Wimbledon Wenlock is top seeded Mascot August 28, 2012 Game, set and £3,000 match to the winner who yesterday snapped up Topiary Wenlock in the Mayor’s Fund for London charity auction. Unlike all the other 2m high sporting bodies, this is a living monument, which may need some replanting next year. Let’s hope the top bidder has green fingers. For more items, go to [...]
Pharma veteran named new CEO of AstraZeneca August 28, 2012 ANGLO-SWEDISH giant AstraZeneca (AZ) yesterday revealed that it has poached Pascal Soriot from rival pharmaceuticals firm Roche. Soriot will become AZ’s new chief executive on 1 October, replacing David Brennan who quit the role abruptly at the end of April this year after announcing a profit warning and weak quarterly results. Shareholders had been agitating for [...]
Olympics fail to deliver UTV advert boost August 28, 2012 UTV Media, owner of talkSport radio, yesterday posted a small rise in pre-tax profits as an expected Olympics advertising boost failed to materialise. The Belfast-based media group said net advertising revenues from its television division had dropped three per cent over the half year, taking total television revenues down two per cent to £16.9m. The [...]
Everything Everywhere teams up with MasterCard on digital wallet August 28, 2012 MASTERCARD yesterday announced a five year deal with the UK’s biggest mobile phone operator Everything Everywhere to develop contactless mobile phone payment systems for the network’s 27m customers. The duo will kick off the deal by launching a pre-paid digital wallet, allowing customers to transfer money from a bank account to a mobile phone for [...]
John Lewis first retailer to sell Barnes & Noble ereader in UK August 28, 2012 AMERICAN book retailer Barnes & Noble yesterday said it has chosen John Lewis to be its first UK partner in the push to sell its Nook ebook readers in Britain. The department store group will be the first retailer outside the United States to sell the Nook devices across its 37 of its shops from [...]
Cairn Energy looks offshore for Moroccan oil August 28, 2012 BRITISH oil and gas firm Cairn Energy has bought a stake in an exploration well off the coast of Morocco as it continues its hunt for oil and gas in the region. The firm said yesterday it would pay $60m (£38m) towards the Foum Draa well, in return for a 50 per cent stake in [...]
Thriving Americas lift Regus earnings August 28, 2012 OFFICE space supplier Regus said yesterday its first-half adjusted profit rose about 64 per cent on higher revenue from its business in the Americas. Regus, which offers ready-to-use offices for rentals for periods as short as half a day, said adjusted pre-tax profit grew to £21.3m for the six months ended 30 June, from £13m [...]
Lamprell stays upbeat despite half-year loss August 28, 2012 OIL rig maker Lamprell reassured on its future yesterday, saying that its bid pipeline was positive and it was confident of the support of its banks after posting a loss in a torrid first-half marred by the impact of contract delays. Lamprell, which this year has issued a series of warnings on its performance, said [...]
Norway raises Xstrata stake August 28, 2012 NORWAY yesterday emerged as the latest shareholder to have increased its stake in Xstrata, posing another stumbling block to the miner’s biggest shareholder Glencore as it tries to get a grip on its plans to merge with the group. Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages Norway’s $610bn sovereign wealth fund, has been steadily buying Xstrata [...]
Vedanta hit by AGM protests August 28, 2012 VEDANTA shareholders approved all resolutions at yesterday’s annual meeting, despite angry protests about the mining group’s human rights record. Campaign groups including Amnesty International threw red paint and waved banners outside the meeting in central London, angry at the London-listed firm’s treatment of workers in Orissa, India. The firm reported 22 fatalies across its global [...]
