Alchemy calls time on new investments November 17, 2009 Alchemy, the private equity firm that ousted its co-founder Jon Moulton two months ago, has closed its doors to new deals and is winding its existing portfolio down. The firm is understood to have stopped making any new investments – except bolt-ons to companies in its existing portfolio – and is expected to sell off [...]
Tesco finance unit shuns Lloyds and RBS assets November 17, 2009 Tesco is not interested in any assets bailed-out banks Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland will be forced to sell to satisfy EU antitrust worries, the head of Tesco Personal Finance said. Benny Higgins also said on the sidelines of the Euro Finance Week conference yesterday that Tesco might not launch a current account until [...]
C&W to raise 200m as it unveils demerger plan November 17, 2009 Telecoms group Cable & Wireless (C&W) is to split itself in two in a de-merger and tap the bond market to fund the deal. C&W will de-merge its worldwide unit, which supplies services to blue-chip companies in Europe, Asia and the US, from its international division, which provides fixed-line, mobile and broadband services in the Caribbean, [...]
FIGHT FOR CITY OPENS UP WITH A GOOD CUPPA November 17, 2009 IF THERE’S one City high-flier who finds it hard to say no to a new opportunity, it must be Stuart Popham, the jovial senior partner of legal giant Clifford Chance. Popham – in addition to his role at the head of the world’s largest law firm, his chairmanship of the CBI’s London council, and his [...]
cruise control November 17, 2009 IF I told you that I recently indulged in a spot of mid-week mud-larking, then where would you picture me? The wilds of Scotland? The Yorkshire Dales? Well, not quite. This time I was in the EJ Churchill Sporting Ground near High Wycombe. When I emerge from my car, it sounds like I’ve arrived at [...]
OUT OF OFFICE November 17, 2009 FAHRENHEIT TWINS AT THE BARBICANThere’s seasonal fun of a very cold kind at the Barbican, taking you into the world of two siblings who live with their scientist parents on a remote Arctic exploration station. This adaptation of Michel Faber’s novel is devised and performed by two person stage company Told By An Idiot (Hayley [...]
Bid talk pushes Dana higher as FTSE 100 loses its grip November 17, 2009 A retreat in miners and banks offset strength in defensive utilities and food retailers yesterday, pushing the FTSE 100 lower by 0.7 per cent lower, ending four consecutive sessions of gains. The index closed 36.74 points lower at 5,345.93, giving back some gains from the previous session when shares hit a 14-month closing high. Mid-cap [...]
Broker views give US indices a boost November 17, 2009 US STOCKS rose to fresh 13-month highs yesterday as upbeat broker views on improving prospects for two Dow components offset disappointing holiday spending outlooks from Target and Home Depot. Even so, the underlying tone was negative as investors fretted about the strength of the recovery and the recent rally, and more stocks fell than rose. [...]
Cesc: I want cups before I leave Arsenal November 17, 2009 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has snubbed fresh interest from Spain by insisting his immediate priority is to bring silverware to the Emirates Stadium. Barcelona and Real Madrid are both preparing huge summer bids for the midfielder, with the former reported to be willing to offer midfielder Yaya Toure and striker Bojan Krkic plus cash. But [...]
Button likely to join McLaren as Mercedes GP tighten belt November 17, 2009 WORLD champion Jenson Button is expected to sign for McLaren this week after Mercedes GP chiefs said they would not raise their offer to the Englishman. Talks between Button and McLaren are said to have progressed significantly since he visited the team’s headquarters last week. The Woking-based outfit are keen to pair Button with Lewis [...]
