Drugs giant AbbVie flicks privacy switch on corporate jet
With market watchers eagerly awaiting news of a deal between Shire and AbbVie yesterday, AbbVie was taking no chances of progress being tracked by way of its corporate jet.
There was literally a radio silence from the drugmaker, whose nine-passenger jet has been eagerly followed to chart the chances of a transatlantic takeover.
In the last week, the wood-panelled executive people-mover has flown from Chicago, where AbbVie is headquartered, to Washington DC, New Jersey and Boca Raton, Florida.
Keen to stop any sneak peeks at the deal action, the luxury Bombardier Challenger 300’s tracking system has now been made unavailable “per request from the owner/ operator”. Spoilsports.
■ Changing the name of London’s Heron Tower to “Salesforce Tower” was never likely to be hugely popular, and this week the City of London Corporation will meet to decide whether or not to approve the renaming. The decision has already faced opposition from Bishopsgate councillor Tom Sleigh, and now disapproving City types can express their views by signing an online petition. Launched on savelondonskyline.co.uk, the campaign says “we need your help to stop London’s Skyline being rebranded by the highest bidder”, urging folk to email the City of London, sign the petition, and to spread the word to their friends. And it seems as if the word really needs to be spread – as of last night, only one person had signed. Chop chop.
■ The Farnborough International Airshow got underway yesterday, but conspicuous by its absence at the start of the show was the F-35B Lightning II fighter jet. The entire fleet is still grounded following US Department of Defence (DOD) safety concerns after one of the planes in the US suffered an engine fire at the end of last month. Event organisers at the Farnborough Air Show said they still hope the plane may make an appearance by the end of the week once the US DOD provides clearance. At the show, US Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan said: “We’re not giving up yet. We still have a few more days left to try to get the airplane over here.” Let’s hope it roars on over soon!