UK trade mark disputes climb as firms fight to protect brands January 6, 2014 UK COURTS have become a key battleground in the increasing number of trade mark disputes happening around the world, according to a report from law firm RPC. High Court cases involving trade marks climbed from 88 to 114 in the last year. The leap has been linked to the rise of e-commerce and the desire [...]
Ashcroft polling gives Farage a reason to smile January 6, 2014 NIGEL Farage’s Ukip party could pose the greatest threat to David Cameron’s hopes of a Conservative victory in the 2015 general election, according to a new poll. Thirty-seven per cent of those who voted Conservative in 2010 said they would not do so again if there was an election tomorrow. Half of these voters, dubbed [...]
Finance bosses think companies are ready to splash out this year January 6, 2014 CHIEF financial officers at Britain’s biggest companies say UK firms are happy to spend money this year as lending conditions improve and hopes rise about the economy. Seven in 10 finance bosses expect UK firms to hire more this year, while 65 per cent predict higher capital expenditure and 46 per cent believe discretionary spending [...]
David Cameron pours cold water on rumoured cut to 45p tax rate January 6, 2014 PRIME minister David Cameron has moved to end speculation that he would cut the 45p tax rate for higher earners further, to 40p. In an interview on the Andrew Marr show yesterday, Cameron said he would use any spare money left in government coffers to “target tax reductions on the poorest in our country,” adding [...]
Amazon boss airlifted after kidney stone January 6, 2014 AMAZON founder Jeff Bezos was airlifted from a cruise ship by the Ecuadorian Navy after suffering a kidney stone attack in the Galapagos Islands on New Year’s Day. Bezos – the mastermind behind the world’s largest online retailer – said in an email to Reuters responding to the incident, “Galapagos: five stars. Kidney stones: zero [...]
Brevan Howard shares spoils of £60.4m pay pot January 6, 2014 THE UK arm of Europe’s largest hedge fund Brevan Howard divvied up a smaller £60.4m profit for its partners last year after a fall in revenues at the business. Brevan Howard Asset Management paid £36.4m in profits to members and £26.9m to cover operating expenses for the 12 months ending 31 March 2013, according to [...]
Rothschild extends partnership offer to senior banking bosses January 6, 2014 BANKING’S most famous dynasty, Rothschild, has established an elite new partnership for about 50 of its top banking executives as part of the continental restructure it finally completed last year. The new partnership will include members of the group management committee and the bank’s global financial advisory partners, headed by chief executive Olivier Pecoux. Rothschild [...]
RSA prepares to find out more about its capital hole in Ireland January 6, 2014 INSURANCE group RSA will this week hear what investigators from PwC think happened at its troubled Irish business, which was in November revealed to have a £200m black hole. PwC’s findings, which are yet to be finalised, will be published on Thursday. The capital hole has already claimed the scalp of chief executive Simon Lee, [...]
Schroders signs deal for new headquarters January 6, 2014 SCHRODERS, Britain’s biggest listed asset manager, has completed a deal to lease the whole of Brookfield and Oxford Properties’ One London Wall Place in the City. The development, which is due to be completed in the second half of 2017, spans 310,000 square feet making it the largest pre-let agreement in the City of London [...]
Deal-makers are hoping that UK M&A returns to form January 6, 2014 AS WE head into the New Year the City will be cautiously optimistic about likely activity in the corporate finance markets in 2014. Last year saw a major revival in the new issues or initial public offering (IPO) market, which had been virtually dead in 2012. UK IPO revenue totals were 274 per cent up [...]
