Fund manager Neil Woodford leads push to oust top Kier Group executives January 13, 2019 Leading fund manager Neil Woodford is leading a push to unseat construction group Kier’s top executive team after its botched rights issue, according to reports. Woodford Investment Management, which owns a 16 per cent stake in Kier, is leading a push to replace chief executive Haydn Mursell and finance director Bev Dew, Sky News reported [...]
Galacticos! Inside the US law firm building the most expensive team in UK legal history January 13, 2019 In 2000 Real Madrid signed Portuguese football star Luis Figo from arch rivals Barcelona in a move that signalled the start of the galacticos era at the Spanish club which used its financial clout to bring other international stars such as Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Brazilian striker Ronaldo to the Bernabeu in the following [...]
Debenhams’ share price plunges 18 per cent following shock boardroom coup January 11, 2019 Shares in struggling department store chain Debenhams crashed 18 per cent to 3.9p today following yesterday’s shock Mike Ashley-inspired annual general meeting coup. Sports Direct boss and major Debenhams shareholder Ashley blocked the re-appointment of the company’s chairman and chief executive to the board at yesterday’s AGM. Sir Ian Cheshire, chair of the retailer’s board since [...]
BMW sales rev up to near 2.5m cars with 1.1 per cent increase January 11, 2019 Luxury car maker BMW boosted sales 1.1 per cent in 2018, selling 2,490,664 cars worldwide, its eighth consecutive year of record sales. The company predicted continuing sales increases in 2019, despite what it described as challenging market conditions. BMW management board member Pieter Nota said: “While we expect market conditions to remain challenging this year, [...]
Suits you: Moss Bros shares rise after better-than-expected Christmas trading update January 11, 2019 Shares in Moss Bros rose this morning after the suit retailer announced a better-than-expected set of results for the Christmas period. Shares were up 2.6 per cent at 26.9p after the retailer said sales for the 23 week period from 29 July to 5 January were 0.6 per cent ahead of last year and one [...]
Every Lidl helps: German discount chain boosts sales in bumper Christmas trading January 11, 2019 German discount supermarket Lidl boosted sales eight per cent over the Christmas period, it revealed today. In the six weeks to 30 December sales were up eight per cent on the same period last year with Saturday 22 December the busiest day. Lidl’s results were aided by a 33 per cent jump in sales for [...]
Insurer Axa to shift jobs to Dublin in Brexit move January 10, 2019 Insurer Axa is moving staff to Ireland in the light of the UK’s impending exit from the EU. Chief executive of the French insurer Thomas Buberl told reporters today that Axa’s recently acquired XL unit had already made plans to move staff to Ireland from the UK before its takeover by Axa last year. Buberl [...]
Silk: City lawyers among 108 new Queen’s Counsels appointed today January 10, 2019 The number of new Queen’s Counsel appointed has dipped to a three-year low with 108 lawyers appointed this year, down from 119 last year. Lawyers are required to go through a rigorous application process to become a QC, known as taking silk, with the successful candidates appointed by the Queen on the advice of Lord [...]
Debenhams’ Christmas sales slip as it continues talks with lenders over its future January 10, 2019 Sales at troubled department store chain Debenhams dived over Christmas, its latest trading update revealed today, sending its share price even lower. In the 18 weeks to 5 January like-for-like sales fell 5.7 per cent compared to the same period last year. Read more: These are the high street retailers that collapsed in 2018 The [...]
New visa for architects as trade body calls for ‘drastic reform’ of UK immigration system post-Brexit January 10, 2019 The Home Office launched a visa scheme for exceptional architects today as the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) argues UK immigration legislation needs a drastic overhaul post-Brexit to safeguard the £4.8bn industry. From today architects will be able to apply for Tier 1 (exceptional talent) visas – the first bespoke immigration category available for [...]
