Scientists harvest cow belches October 20, 2013 Argentine scientists have found a way to transform the gas created by the bovine digestive system into fuel, an innovation that could curb greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Using a system of valves and pumps, the experimental technique developed by Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) channels the digestive gases from bovine stomach [...]
Crown Castle to buy AT&T rights October 20, 2013 Crown Castle International said last night that it had agreed to buy rights to about 9,700 AT&T wireless communication towers for $4.85bn in cash. Under the agreement, Crown Castle will have the exclusive right to lease and operate the AT&T towers for a weighted average term of about 28 years. The company will have the [...]
Vietnam airlines plan fleet boom October 20, 2013 Vietnam’s fledgling airline industry is poised for a boom as local competition heats up with fleet expansions, new routes and planned share offers that are set to make it one of the world’s three fastest growing markets. IATA expects Vietnam to become the world’s third-fastest growing market for international passengers and freight next year, and [...]
Murdoch China exit rumbles on after TV sale October 20, 2013 21ST Century Fox owner Rupert Murdoch has rolled back his Asian media interests after selling a stake in a Chinese satellite TV operator. US private equity firm TPG Capital will pay 1.66bn Hong Kong dollars (£132.2m) for 21st Century Fox-controlled Star Entertainment’s remaining stake in Phoenix Satellite Television. The move is the next step of [...]
Burberry chief executive to miss out on £18m in share awards October 20, 2013 DEPARTING chief executive Angela Ahrendts will waive her rights to a long-term incentives worth £18m when she leaves the fashion retailer to join Apple. Ahrendts was entitled to share awards worth £7.6m this year and an additional £4.6m next year from Burberry. Ahrendts already owns £6.5m shares of Burberry, where she has worked for eight [...]
German watchdog warns Amazon October 20, 2013 Germany’s antitrust watchdog accused Amazon of undermining competition when dealing with third-party merchants and said it would impose reform unless the Internet retailer changed its rules, a German paper reported. “The terms of Amazon’s Marketplace in effect obstruct competition,” president of the German cartel office Andreas Mundt told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
Gravity rides high at US box office October 20, 2013 The 3-D outer space thriller, “Gravity”, continued to rocket past its box office competition over the weekend, eclipsing newcomer “Carrie”,” to maintain its tight grip on the US and Canadian box offices. “Gravity”,starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, grabbed $31m in ticket sales at North American theatres to hold the top spot for the third [...]
Ebook tax drop may cut prices October 20, 2013 The price of ebooks in Britain is expected to fall following a vote in Brussels this week that could eradicate VAT on them. Currently ebooks attract 20 per cent VAT in Britain, while printed books have no VAT. The vote is expected to put ebooks and printed versions on an equal rate throughout Europe, as [...]
Merlin gets set for stock market rollercoaster October 20, 2013 ALTON Towers owner Merlin Entertainments is closing in on plans to launch its long-awaited stock market debut after the roaring success of the Royal Mail float and temporary fixing of the US debt ceiling cleared its path to a listing. Merlin, which is co-owned by private equity titans Blackstone and CVC Capital Partners, is due [...]
Theatre production offers a profit share to crowdfunders October 20, 2013 INVESTORS are being asked to crowdfund the £250,000 needed to run upcoming musical Happy Days in return for a combined 25 per cent share of the profits from the show’s 24-week run. It is the first time crowdfunding has been used to finance a major theatrical production in return for equity in the production. “Investing [...]
