Three calls for cap on mobile spectrum sales September 6, 2016 Mobile carrier Three has called on the telecoms regulator Ofcom to limit how much of wireless spectrum companies can buy. Three – still reeling from its planned merger with O2 being blocked by the European competition watchdog earlier this year – slammed Ofcom for allowing industry heavyweights Vodafone and the recently combined BT and EE [...]
Next week’s junior doc strike called off September 5, 2016 The British Medical Association (BMA) has called off next week’s planned five-day strike over new contracts due to concerns over patient safety. Future dates planned for October, November and December will still go ahead unless the government calls off its plans to impose the new contract from next month. The walkout – which was only announced [...]
Private health market will not get treatment September 5, 2016 London's private healthcare market will not be subjected to further remedies, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has decided. The Competition Commission, a predecessor to the CMA, started a market investigation into private healthcare in April 2012, which reported in April 2014 and required HCA International Limited, the largest private hospital operator in central London, [...]
Jaguar powers up electric racing team September 4, 2016 Jaguar will lift the lid on plans for its electric Formula E racing team this week. The car, team, and sponsors are set to be unveiled on Thursday and will compete in the opening race of the Formula E season in Hong Kong next month. Jaguar Land Rover – owned by the Indian industrial giant [...]
Bayer board to debate making a hostile approach for Monsanto September 4, 2016 The board of German multinational chemical and pharmaceutical firm Bayer is expected to debate taking another swing at US seed company Monsanto when it meets next week. Bayer’s supervisory board will meet on 14 September and will weigh up whether to sweeten its offer for Monsanto again or even pursue a hostile takeover, German newspaper Rheinische [...]
Harman International Industries teams up with Toumaz on wireless home speakers September 2, 2016 Harman International, the world's largest speaker company, is working with digital radio and smart audio tech developer Toumaz on a Google Cast-enabled wireless speaker. Frontier Silicon – part of Toumaz – began developing software to use with Google Cast last year. Google Cast lets users connect their smartphone to their TV or speakers. Read more: Why British homeowners [...]
State-of-the-art £650m superlab opens in London September 1, 2016 A government-backed biomedical laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, has opened in central London. Experts at the Crick will work to find new ways of fighting some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The one-million square foot building – which cost £650m – is behind St Pancras station and the British Library and will eventually be home [...]
Toscafund is determined to have the last word in spat with Speedy Hire September 1, 2016 The carousel of increasingly aggressive shareholder circulars between activist investor Toscafund and the board of Speedy Hire is still spinning. The two parties are currently skirmishing ahead of an extraordinary general meeting set for next Friday (9 September) where Tosca intends to again call for changes among the top brass at the firm – something Speedy is dead set against. After Speedy [...]
Vera Bradley shares climb on expectation beating earnings and licensing agreements September 1, 2016 US luxury handbag and accessories maker Vera Bradley has posted a solid performance, despite the strong dollar causing problems for other high-end retailers. Shares climbed by more than three per cent following the US market open in New York, though are down some five per cent in the year to date. Net revenues totalled $119.2m (£89.8m) for the second quarter [...]
Campbell’s shares slump in the pre-market after “disappointing” results September 1, 2016 Consumer demand for fresher produce is putting the squeeze on the world's largest maker of soup, Campbell's. The soup brand has posted a net loss attributable to the company of $81m (£61m), or 26 cents per share, compared with a profit of $17m a year earlier. Net sales dipped 0.35 per cent to $1.69bn in the fourth quarter ended [...]
