Novartis hopeful its new drug will be defence against meningitis B September 12, 2010 SWISS drugmaker Novartis said Phase III study data indicated a vaccine it was developing could be the first to provide coverage against a type of meningitis. Novartis said that in a trial involving more than 3,600 infants the large majority of those vaccinated with the investigational Multicomponent Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine along with other routine [...]
Foxtons set to open 20 new branches September 12, 2010 ESTATE agents Foxtons is to launch an ambitious expansion drive almost doubling the number of branches it currently has after returning to profit. The move will aim to increase Foxton’s presence in its core markets of London and the Home Counties. Last year BC Partners, the private equity firm which bought Foxtons for £360m just [...]
Government cuts herald tough times for services firms September 12, 2010 CONNAUGHT’S high-profile collapse has ushered in a period of intense difficulty for other services companies, according to the latest monthly City A.M./Begbies Traynor health monitor for the Square Mile. The social housing maintenance specialist, which fell into administration last week, is not alone in having felt the pressure of impending government spending cutbacks and poor-quality [...]
Trinity Mirror executive on shortlist to succeed Montgomery at Mecom September 12, 2010 TRINITY MIRROR executive Mark Hollinshead has emerged as a surprise candidate to succeed David Montgomery at the helm of European publisher Mecom. Hollinshead, who is responsible for the Daily Mirror and People in his role as head of Trinity’s national division, is said to be on a shortlist drafted by headhunter Russell Reynolds. Hollinshead has [...]
Enterprise Inns plans disposals September 12, 2010 Pub chain Enterprise Inns could raise up to £100m by selling groups of sites to institutional investors and leasing them back. The leisure company, which owns 7,000 locations across the UK, has until now been offloading individual pubs at auction. It has asked property adviser CB Richard Ellis to look at broadening the programme, it [...]
Entrepreneurs to meet ministers September 12, 2010 The Entrepreneurs’ Union, a group set up by former Dragons’ Den judge Doug Richard to represent small company workers, has been granted an audience with the government after Richard presented business minister Mark Prisk with a manifesto. Richard believes entrepreneurs need to address the system whereby they are “dictated to by the government about what they [...]
VW to make Browning US boss September 12, 2010 Automaker Volkswagen (VW) will name former General Motors and Ford manager Jonathan Browning to head its US operations as early as today, a company source said. Browning joined VW in June and is in charge of the car manufacturer’s national sales companies worldwide.
Still ahead of the curve: Art Laffer rises as Obama hits America’s rich September 12, 2010 WE SPEAK across the gleaming sweep of a boardroom table. Arthur Laffer has grabbed time for an interview while visiting CQS, a hedge fund. He is 70 this year, and the man who transformed the case for lower taxes with one sketch is in demand on this rare visit from the US. Today Laffer has [...]
TRADERS PLUMP FOR THE LIFE OF LEISURE September 12, 2010 CITY traders prone to bemoaning their lengthy working hours and stressful days might want to consider hopping over to New York the next time they get itchy feet. For an attack of the green-eyed monster is sweeping Wall Street after a newspaper profile late last week of the founders of Briargate Trading – who seem [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK September 12, 2010 It was off to Mayfair haunt Just St James on Thursday, as the owner of one of the local boutique firms treated his team to a slap-up lunch. Our diners toasted their work with three bottles of Pol Roger champagne before moving on to starters of lobster ravioli, beef carpaccio and rabbit terrine. They then [...]