GAS LEAK CLOSES L&G OFFICE FOR THE DAY
LEGAL & General had the opportunity to test its contingency plans yesterday, after a gas leak forced the firm to close its Moorgate mother-ship.
City types said that the road outside L&G’s Coleman Street corporate headquarters was in a state of disarray in the morning as workers frantically fought to deal with the leak, which had occurred during the night.
But, ever-prepared, L&G’s investment operations were re-located to a back-up facilities in Southwark, while the rest of its 750-strong staff worked from home or the company’s office in Kingswood, Surrey. So far, so good.
The Capitalist just hopes L&G had its building insurance paperwork in order because, from personal experience, the process of claiming for this kind of thing can be a real bind.
VIVE LA FRANCAIS
With the whole of France being given the day off today to celebrate the 220th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, it seems fitting that French expatriates in London should have their own symbol of national pride.
Cue the voting for year three of the “Francais of the Year Awards” – the opportunity for the 350,000 French expatriates in London to elect the compatriots they feel have contributed the most to the economic and cultural wealth of our fair city.
The nominees, to be announced today, show the increasing influence our friends across the channel have in the City – with new London Stock Exchange chief Xavier Rolet and incoming Prudential chief executive Tidjane Thiam both up for the award for best manager.
Other categories include best chef, best sportsman and best artist, and les francais de Londres can go online to vote from today. The winners will be announced a a “star-studded event” in October.
And for those who are wondering…no, you can’t just have the day off instead.
UP AND DOWN
From the pride of France to the pride (hic) of Ireland. Magners maker C&C yesterday corrected its trading statement, which said last week that sales had risen by three per cent in the first four months of the year. They had, in fact, fallen by five per cent.
It’s fair enough, really. Spending all that time around the product would make me confused too.
QUIDS IN
Personal butlers may be out, but generous tipping in restaurants is definitely in – and there’s no bigger tipper than former AIG boss Hank Greenberg, who last week won a landmark $4.3bn (£2.7bn) share-stealing lawsuit against his former employer. In fact, The Capitalist hears 84-year-old Greenberg’s generosity extends as far as to leave gratuities for healthcare staff at his local New York hospital, just in case. “Perhaps we should all take a leaf out of his book,” says my man in the blue scrubs.