Putin critic Bill Browder slams ‘prostitution’ of UK firms working for Russian regime November 5, 2018 UK hedge fund boss and prominent critic of the Russian government Bill Browder today slammed UK firms that work for the Russian regime and its cronies. Speaking to City A.M. Browder said: “The most significant issue on Russian intelligence is not the official spies or even unofficial informants, but the British enablers to this process. [...]
The Co-op could offload its insurance arm in a £300m deal November 5, 2018 The Co-op Group is reportedly in talks to sell its insurance business to underwriter Markerstudy Group in what would be a £300m deal. According to Sky News the talks between the two companies are at an advanced stage, though no decision has been taken be either side on whether to proceed with the deal. Sky [...]
RPC extends deadline again for private equity suitors November 5, 2018 FTSE 250 packaging company RPC today said it had asked regulators to extend the deadline for two potential private equity bidders to make a firm offer for the company. Plastics maker RPC had previously announced that it was in discussions with private equity firms Apollo Global Management and Bain Capital. Under takeover rules the pair [...]
Londongrad: Explosion in number of Russian spies in UK November 5, 2018 The number of Russian spies in the UK has exploded in recent years with up to five times as many Russian case offices in the UK as there were in 2010, a new report says. The report from think tank the Henry Jackson Society says there are 200 Russian case offices in the UK handling [...]
Investors positive about investing in UK post-Brexit November 5, 2018 Investors are more positive about investing in the UK post-Brexit this year than they were last year, according to a survey released today. The research shows that 62 per cent of investors are more likely to invest in the UK post-Brexit, up from 31 per cent last year. Overall 88 per cent of investors said [...]
King & Wood Mallesons’ City boss on rebuilding after the UK’s largest-ever law firm collapse November 4, 2018 When King & Wood Mallesons’ (KWM) European arm filed for administration on 17 January 2017 it was the culmination of a slow-motion car crash that had kept the UK legal market agog for months. Less than two years on the new London managing partner of what has been dubbed KWM 2.0 is not keen to [...]
It’s time to go with the flow: The UK needs to accept global economic competition and come out on top November 4, 2018 UK 1-1 Rest of the world. So reads the scoreboard from two recent corporate stories: Dyson’s decision to produce its electric cars in Singapore and Unilever’s to stay put in London. With Brexit beckoning, there is more focus than ever in Britain on its place in the world, and how that can be affected by [...]
Defence firm Babcock shuts Devon site with 200 jobs at risk November 1, 2018 Engineering firm Babcock announced today it is closing a dockyard in Devon putting nearly 200 jobs at risk. Babcock said in a statement “it has taken the difficult decision to exit operations at its Appledore facility in Devon, ending its site lease in March 2019”. Babcock said it will offer “relocation opportunities” to all 199 [...]
NCA investigates Arron Banks and Leave.EU over alleged referendum offences November 1, 2018 The National Crime Agency is investigating Arron Banks and the Leave.EU campaign for alleged electoral law offences during the 2016 EU referendum. The Electoral Commission referred both Banks and another senior campaigner, Elizabeth Bilney, to the NCA. “Our investigation relates to suspected electoral law offences covered by that referral, as well as any associated offences,” [...]
Swiss Re records $1bn profit despite losses from hurricanes and typhoons November 1, 2018 Reinsurer Swiss Re said it had recorded a profit of $1.1bn (£850m) for the first nine months of the year, despite an expected $1.6bn claims burden from man-made and natural catastrophes. Last year at the same period it suffered a $468m loss from the impacts of major disasters. Gross premiums roses 6.5 per cent to $28.4bn [...]