The Restaurant Group confirms £559m Wagamama takeover and thanks shareholders after narrow vote December 24, 2018 The Restaurant Group has confirmed its £559m takeover of Wagamama and thanked shareholders who narrowly voted through the deal. The Frankie and Benny's owner had been set for a shareholder showdown after a number of investors voiced their intentions to vote down the proposed acquisition to buy Wagamama from private equity firm Duke Street last [...]
Sir Martin Sorrell’s S4 Capital ready to compete ‘at the highest levels’ after confirming Mightyhive takeover December 24, 2018 Sir Martin Sorrell’s new company S4 Capital has completed a merger with US advertising group Mightyhive and is now “in a position to compete at the highest levels.” The company announced the closing of the merger today and welcomed three new board members, Mightyhive principals Pete Kim and Chris Martin and Stanhope chief executive Daniel [...]
Japan extends ex-Nissan boss Ghosn’s detention by 10 days December 23, 2018 A Japanese court has today extended the detention of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn for an extra 10 days, after he was re-arrested on Friday. Ghosn is now facing fresh allegations of dumping ¥1.85bn (£13.1m) in personal losses on his former firm, in addition to earlier allegations of financial misconduct. The extension means Ghosn will [...]
Gatwick drone pair released by police without charge December 23, 2018 A pair of suspects arrested in the Gatwick Airport drone inquiry have been released without charge today. A 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman from Crawley were arrested by Sussex Police yesterday on suspicion of "the criminal use of drones" near the Gatwick airfield on Wednesday and Thursday. More than 140,000 passengers were hit by delays [...]
Italy wins Senate approval for 2019 budget December 23, 2018 The Italian government has won a vote of confidence in its budget for next year in the upper house this morning, racing to gain approval before the year-end deadline. The budget will now pass to the lower house of parliament for a vote by 31 December, so that it can take effect before the start [...]
Former Liberal Democrats leader Paddy Ashdown dies aged 77 December 23, 2018 British politician and former leader of the Liberal Democrats Lord Paddy Ashdown has passed away after being treated for cancer, aged 77. Once a marine commando and diplomat, Ashdown was the Liberal Democrats' longest-serving leader for 11 years between 1988 and 1999, also serving as an MP for Yeovil. He died last night after a battle with [...]
O2 will trial Huawei 5G equipment despite security concerns and growing political tension December 22, 2018 British mobile phone network provider O2 will go ahead with trialling Huawei's 5G equipment in the New Year, despite increasing political tension surrounding the Chinese telecoms firm. It will be the first time that the equipment is used in the UK since concerns about the company's security were raised by both the UK and US. Despite warnings that [...]
Northern Line extension to Battersea Power Station faces 12 month delay in latest TfL setback December 22, 2018 The £1.1bn Northern Line extension to Battersea Power Station has been delayed by at least 12 months in the latest setback for cash-strapped Transport for London. The two mile spur from Kennington was forecast to open in 2020 but will now not be ready until September 2021 at the earliest, pushing up the project's cost. London mayor Sadiq Khan [...]
Deutsche Boerse accepts €10.5m fines over insider trading case involving former boss December 22, 2018 Deutsche Borse has accepted fines of €10.5m (£9.4m) issued by a Frankfurt court following an insider trading case involving the German stock exchange’s former boss Carsten Kengeter. The court fines Deutsche Borse €5m for an alleged breach of the insider trading ban in December 2015 and a further €5.5m for failing to make a public [...]
Jeremy Corbyn: Brexit will go ahead if Labour win a snap election December 22, 2018 Leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn has said that Brexit would go ahead if Labour won a snap election in the New Year. Corbyn has insisted he would try and secure a better deal with Brussels should Labour take power but refused to rule out a second EU referendum. "My proposal at this moment is [...]