CAB boosted as Consumer Focus closed April 11, 2012 THE role of Citizens’ Advice will be expanded as Vince Cable’s government department shakes up the system of consumer protection. Citizens Advice will take on responsibilities from the Office for Fair Trading (OFT) and play a greater role in speaking up for consumers in unregulated industries, the Department for Business said yesterday. It launched an [...]
CAMERON WELCOMES CHINESE INVESTIGATION April 11, 2012 PRIME Minister David Cameron yesterday said it was important to get to the truth in the “disturbing” and “tragic case” of the murder of UK businessman Neil Heywood, who was found dead in China last November. Gu Kailai (top left), the wife of dismissed senior Communist Party official Bo Xilai (top right), has been detained [...]
Gieves & Hawkes sold for £60m April 11, 2012 SAVILE ROW tailor Gieves & Hawkes, which dressed Prince William for his engagement announcement and wedding last year, is being acquired by its Hong Kong licensee Trinity in a deal totalling £60m. The suit maker, which was founded at 1 Savile Row in 1771, makes both military and business suits, and has dressed Winston Churchill, [...]
Freshfields tops global advisers on M&A deals April 11, 2012 MAGIC circle law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has come top of a list of global advisers on M&A deals for the first quarter of 2011, bolstered by its leading role advising Xstrata on a takeover bid by commodities giant Glencore. In the three months to 31 March, Freshfields advised on 39 deals worth a total [...]
BA to cut jobs as it outsources Gatwick work April 11, 2012 BRITISH Airways is planning to shake up its operations at Gatwick, in a move that unions said could cost hundreds of jobs. The flagship carrier said it has begun talks with unions over job cuts as it outsources 400 baggage and coaching roles to a third party supplier and scales down its customer services team. [...]
Heathrow at its busiest thanks to new markets April 11, 2012 MORE THAN 70m people travelled through Heathrow in the last year, the airport’s busiest ever, according to figures from owner BAA out yesterday. Traffic at Britain’s busiest airport was up six per cent in the year to March, which BAA credited to the soaring popularity of its routes to newer markets such as China. Its [...]
Total says leak could stop by May April 11, 2012 A leak at Total’s North Sea Elgin gas platform could be stopped by the end of April if everything goes as planned, UK managing director Philippe Guys said yesterday. Guys said that the French oil major planned to carry out a successful “dynamic kill” on the leaking G4 well before May. “We are working hard [...]
Arcadis acquires Davis Langdon April 11, 2012 Arcadis an international consultancy, design, engineering and management services company yesterday announced that it has acquired Davis Langdon & Seah, a cost and project management consultancy working across Asia, with 2,800 people in 10 countries. DLS reported 2011 revenues of just over $125m (£78.5m) Through the deal Arcadis grows to well over 21,000 staff with [...]
Roxi abandons Kazakh well April 11, 2012 Roxi Petroleum announced yesterday that had it abandoned and plugged its NK-10 well in Kazakhstan, sending its shares down 15 per cent. The move came after drilling found high water content with only minor gas deposits which were not commercially viable. The central Asian-focused oil exploration company started drilling the well in November last year.
BMW sales soar to a new record April 11, 2012 BMW yesterday reported record first quarter sales thanks to a buoyant market in China. Group sales increased by 11.2 per cent compared with the same quarter last year, to 425,528 vehicles. BMW said its 1 Series volume model and a good start for the revamped 3 Series had contributed to the jump. The Rolls-Royce and [...]
