Goldenport plans £220m LSE float November 3, 2005 Greek shipping line Goldenport said it plans to raise £80m through an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange to buy more ships and pay off debt. Analysts put its market value at around £220m. A spokesman for Goldenport said that it plans to issue its prospectus and float on the LSE’s main market [...]
Ryanair gambling on giving away its seats November 3, 2005 Fancy a flutter when you fly? Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary says the no-frills carrier is hoping to sign a partnership with a gaming company to introduce inflight gambling in a move which could mean passengers travel for free on Europe’s largest carrier. O’Leary said his bold plan to introduce an airborne Las Vegas could see [...]
BAA jobs to go despite profit rise November 2, 2005 Airports operator BAA said it will axe 700 jobs, almost 6 per cent of its workforce, despite posting a 5 per cent increase in half-year pre-tax profits. The business, which operates seven of Britain’s airports, posted pre-tax profit up 5.2 per cent to £366m, on sharply increased sales, up 6.4 per cent, of £1.2bn. It [...]
P&O bidding war hots up November 1, 2005 Shares in P&O Ferries surged yesterday as the prospect of a bidding war for the group intensified after it confirmed Dubai Ports World had made a takeover offer. P&O shares rocketed to 425p in early trade and ended the day 30 per cent up at 404p. It is understood UAE government-owned Dubai Ports will face [...]
P&O faces £3bn bid from Dubai October 31, 2005 P&O, the ferries, ports and freight business, is bracing itself for a takeover approach from Dubai Ports World that could value the company at up to £3bn. Britain’s largest ports group, and the fourth largest in the world, said last night it had received an approach from a third party, although it declinedto identify the [...]
Southern in £2.5m probe October 26, 2005 Soutern Water may have to pay up to £2.5m in compensation to customers after irregularities were discovered in its queries and complaints procedures. In an unprecedented move the company, which supplies water and sewerage services to 2.3m homes and businesses, has informed industry regulator Ofwat that it may have misled the watchdog over the level [...]
BA: Ryanair passengers ‘like freight’ October 20, 2005 British Airways boss Willie Walsh has shocked the airline industry with an attack on Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary. Walsh slammed the low-cost airline claiming that it treats its passengers worse than BA treats freight. In an interview with CityA.M. Walsh said: “I think we actually treat our freight better than he treats his passengers.” The [...]
Alstom tube contract under threat October 18, 2005 Transport for London, the body responsible for public transport in the capital, will seek legal advice this week in a bid to break the French company Alstom’s 20-year, £429m contract to build and maintain trains on the Northern Line. The Northern Line was suspended last Thursday after unions raised safety concerns about the emergency braking [...]