More protest over CGT plan June 1, 2010 CITY heavyweights rushed yesterday to add their voices to City A.M.’s campaign against the new coalition government’s damaging plans to raise capital gains tax (CGT) to levels similar to income tax rates. City veteran Brian Winterflood, the founder of the market-making firm of the same name, threw his weight behind the cause, claiming that the [...]
City A.M. panel blasts CGT rise June 1, 2010 OUR panel of City opinion-formers has slammed the government’s proposed hike in capital gains tax. More than 65 per cent of voters disagreed with the planned tax, compared with just 34 per cent in favour of it. Predictably, Tory voters were most vehemently opposed, with 71 per cent saying they “somewhat disagree” or “strongly disagree” [...]
Phoenix closes fund at £450m June 1, 2010 Phoenix Equity Partners, the mid-market buyout owner of fashion brand LK Bennett and handbag company Radley, has raised £450m for a new private equity fund. Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, AlpInvest, Adam Street and New York State Teachers’ Pension Plan were among investors in the vehicle, which surpassed its fundraising target of £375m despite a tough [...]
UK holds onto investment title June 1, 2010 The UK has retained the top spot as the most attractive destination for inward investment in Europe, according to a report by Ernst & Young today. Good corporate links with America and a world class financial services hub helped the UK keep its ranking, even as foreign money flowed into Europe at a slower pace [...]
Starbucks brings latte to NYSE June 1, 2010 Starbucks, the upmarket coffee chain, is opening an outlet on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as the platform tries to transform itself into a modern working environment. As part of a $7.5m (£5.1m) overhaul of the iconic dealing space, Starbucks will begin serving lattes and frappuccinos to the NYSE’s 500 equity traders.
Bankers miss Pru fees but eye AIA float June 1, 2010 LONDON bankers will miss the fees bonanza promised by Prudential’s swoop on AIA, but advisers in Asia are rubbing their hands at the prospect of a listing for AIG’s Far Eastern arm. Prudential was preparing to shower £850m on a raft of investment banks led by Credit Suisse, HSBC and JPMorgan, and lawyers led by [...]
Prudential June 1, 2010 EVERYTHING about Prudential’s play for AIA happened back-to-front. Desperate to pounce on the Asian business before it floated, Prudential boss Tidjane Thiam raced in with the generous offer of $35.5bn (£25bn) – 25 times new business profits, a multiple unheard of for insurers even in China – and then had to work backwards to model [...]
PRUDENTIAL AND AIA EXPLAINED June 1, 2010 Q. WHY SHOULD PRUDENTIAL WITHDRAW NOW? A. Prudential – after suffering its first major setback with an unprecedented regulatory delay to the deal last month – was already facing growing shareholder discontent. A withdrawal today, after Prudential management meets top investors, would avoid taking the deal to a vote at a general meeting scheduled for [...]
Ryanair pays out €500m as earnings leap June 1, 2010 RYANAIR is to pay out a €500m (£417m) dividend to shareholders after the budget airline saw profits for the year soar by 204 per cent. Subject to approval, the Ireland- based airline said yesterday that it would be in a position to make the €500m return to shareholders through either share buy-backs or a one-off [...]
AirAsia moves into profit as leisure travellers flood flights June 1, 2010 BUDGET airline AirAsia yesterday posted bumper quarterly profits of £46.4m after tax thanks to a surge in leisure travel, but remained coy about plans for an initial public offering of its Thailand operations. The group credited its success to a 17 per cent rise in passenger numbers to 3.7m during the first three months of [...]
