Jeremy Hunt to challenge Saudi authorities over Khashoggi murder November 12, 2018 The foreign minister Jeremy Hunt will challenge the Saudi authorities over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi when he visits the kingdom today. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and prominent critic of the Saudi Government, was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month. The kingdom has since arrested 18 Saudi men and promised [...]
Hold wants you to put down your phone and reward you – this is how marketing can be more mindful of our health November 12, 2018 There's a famous quote by graffiti artist Banksy from 2004 about advertising that’s too long to post here, but in summary accuses “The Advertisers” of butting into consumers’ lives with ads that “leer at you from tall buildings, and make you feel small”. An oversimplification, of course, and perhaps a glib way to start a [...]
Sadiq Khan: UK must remain clearing king after Brexit November 12, 2018 London mayor Sadiq Khan will weigh in on the debate over Europe's post-Brexit clearing industry today, warning the EU that it must guarantee firms continued access to the UK in the event of a “no deal” scenario. Khan will tell German finance minister Olaf Scholz that EU banks and traders should not be permanently “locked out” [...]
Bottoms up: Diageo sells off Seagram’s and other booze brands for $550m to US rival Sazerac November 12, 2018 British brewer Diageo is set to shift 19 brands out of its drinks cabinet for a total of $550m (£428.1m) in order to focus on classier tipples, it said today. The company behind drinks such as Guinness and Smirnoff will sell the brands to US rival Sazerac, parting with brands Seagram’s VO, Seagram’s 83, Seagram’s Five Star, Myers’s Rum, [...]
Johnston Press shares rocket following reports the Daily Mail might buy the i newspaper November 12, 2018 Shares in struggling newspaper publisher Johnston Press soared by more than 20 per cent this morning following reports that the Daily Mail’s parent company was preparing to snap up its national flagship the i newspaper. Johnston Press, which owns The Scotsman and The Yorkshire Post as well as smaller regional titles across the UK, put itself [...]
Babcock blasts ‘false and malicious’ report by anonymous analyst November 12, 2018 Babcock has said it is trying to track down the author of an anonymous analyst’s note which questioned the company’s relationship with the Ministry of Defence. Shares in the FTSE 250 engineering services company have not recovered since dropping four per cent after the note was released last month. But now Babcock has hit back, saying [...]
Funeral provider Dignity sees share price slide as profits drop amid rising competition November 12, 2018 Funeral provider Dignity saw shares slide more than six per cent today after it reported a £10.8m drop in profits. The 14 per cent dip in profit to £68.6m in the year to the end of September, compared to £79.4m in the same period last year, comes as the group fought off competition from rivals. [...]
Big pharma: Takeda sets date for shareholder vote on $62bn Shire merger November 12, 2018 Takeda Pharmaceutical will ask shareholders to vote on buying biotechnology firm Shire for $62bn (£48bn) on 5 December, it revealed today. Takeda hopes to complete the purchase of the Dublin-based company on 8 January after holding the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) with shareholders and gaining approval from the European Commission. “The acquisition of Shire will [...]
Stobart and former boss Andrew Tinkler to begin courtroom battle this morning November 12, 2018 The bitter boardroom battle between Stobart and a former company boss will come to a head this morning as the trial into the dismissal of Andrew Tinkler gets under way. The Southend Airport owner claims Tinkler led an unlawful conspiracy against the company with an unsuccessful attempt to topple chairman Iain Ferguson in July. Tinkler [...]
The Restaurant Group prepares to raise £315m for Wagamama deal despite criticism November 12, 2018 The Restaurant Group (TRG) pushed ahead with a rights issue to raise £315m to finance its acquisition of Wagamama today, despite concerns from analysts and investors. The rights issue to raise cash for the takeover will be underwritten by JP Morgan Securities, TRG said this morning, in a deal valuing the chain at £559m. “This a transformative deal [...]