Clothes retailer gets shares boost from Net makeover

NEWS Shares in struggling clothes retailer Blakes Clothing rose twenty-fold yesterday as it announced plans to become an Internet investment company. Shares had been suspended in the company, and on their re-placement on the London stock exchange they rose from 7 p to as much as 220p. The company ended the day worth almost £70m, with shares at 147p. The firm also announced the appointment of Edward Spencer-Churchill, son of the duke of Marlborough, and Charles Nasser, founder of ISP ClaraNET, to the board of directors. The company is to complete its transition to an Internet firm with a name change: from February, it will be known as e-xentric plc.