Marks & Spencer looks to solve legal wrangle with former landlord BNP Paribas December 1, 2015 It’s not just individuals that quibble with their landlords. Marks & Spencer (M&S) is tomorrow hoping to settle a long-running dispute with former landlord BNP Paribas over rent it claims to have overpaid on its old Paddington offices. In July 2011, the high street retailer exercised a break in its leases and served notice on four floors of [...]
St Modwen on track to hit profit targets thanks to New Covent Garden Market boost and regional revival December 1, 2015 St Modwen said it is on track hit full-year profit forecasts, spurred on the by ongoing recovery in the regions, strong investor demand, and a massive valuation gain from its New Covent Garden market scheme. The FTSE 250 company, which is redeveloping Britain’s biggest flower and vegetable market, said occupational demand for its offices in the [...]
Zurich boss Martin Senn steps down after 10 years with the company December 1, 2015 Zurich announced today that its chief executive Martin Senn is stepping down, leaving the company at the end of the year. Tom de Swaan, who has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 2006 and chairman since 2013, has been appointed interim chief executive. A permanent successor for Senn, who has spent [...]
Shares in Home Retail rally over Homebase bid rumours December 1, 2015 Shares in Home Retail Group rose more than three per cent yesterday on the back of reports that the former boss of Garden Centre Group is considering a bid for Homebase. Nicholas Marshall, who stepped down as chief executive of the rival garden retail chain – now called Wyevale Garden Centres – in 2012, told [...]
Petra Diamonds’ share price rallies as banks waive some debt covenants and it agrees to buy De Beers’ Kimberley Mines December 1, 2015 Petra Diamonds’ share price skyrocketed today on the confirmation of its Kimberley mine deal and news lenders had agreed to waive some covenant tests. The company’s shares closed up 12.63 per cent, at 72.25p per share, leading the FTSE 250 higher. The group of lenders, including Absa Bank, FirstRand Bank, IFC and Nedbank, told Petra Diamonds they were [...]
Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Bond’s Spectre blockbusters help Pinewood profits higher December 1, 2015 The double film bonanzas of the year, latest Bond instalment Spectre and the new Star Wars franchise The Force Awakens, have given UK film studio Pinewood a nice boost. The figures Profit before tax for the first half of the year was up 13 per cent to £4.3m while the group's operating profit rocketed 187 [...]
Broadband battles: BT and Virgin Media trade blows over the government’s broadband delivery scheme December 1, 2015 Join us for the latest act in the telco giant drama: Virgin Media has lashed out against the government’s broadband scheme, complaining it gives BT an unfair advantage to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds out of taxpayers’ pockets. BT and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have hit back at claims, [...]
Tandem digital bank granted licence by the Bank of England November 30, 2015 Another digital bank is has been granted a licence to operate in the UK. Tandem, a digital retail bank, has been given its licence by the Bank of England and will now begin the process of constructing its technology platform and meeting capital requirements. Ricky Knox, co-founder of Tandem, said: “We are very excited to [...]
Jupiter’s finance chief Philip Johnson to step down amid shake-up November 30, 2015 Jupiter Fund Management has announced that chief financial officer Philip Johnson is to step down due to changes to the asset manager’s executive committee. Johnson, who was part of the team that saw Jupiter float on the London Stock Exchange in June 2010, said it was a privilege to play a role in the company’s [...]
NHS junior doctor strike suspended as talks with government resume November 30, 2015 NHS junior doctors have called off tomorrow's strike after agreeing to resume talks with health secretary Jeremy Hunt over controversial changes to their contract. Thousands of junior doctors in England were set to walk out tomorrow as well as the 8 and 12 December over the government’s decision to impose a new contract on trainees. However, the [...]