Zucker-bore is set on pushing his Internet.org February 24, 2014 THE TECH geeks currently nerding it out over at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona couldn’t believe their luck that just five days after Facebook splurged $19bn on Whatsapp, the connectivity wunderkind himself Mark Zuckerberg delivered the keynote speech last night. The Facebook chief exec showed up in his trademark jeans and T-shirt and like some [...]
Journo has phone nicked at Mobile Congress February 24, 2014 It might look like fun and games at the Mobile World Congress, with giant Android costumes (pictured) entertaining the crowds, but editor of Tech Crunch UK and co-founder of Tech Hub Mike Butcher had his phone swiped at the event yesterday. “Phone stolen (pick-pocketed) in Barcelona during Mobile World Congress (yes, finally they got me)” [...]
Calver resigns as Mothercare chief executive February 24, 2014 MOTHERCARE chief executive Simon Calver has stepped down just six weeks after a hefty profits warning that sent shares in the baby products chain tumbling by more than a third. The firm brought in the former head of online movie rental service Lovefilm two years ago to lead its turnaround and overhaul its UK estate. [...]
Stellar Primark growth offsets falling sugar sales at AB Foods February 24, 2014 ASSOCIATED British Foods (ABF) said yesterday that first half profits will be in line with forecasts after a standout performance at its clothing chain Primark helped offset falling profits at its sugar business. Sales at Primark, which launched its first two stores in France in the period, were up 13 per cent, driven by new [...]
Bwin.party executives play their cards right for winning pay deal February 24, 2014 BWIN.PARTY shareholders yesterday voted in a new pay scheme offering top executives at the online gaming group up to 550 per cent of their annual salary. At an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in Gibraltar, some 70 per cent of voters waved the new deal through, but a significant 30 per cent objected. The new incentive [...]
Soaring number of low deposit mortgage deals February 24, 2014 NEW FIGURES released this morning suggest that the number of products for the highest loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages has tripled since the surprise launch of the second phase of Help to Buy in October. The number of products available for buyers with only a five per cent deposit has soared from 43 to 132 in less [...]
Plans for a new tower at Vauxhall February 24, 2014 MCLAREN Property and Citygrove have submitted plans to build a 50-storey tower in Vauxhall, joining a string of developers adding to the skyline on London’s south bank. The developers lodged plans with Lambeth Council yesterday for the mix-used scheme at 69-71 Bondway comprising of 450 flats, shops and offices. The scheme, known as New Bondway [...]
Hiscox shores up flood reserves as earnings rise February 24, 2014 SPECIALIST insurer Hiscox yesterday revealed a 12.4 per cent jump in annual pre-tax profit to £244.5m, as the glut of hurricane and catastrophe claims seen in 2012 did not repeat itself. Chief executive Bronek Masojada said it had been “a very good year” for the London-listed group. “We are excited about the opportunities we see [...]
Analyst Views: What do you make of Hiscox’s results? Is there any cause for concern? February 24, 2014 NICK JOHNSON | NUMIS This is another strong result from Hiscox, with ongoing progress in building the group’s retail business on a number of fronts. The company says that the second year with special dividends should not be seen as a pattern, given that it is working hard to deploy capital in value creating sectors. [...]
Hedgie scores stake in Rangers after offering up £1m in loans February 24, 2014 HEDGE fund Laxey Partners yesterday moved to consolidate its control of Glasgow’s Rangers Football Club after contributing to a £1.5m loan, which it can turn into shares in the club. The $2bn activist investor, which is already Rangers’ biggest shareholder with an 11.64 per cent stake, has lined up alongside the club’s director Sandy Easdale [...]