CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS June 24, 2010 Hogan Lovells The law firm has boosted its banking team by hiring Stuart Brinkworth from rival SJ Berwin. Brinkworth is a partner at SJ Berwin, where he specialises in leveraged buy-outs, public bids, trade purchases and recapitalisations. He recently acted on key deals including advising lenders to Manchester City FC in connection with the £210m [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS June 24, 2010 ENDESA UBS has upgraded Endesa to “buy” from “neutral” citing three reasons for the move. It says re-gearing could imply 60 per cent total return over two years, the possibility of a minority buyout provides support to the stock, and rising power prices give it positive earnings momentum. BASF Nomura gives BASF a “buy” rating [...]
FRESH APPEAL FOR CONRAD BLACK June 24, 2010 THE US Supreme Court yesterday put strict new limits on prosecutors’ abilities to charge white collar criminals. The ruling opens a window of opportunity for two convicted former executives who are currently in prison: Conrad Black of Hollinger International (above) and Jeffrey Skilling, Enron’s former chief executive. The Court said both cases could be reviewed [...]
DS Smith rises as profits soar 227pc to £55m June 24, 2010 DS SMITH, the supplier of packaging and office products, has more than tripled its pre-tax profits on the back of a strong recovery in demand among its industrial and consumer goods clients. The firm notched up a 227 per cent rise in profits to £55m in the year to 30 April on sales of £2.1bn. [...]
WPP’s Sorrell bullish on ad market future June 24, 2010 ADVERTISING firm WPP’s full-year revenue forecast, raised in April, is likely too pessimistic, the group’s chief executive said, despite warning the UK market would be tougher due to deep government budget cuts. The world’s largest advertising company by sales was overly optimistic last year and therefore is being cautious this year with its forecast for [...]
Strikes at Eskom threaten World Cup power supply June 24, 2010 A UNION representing thousands of workers at South African utility Eskom has won the right to begin a strike, which could disrupt power supply and hurt industry and mines during the Soccer World Cup. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it had been granted a certificate of non-resolution of the wage dispute with Eskom, [...]
Australian bank investors lose US court case June 24, 2010 FOREIGN investors who bought shares of National Australia Bank on an overseas stock exchange cannot sue in a New York court over large writedowns related to the bank’s onetime US mortgage unit, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday. The justices upheld a ruling by a US appeals court that dismissed the lawsuit on the grounds that [...]
Sants warns over regulation shake-up June 24, 2010 CHOPPY markets and growing European Union powers will pose big challenges for the country’s transition to a new financial supervisory system, a top regulator said. The government announced last week it would scrap the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and fold many of its powers into a new Bank of England subsidiary by 2012. The aim [...]
BAA lowers earnings forecast by £10m June 24, 2010 AIRPORT operator BAA has lowered its 2010 earnings forecast by £10m reflecting the impact of the volcanic ash cloud, strikes by British Airways cabin crew and bad weather. BAA, which is owned by Spain’s Ferrovial, forecast that its 2010 adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation would be £946M based on its expectation of [...]
DSG to rebrand as Dixons June 24, 2010 DSG International has posted an expected 61 per cent rise in full-year profit and forecast more growth in 2010-11. The firm, which owns the Currys and PC World chains said that although the economic backdrop in Europe would remain challenging in the current year it was well placed to continue to grow profits. DSG also [...]