Aurum jewellers see sparkling profits

Jewellery giant Aurum Holdings has reported a 10.2% rise

in profits. The news comes as the company is considering a sale.

Aurum is the company behind fashion jewellers Mappin & Webb, Goldsmiths and Watches of Switzerland chains. The company's major stake was by the collapsed Icelandic bank Landsbanki, which put its majority stake on the market last year. According to This is London, the group is thought to have recently attracted the interest of L Capital, the private-equity arm of luxury group LVMH.

Aurum's operating profit jumped by 53% to £18.3 million in the year to 29 January, on revenues of £300.6 million.