Comet collapse to be probed by government December 18, 2012 Comet will close down its remaining stores today, as the government confirmed it has launched an investigation into the administration of the electrical chain. The last 49 stores out of a 235-strong chain will be closed today, bringing to an end the store’s 19-year history. Almost 7000 people will lose their jobs, at a cost [...]
Interserve snaps up healthcare services company for £26.5m December 18, 2012 Support services and construction group Interserve has acquired a leading healthcare services firm in a cash deal worth £26.5m. In a statement this morning, the FTSE 250 firm said the acquisition of Rutland Partners-backed Advantage Healthcare would widen its access to the £10bn community healthcare market. Advantage Healthcare, which has gross assets of around £5m, [...]
Petrofac on track to deliver 2012 profit target December 18, 2012 British oil services company Petrofac is on track to deliver net profit growth of 15 per cent this year, it said this morning. The FTSE 100 firm, which designs and builds oil and gas infrastructure, said that operations continued to perform in line with expectations, with particular good performance in the engineering, construction, operations & [...]
Rank could sell off six casinos to win clearance for Gala merger December 18, 2012 Gaming group Rank may have to sell off six casinos in the UK for its bid for rival operator Gala to be green-lit, the Competition Commission said this morning. In May, Rank Group agreed to buy a string of casinos from Gala Coral in a £205m cash deal that would add 23 UK casinos to [...]
Party like it’s 2011 December 17, 2012 TRIUMPHANT England captain Alastair Cook has hailed yesterday’s historic first Test series victory in India for 27 years as the equal of their landmark 2010-11 Ashes success in Australia. Centuries from batsmen Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell comfortably secured a draw in the fourth Test in Nagpur and with it a 2-1 series win in [...]
Watershed series has transformed this England team December 17, 2012 TO PUT England’s long-awaited triumph in India yesterday in context: the last time they won there I was still playing. The length of time everyone in English cricket has waited for this moment says it all. It is a terrific achievement and, in recent memory, second only to winning the Ashes in 2005. Ashes victories [...]
Anderson was the key, says India skipper December 17, 2012 INDIA captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni singled out seamer James Anderson as the difference between the sides after England clinched a landmark series win yesterday. Anderson took 12 wickets over the four-match series – fewer than spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar – as the tourists fought back to beat the hosts 2-1. But Dhoni identified [...]
Walcott striker cameo caps off Cazorla treble December 17, 2012 READING 2 vs ARSENAL 5 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger last night hinted he is ready to play Theo Walcott in his favoured central role more often after the experiment helped his beleaguered team rediscover devastating form. Midfielder Santi Cazorla scored a hat-trick while Lukas Podolski and Walcott netted the others as the Gunners tore through [...]
Tottenham don’t rely upon Bale to climb table, says Vertonghen December 17, 2012 TOTTENHAM defender Jan Vertonghen is adamant Spurs can succeed without injured winger Gareth Bale. The Welshman remains sidelined, having limped off during the 3-0 victory at Fulham a fortnight ago with a hamstring injury. Vertonghen, who scored his first Premier League goal for Tottenham during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Swansea, believes Clint Dempsey has proved [...]
Fellaini out until 2013 but spared long term ban for losing head December 17, 2012 REFEREE Mark Halsey has saved Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini from an extensive ban following his head-butt on Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross during the heated 1-1 draw on Saturday. Fellaini yesterday accepted a charge of violent conduct for the incident, which officials missed, and was banned retrospectively by the Football Association for three games. But the [...]
