The fine art of being contrarian gets its night out in Mayfair April 2, 2014 CITY FIGURES joined with journalists, campaigners and politicians in Mayfair last night for the Contrarian Prize giving – where human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith walked away with the gong. The prize was set up by ING banker Ali Miraj to recognise those who go against the grain to stand up for what they believe. Last [...]
Aerie Wharf: 19 towers planned April 2, 2014 The Capitalist hotfooted it over to the Building Centre near Goodge St yesterday for the preview of exhibition “London’s Growing Up.” The Centre’s scale model of London had additional white models for buildings already in process and coloured tags where towers have been approved. As you can see, Canary Wharf and the surrounding area is [...]
Glaxo gives up on cancer trial April 2, 2014 UK-BASED pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline announced yesterday that it has called time on clinical trials for a vaccine to tackle lung cancer. Its shares closed down 0.7 per cent after the company said it is not possible to find a sub-group of patients that could benefit. Glaxo warned on 20 March that the so-called Mage-A3 vaccine [...]
First Group hit by US weather April 2, 2014 BUS AND rail company First Group was dealt a £14m blow in the first quarter of 2014 due to extreme freezing weather conditions in the US, the firm said yesterday. Its American arms First Student and Greyhound were affected, with annual revenues expected to be down by 1.8 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively. But [...]
Watchdog drops most of hospital break-up order April 2, 2014 THE NEW competition watchdog has rowed back on break-up plans for London’s private hospitals, in a surprise decision that has been welcomed by some companies but left others baffled. After two years of investigations the Competition and Markets Authority, known until this week as the Competition Commission, said one or two London hospitals must be [...]
SSP poaches WH Smith exec April 2, 2014 SSP CHIEF executive Kate Swann has poached one of her top former employees at high street retailer WH Smith to lead the travel concession group’s UK & Ireland business. The private equity-owned group, which owns chains like Delice de France and also runs outlets for Marks & Spencer, said yesterday that Simon Smith, managing director [...]
Investors break up with Cupid April 2, 2014 Online dating firm Cupid yesterday saw its share price plummet 14.75 per cent after it reported a widening loss of £7.36m last year. Cupid, which said claims it created user profiles to entice new users were unfounded, said 2013 had been an inflection point for the business which will now embark on a new three-year [...]
SafeCharge raises £76m on AIM April 2, 2014 Payment service provider SafeCharge raised £75.75m yesterday during its first day of trading on the London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM). SafeCharge, which is majority owned by Israeli entrepreneur Teddy Sagi, handles transactions for European betting companies and also for businesses in the foreign exchange trading sector. Shares in the firm closed at 169.5p yesterday, above [...]
Sweett looks at possible deception April 2, 2014 Shares in property surveyor Sweett Group tumbled 28 per cent to 36.5p yesterday after the firm said it was opening a fresh investigation into possible employee deception. The firm, which started probing claims of fraud last year, remains in talks with the Serious Fraud Office. Sweett said yesterday that evidence had emerged suggesting “material instances [...]
Chiquito owner serves up a new chief executive April 2, 2014 THE RESTAURANT Group, the owner of Chiquito and Frankie & Bennys restaurant chains, said yesterday that it has promoted the head of its leisure business Danny Breithaupt to the role of chief executive. Breithaupt, who has worked at The Restaurant Group for over 10 years, will take over as chief executive at the beginning of [...]