Interim management firm Ashton Penney has listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). The firm is the only AIM-listed interim management specialist, providing senior and board level managers across the UK and Europe.

Chief executive James Wheeler has a business plan to create the UK’s number one interim management firm within three years.

“The accountability and increased visibility that a stock exchange listing creates will continue to enhance the reputation of interim management as an essential resource to the public and private sectors,” he said.

Shares in the firm are worth 11p, giving it a total value of £4m.

Trinity Mirror’s takeover of Hotgroup is going ahead, according to an announcement to the London Stock Exchange.

The AIM-listed recruitment firm’s directors, including Tony Reeves and Harvey Sinclair, have already agreed to sell their shares to Trinity, as are institutional investors Morley and New Star.

This means that Trinity now owns 27.4% of Hotgroup. Trinity is offering investors in the firm £20.25p per share. Provided the remaining shareholders sell up, the deal will be completed this week.