Luke Johnson among mentors for John Lewis incubator scheme April 14, 2014 JOHN Lewis yesterday announced a 12-strong panel of experts, including entrepreneur Luke Johnson, who will help advise and judge the technology start-ups competing to develop the next big thing for its stores. The department store group is setting up a technology incubator called JLAB, with five successful firms given office space and advice to come [...]
Watchdog set to probe BT’s fibre pricing April 14, 2014 BT IS PREPARING for a battle with the regulator to defend its wholesale pricing of superfast fibre to other operators such as Sky and TalkTalk. Last May TalkTalk complained to Ofcom, alleging that BT had been abusing a dominant position by making the wholesale price, that all providers pay, too close to its own fibre [...]
Zeus Capital top of the board for junior flotations April 14, 2014 LONDON’S northern rival Manchester has emerged as a burgeoning scene for equity capital markets, with a Salford-based advisory rocketing to the top of the league for junior market listed flotations for the first time. Zeus Capital has soared to the top of the Alternative Investment Market (Aim) adviser rankings for new firms coming to market, [...]
Albemarle & Bond finds suitor to help rescue remnants of firm April 14, 2014 BROKEN pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond will be sold by its administrators PwC this week to a private equity consortium led by Promethean Investments. The company, which was de-listed from the London stock exchange after its shares became worthless, is expected to see some of its stores rescued by Promethean and Apollo Global Management. “Mike Jervis, [...]
Penhaligon’s bounce paves way for sale April 14, 2014 HISTORIC British perfume maker Penhaligon’s increased pre-tax profits by 30 per cent last year, helping pave the way for a potential sale of the business. The firm, which dates back to 1870, said pre-tax profits rose to £1.1m from £812,004. The healthy figures could prompt owner, Fox Paine & Company, to seek an exit for [...]
April heat can’t stop the City’s marathon stars April 14, 2014 THE SUN was cracking the flags yesterday as an estimated 36,000 people took part in the London Marathon. As ever, the City certainly didn’t disappoint, with hundreds of financial professionals pulling on the Lycra and taking part. Barclays alone had an estimated 150 runners racing, while private equity firm LDC had 14 people running for [...]
Three things you didn’t know about… April 14, 2014 CFA Institute, managing director for EMEA Nitin Mehta 1 Mehta was born in Tanzania but moved to Gujarat, India when he was young. He learnt to read and write using a slate and chalk – something the iPad reminds him of each time he uses one. 2 He has a first class degree in computer [...]
Success for Ukip as EU polls show Lib Dem slump April 14, 2014 NIGEL Farage’s Ukip party has hit record highs in a string of recent polls, which could spell success at the ballot box in the European elections in May. The most recent ComRes poll this weekend put Ukip on 20 per cent of the vote, with the Conservatives on 29 per cent and Labour polling 35 [...]
Skype your GP if you can’t get an appointment, says Cameron April 14, 2014 MILLIONS of people across the UK will soon be able to Skype or text their GP if they can’t get an appointment, the Prime Minister is set to announce today. A £50m pilot scheme has been extended to help people get access to their doctor via phone, text or over the internet. The plans were [...]
Clegg takes on gender divide April 14, 2014 DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg will host a seminar on the gender pay gap today, in a bid to narrow it. According to figures cited by the Lib Dems from the ONS, the gulf between what men and women earn in the UK is 19.7 per cent on average, compared to 25 per cent 10 [...]
