CITY HEAVYWEIGHTS GET THE URGE TO SLOG IT OUT IN THE BOXING RING
THE High Court case rumbling on and on between BGC Partners and Tullett Prebon might not have exactly brought the City’s main money broking camps closer together, but at least it’s helped forge some more playful liaisons between those on the same side.
Tullett’s boss, City veteran Terry Smith, is well known for his prowess as an amateur boxer, having oft challenged his arch-rival, Icap’s Michael Spencer, to a round in the ring (as yet unsuccessfully). Yet word reaches The Capitalist that Smith would also be keen to try his chances in a friendly boxing fight with Ian Rosenblatt, chief of the solicitors’ firm of the same name, which is acting for him in the aforementioned court case.
“Goodness, Terry is much better than me and he’s my client, so I’m not entirely sure it would be good for business,” laughs Rosenblatt, good-naturedly. “But we do have the same trainer – Mark Jarvis, to whom I introduced Terry originally.”
Personally, The Capitalist would love to see the January gloom brightened by some good old-fashioned fisticuffs between two of the City’s best-known heavyweights. Any chance they’d reconsider, all in aid of a good cause?
SKATES ON
A bizarre summons pops into my inbox: namely, an invitation to play ice hockey in Canary Wharf with none other than Tom Glocer, the jovial chief of info giant Thomson Reuters.
Perhaps it’s not quite as strange as it seems – Thomson Reuters, after all, is sponsoring the Wharf’s ice rink this year, and the gaming element is a nod to the winter party theme.
But does Glocer himself have a sporting secret he’s omitted to tell us about?
“He is indeed very sporty – things like skiing, tennis, going to the gym – but there’s no particular affinity with ice hockey,” a spokeswoman explains. “However, he’s clearly confident and has played before, or he would be in danger of getting his fingers sliced off…”
The whole affair does have a deliciously dangerous ring to it.
PLAYING BALL
A couple of facts to point out about Evolution’s Jonathan Moore, one of the City’s most respected high-yield analysts.
Firstly, that he’s one of the most bearish experts out there on Manchester United’s new £500m bond, which he reckons is far riskier than offerings out there from comparable issuers.
And secondly, that he is a dedicated Chelsea Football Club fan and a season ticket holder.
Moore assures us that the two things are unconnected, adding: “I wouldn’t recommend any high yield security from a football club.”
Luckily for him, Chelsea, which relies on Roman Abramovich’s largesse, is unlikely to issue such securities any time soon.
ALL IN A GAME
Intriguing, as one eagle-eyed reader points out, to note the recent performance of the Bank of England Rugby Football Club – which can trace back its history for well over 100 years and rules that any player must either have a family or historical connection to the Bank or be invited by a current team member.
The club has formerly seen on-pitch performances by the institution’s top dogs, including former deputy governor Ernest Harvey (though I understand our Merv and most of his close allies at the top of the Bank prefer to watch rugby than get muddy on the pitch these days ).
Still, despite the club’s usual success, this season sees it lingering down in the doldrums at second-to-bottom on the league table.
As Tim Deane, chief of the club’s kit sponsor Eggcatcher.com, puts it: “Obviously quantitiative easing has been more of a priority recently…”
BRAIN POWER
A call to arms from Laura Jones of investment bank JP Morgan who’s keen to raise City interest for a charity event she’s organising on 4 February.
In order to raise money for two-year old Stella, who suffers from a rare adrenal cancer and needs a huge £250,000 for a lifesaving operation and treatment, Jones will be holding a quiz night and raffle at the Railway Tavern, Liverpool Street. Teams of roughly six are encouraged to bow to their competitive side at the reasonable cost of £5 per person – email laura.jones@jpmorgan.com for more details.
ROOM WITH A VIEW
And finally, those hurrying into Canary Wharf skyscraper One Canada Square for meetings in the next few weeks might like to take a moment to look around and admire the view. And not from the top of the 235.1m tower, either, but from the earthly confines of the lobby, where artist Glenys Barton is exhibiting her work until 19 March.
Barton’s exhibition includes large portraits of the likes of REM’S Michael Stipe, actress and politician Glenda Jackson and actor Daniel Craig, as well as a frieze of hundreds of unique tiny shard portraits around the lift walls.