MPs urged to mutualise Rock September 27, 2009 BUILDING societies have urged the government to put Northern Rock back under customer ownership, arguing the move would help create a stronger financial services sector. Northern Rock and other failed banks should be turned into building societies, or “mutualised”, and allowed to repay their taxpayer stakes over time, according to the Building Societies Association (BSA). [...]
BBVA in 2bn bond issue to bolster its capital base September 27, 2009 SPANISH bank BBVA said yesterday it had raised €2bn (£1.8bn) in a sale of convertible bonds, outstripping the €1bn it had initially intended to issue. “BBVA’s clients have expressed a very favourable opinion of the transparency of the issue and of its attractive return, with a fixed 5 per cent coupon for five years,” a [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS September 27, 2009 F&CF&C has appointed Philip Martin as Head of Proposition for its UK retail business. He was formerly at Nucleus Financial Group which he co-founded in 2006.Martin has worked at the Life Association of Scotland, Ivory & Sime and Scottish Life International. He ran his own strategic marketing and product development consultancy, Abacus, before co-founding Nucleus. [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS September 27, 2009 DSG INTERNATIONALMorgan Stanley downgraded DSG International to “underweight” and recommended investors take profits following the 50 per cent price increase over the last three months. The broker said that, although it believes that DSGI offers more leveraged upside in a consumer recovery than any other stock it covers, its bull case scenario playing out looks [...]
Bank of America refutes charge September 27, 2009 Bank of America Corp formally denied US Securities and Exchange Commission claims accusing it of misleading shareholders about bonuses it let Merrill Lynch pay employees before their merger at the start of the year. It is seeking an order dismissing the complaint.
Blacks to put itself through CVA September 27, 2009 Blacks Leisure Group, the outdoor goods retailer, is intending to go through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) to secure its survival. The move would include cutting around 400 jobs, and losing 80 of its 400 Blacks, Millets and Free Spirit stores. KPMG will lead the CVA process as Blacks looks to secure its future.
Rugby club plans to float shares September 27, 2009 Rugby Union champions Leicester Tigers are planning to float next year. The club is making plans for a dual listing on the Channel Islands stock exchange and either London’s Aim or Plus market. The club’s shares are currently valued at over £10m, but the business is expected to generate a higher value when it floats.
Swedish firm to bid for Saab September 27, 2009 Koenigsegg’s chief executive said on Saturday that the Swedish luxury sport car marker still aimed to finalise a deal to buy Saab Automobile from General Motors by the end of October. However, the deal can only go ahead if the company secures loans from the European Investment Bank by Wednesday.
Time Warner to sell its Time unit September 27, 2009 Time Warner Inc is expected to sell the Time magazine unit, as well as spinning off America Online. The group is thought to be planning to sell off all sections of its business other than Warner Brothers, HBO and the Turner Networks. Time Inc’s magazines include titles such as People and Sports Illustrated.
Designed by a City woman: a wardrobe that works, even at 7AM September 27, 2009 IT is not easy to pin Tamara Rajah down. At 27, she is a full-time management consultant at a top firm, a fashion designer, retailer and in the process of setting up a mentoring scheme for women entering the City. Taking time out to meet me meant scrambling meetings, delicately readjusting her work schedule and [...]