FSA brings £1bn fraud case March 5, 2012 Seven men were accused in court yesterday of a £1m fraud using confidential bank documents in the largest insider dealing case ever brought before court by the UK financial regulator. A lawyer for the Financial Services Authority told Southwark Crown Court that the men used inside information to place spread bets on companies shortly before [...]
Misys battle heats up with third entrant March 5, 2012 SHARES in Misys jumped six per cent to 335p yesterday as a third suitor entered the race for the software company just hours before Temenos’ deadline to confirm or withdraw its interest. ValueAct, Misys’ largest shareholders with a 21.5 per cent stake, has joined forces with private equity group CVC Capital Partners and is considering [...]
The Misys – or is that Midas – touch March 5, 2012 WHEN Misys allegedly turned its nose up at Fidelity National last summer, considering itself better than the 400p per share it was offered, the City raised its eyebrows. And when Misys’ share price almost halved in the last six months of 2011, many came close to saying “I told you so”. But now the City [...]
Drop in China’s econonic growth target sends markets into a spin March 5, 2012 MARKETS fell around the world as China cut its official economic growth target to its lowest level in eight years yesterday. Premier Wen Jiabao lowered the target growth rate from eight per cent to 7.5 per cent, claiming the slower level allowed for “higher level, higher quality development”. The FTSE fell 0.61 per cent, the [...]
Glencore boss fires shot at deal critics March 5, 2012 GLENCORE chief executive Ivan Glasenberg yesterday said the company’s “naysayers” who were trying to torpedo the proposed $37bn (£23bn) bid for miner Xstrata were failing to appreciate its potential. Glasenberg (pictured) said all sides would benefit from the extra clout the pair would have on world markets. However Standard Life, which has a 2.2 per cent [...]
Cable: quotas for women on boards not needed in UK March 5, 2012 BUSINESS secretary Vince Cable yesterday criticised EU plans to enforce quotas across the continent to increase the number of women on boards, saying the UK was “making the voluntary approach work”. Justice commissioner Viviane Reding threatened to take the matter out of national hands yesterday, saying that the EU was preparing to take legal steps [...]
BP shares rise after agreement over compensation with Gulf spill victims March 5, 2012 SHARES in BP rose almost two per cent yesterday after the oil giant reached a settlement with businesses and individuals affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill worth an estimated $7.8bn (£4.9bn). Some analysts said the expected payout was less than they had forecast, reduced legal uncertainty and suggested the final settlement with BP’s [...]
F&C values drop despite buyout lift March 5, 2012 A STRONG performance from private equity helped Foreign & Colonial Investment Trust escape the worst of the industry slump last year despite a drop in value. F&C said its private equity portfolio rose by 13.8 per cent and cash distributions from its stake in the sector more than doubled to £66.9m. “We reached an important [...]
Cinven sets sail for haven of Guernsey March 5, 2012 CINVEN, the private equity giant behind Pizza Express, is transferring its management vehicle to the tax haven of Guernsey. Its move to Guernsey, a tiny island of around 60,000 people, brings its legal structure in line with much of the rest of the private equity industry. The buyout firm will also become a limited liability [...]
Nordgold is first client to join Jefferies Hoare Govett March 5, 2012 NORDGOLD, the gold producing company spun off by the Russian group Severstal, yesterday appointed Jefferies Hoare Govett as its corporate broker and financial adviser, the first broking win for the newly-merged firm. Peter Bacchus, global head of metals and mining investment banking, said that Nordgold, which is currently valued at about £2bn, “is a fantastic [...]