telecommunications company that owns mobile operator Base, announced a 6.7% increase in turnover in the past quarter to €207 million. KPN is looking for a buyer for Base and last week announced that De Persgroep, the Flemish media firm that owns De Morgen and VTM, was examining the prospectus.